Pauland Barnabasspoke out boldlyand said,"It was necessarythat the wordof Godbe spokento you first;sinceyou repudiateit and judgeyourselvesunworthyof eternallife,behold,we are turningto the Gentiles.
The wickedfleewhen nooneis pursuing,But the righteousare boldas a lion.
"Behold,you will calla nationyou do not know,And a nationwhich knowsyou not will runto you, Becauseof the LORDyour God,even the HolyOneof Israel;For He has glorifiedyou."
"As for them, whetherthey listenornot-- for they are a rebellioushouse--they will knowthat a prophethas beenamongthem.
but rathergoto the lostsheepof the houseof Israel.
They saidto Him, "He will bringthosewretchesto a wretchedend,and will rentout the vineyardto othervine-growerswhowill payhim the proceedsat the [proper] seasons."
"ThereforeI sayto you, the kingdomof Godwill be taken awayfrom you and givento a people,producingthe fruitof it.
"Thesewill go awayinto eternalpunishment,but the righteousinto eternallife."
and that repentancefor forgivenessof sinswould be proclaimedin His nameto allthe nations,beginningfrom Jerusalem.
He cameto His own,and thosewho were His owndid not receiveHim.
"You worshipwhatyou do not know;we worshipwhatwe know,for salvationis from the Jews.
But goingon from Perga,they arrivedat PisidianAntioch,and on the Sabbathdaythey wentinto the synagogueand sat down.
"Brethren,sonsof Abraham'sfamily,and thoseamongyou who fearGod,to us the messageof thissalvationhas been sent.
When they reachedSalamis,they [began] to proclaimthe wordof Godin the synagoguesof the Jews;and they alsohadJohnas their helper.
But whensomewere becoming hardenedand disobedient,speaking evilof the Waybeforethe people,he withdrewfrom them and took awaythe disciples,reasoningdailyin the schoolof Tyrannus.
"And He saidto me, 'Go!For I will sendyou farawayto the Gentiles.'"
but [kept] declaringbothto thoseof Damascusfirst,and [also] at Jerusalemand [then] throughout allthe regionof Judea,and [even] to the Gentiles,that they should repentand turnto God,performingdeedsappropriateto repentance.
"Thereforelet it be knownto you that thissalvationof Godhas been sentto the Gentiles;they will alsolisten."
"For you first,Godraisedup His Servantand sentHim to blessyou by turningevery one[of you] from your wicked ways."
Nowas they observedthe confidenceof Peterand Johnand understoodthat they were uneducatedand untrainedmen,they were amazed,and [began] to recognizethem as having beenwith Jesus.
"You men who are stiff-neckedand uncircumcisedin heartand earsare alwaysresistingthe HolySpirit;you are doing justas your fathersdid.
and immediatelyhe [began] to proclaimJesusin the synagogues,saying,"He is the Sonof God."
For I am not ashamedof the gospel,for it is the powerof Godfor salvationto everyonewho believes,to the Jewfirstand alsoto the Greek.
but gloryand honorand peaceto everyonewho doesgood,to the Jewfirstand alsoto the Greek.
They have madeMe jealouswith [what] is not God;They have provokedMe to angerwith their idols.So I will make them jealouswith [those who] are not a people;I will provokethem to angerwith a foolishnation,
and that mostof the brethren,trustingin the Lordbecause of my imprisonment,havefar morecourageto speakthe wordof Godwithout fear.
quenchedthe powerof fire,escapedthe edgeof the sword,from weaknesswere made strong,becamemightyin war,putforeignarmiesto flight.
