Some of the believers who’d been scattered by the attacks that started after Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, spreading the word among Jews.
Then the apostles, elders, and the whole church decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas Barsabbas and Silas, who were leaders among the believers.
The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had turned to God. This news made all the believers very glad.
Some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us. They brought us to Mnason’s home, where we were going to stay. Mnason was from Cyprus and was one of the first disciples.
Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly. “We had to speak God’s word to you first,” they said. “But you haven’t accepted it, as if you think you don’t deserve eternal life. So we’re going to talk to the Gentiles from now on.
In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers. Among them were Barnabas, Simeon (also called Niger), Lucius from Cyrene, and Manaen, who’d been brought up with Herod, the ruler of Galilee. Saul was among them too.
The Jews asked each other, “Where is this man planning to go, if we won’t be able to find him there? Will he go to where our people are living scattered among the Greeks, and will he teach the Greeks there?
This plan pleased everyone. They chose Stephen, a man who was full of faith and of the Holy Spirit. They also chose Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, who was a convert to the Jewish faith.