Acts 13:43 - Easy To Read Version After the meeting, many of the Jews followed Paul and Barnabas from that place. With the Jews there were many converts {\cf2\super [275]} to the Jewish religion. These converts also worshiped the true God. Paul and Barnabas were persuading them to continue trusting in God’s grace (kindness). Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition And when the congregation of the synagogue dispersed, many of the Jews and the devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked to them and urged them to continue [to trust themselves to and to stand fast] in the grace (the unmerited favor and blessing) of God. American Standard Version (1901) Now when the synagogue broke up, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who, speaking to them, urged them to continue in the grace of God. Common English Bible When the people in the synagogue were dismissed, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism accompanied Paul and Barnabas, who urged them to remain faithful to the message of God’s grace. Catholic Public Domain Version And when the synagogue had been dismissed, many among the Jews and the new worshipers were following Paul and Barnabas. And they, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version And when the synagogue was broken up, many of the Jews, and of the strangers who served God, followed Paul and Barnabas: who speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. |
“It will be bad for you teachers of the law and Pharisees. {\cf2\super [336]} You are hypocrites. {\cf2\super [337]} You travel across the seas and across different countries to find one person that will follow your ways. When you find that person, you make him worse than you are. And you are so bad that you belong in hell!
But the Jews caused some of the important religious women and the leaders of the city to become angry and to be against Paul and Barnabas. These people did things against Paul and Barnabas and threw them out of town.
In those cities Paul and Barnabas made the followers \{of Jesus\} stronger. They helped them to stay in the faith. Paul and Barnabas said, “We must suffer many things on our way into God’s kingdom.”
So Paul and Barnabas stayed in Iconium a long time, and they spoke bravely for the Lord. Paul and Barnabas told the people about God’s grace (kindness). The Lord proved that what they said was true by helping the apostles {\cf2\super [283]} (Paul and Barnabas) do miracles and wonders. {\cf2\super [284]}
There was a woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira. Her job was selling purple cloth. She worshiped the true God. Lydia listened to Paul. The Lord opened her heart. She believed the things Paul said.
In the synagogue, {\cf2\super [352]} Paul talked with the Jews and the Greeks who worshiped the true God. Paul also talked with some people in the business area of the city. Paul did this every day.
But some of the people believed Paul and joined him. One of the people that believed was Dionysius. He was a member of the Areopagus council. {\cf2\super [357]} Another person who believed was a woman named Damaris. There were also some other people that believed.
Some of the Jews there believed Paul and Silas and decided to join them. Also, there were some Greek men who worshiped the true God and some important women. A large group of the men and many of the women joined Paul and Silas.
Paul left the synagogue {\cf2\super [364]} and moved into the home of Titius Justus. This man worshiped the true God. His house was next to the synagogue.
Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the areas of Libya near the city of Cyrene, Rome,
Paul and the Jews chose a day for a meeting. On that day many more of these Jews met with Paul at his house. Paul spoke to them all day long. Paul explained the kingdom of God to them. Paul tried to persuade them to believe the things about Jesus. He used the law of Moses and the writings of the prophets {\cf2\super [527]} to do this.
The whole group liked the idea. So they chose these seven men: Stephen (a man with great faith and full of the Holy Spirit {\cf2\super [110]}), Philip, {\cf2\super [111]} Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus (a man from Antioch, who had become a Jew).
And if God chose his people by grace, then it is not the things they have done that made them God’s people. If they could be made God’s people by the things they did, then God’s gift of grace would not really be a gift.
People are made right with God by his grace (kindness). This is a free gift. People are made right with God by being made free from sin through Jesus Christ.
Through our faith, Christ has brought us into that blessing of God’s grace (kindness) that we now enjoy. And we are very happy because of the hope we have of sharing God’s glory.
Sin once used death to rule us. But God gave people more of his grace so that grace could rule by making people right with him. This brings life forever through Jesus Christ our Lord.
We know what it means to fear the Lord. So we try to help people accept the truth. God knows what we really are. And I hope that in your hearts you know us too.
We are workers together with God. So we beg you: Don’t let the grace (kindness) that you received from God be for nothing.
We have freedom now. Christ made us free. So stand strong. Don’t change and go back into the slavery \{of law\}.
If you try to be made right with God through the law, then your life with Christ is finished—you have left God’s grace (kindness).
I mean that you are saved by grace. And you got that grace by believing. You did not save yourselves. It was a gift from God.
My dear brothers and sisters, I love you and want to see you. You bring me joy and make me proud of you. Continue following the Lord like I have told you.
Christ will do this if you continue to believe in the Good News {\cf2\super [7]} you heard. You must continue strong and sure in your faith. You must not be moved away from the hope that Good News gave you. That same Good News has been told to all people in the world. I, Paul, help in telling that Good News.
\{That is the way we should live,\} because God’s grace (kindness) has come. That grace can save every person. And that grace has been given to us.
Be careful that no person fails to get God’s grace (kindness). Be careful that no person becomes like a bitter weed growing among you. A person like that can ruin your whole group.
Don’t let all kinds of strange teachings lead you into the wrong way. Your hearts should be strengthened by God’s grace (kindness), not by obeying rules about foods. Obeying those rules doesn’t help people.
Silas will bring this letter to you. I know that he is a faithful brother \{in Christ\}. I wrote this short letter to encourage you. I wanted to tell you that this is the true grace (kindness) of God. Stand strong in that grace.
Dear friends, we are waiting for this to happen. So try as hard as you can to be without sin and without fault. Try to be at peace with God.
Yes, my dear children, live in him. If we do this, we can be without fear (have confidence) on the day when Christ comes back. We will not need to hide and be ashamed when he comes.