The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV

by John MacArthur

  2As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, d“Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work eto which I have called them.”

  3Then, fhaving fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.

  Preaching in Cyprus

  4So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to gCyprus.

  5And when they arrived in Salamis, hthey preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had iJohn as their assistant.

  6Now when they had gone through 1the island to Paphos, they found ja certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus,

  7who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.

  8But kElymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) 2withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

  9Then Saul, who also is called Paul, lfilled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him

  10and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, myou son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?

  11“And now, indeed, nthe hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.” And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.

  12Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

  At Antioch in Pisidia

  13Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and oJohn, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.

  14But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and pwent into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down.

  15And qafter the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Men and brethren, if you have rany word of 3exhortation for the people, say on.”

  16Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and syou who fear God, listen:

  17“The God of this people 4Israel tchose our fathers, and exalted the people uwhen they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with 5an uplifted arm He vbrought them out of it.

  18“Now wfor a time of about forty years He put up with their ways in the wilderness.

  19“And when He had destroyed xseven nations in the land of Canaan, yHe distributed their land to them by allotment.

  20“After that zHe gave them judges for about four hundred and fifty years, auntil Samuel the prophet.

  21b“And afterward they asked for a king; so God gave them cSaul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.

  22“And dwhen He had removed him, eHe raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, f‘I have found David the son of Jesse, ga man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’

  23h“From this man’s seed, according ito the promise, God raised up for Israel ja6 Savior—Jesus—

  24k“after John had first preached, before His coming, the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

  25“And as John was finishing his course, he said, l‘Who do you think I am? I am not He. But behold, mthere comes One after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to loose.’

  26“Men and brethren, sons of the 7family of Abraham, and nthose among you who fear God, oto you the 8word of this salvation has been sent.

  27“For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, pbecause they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him.

  28q“And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death.

  29r“Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, sthey took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb.

  30t“But God raised Him from the dead.

  31u“He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people.

  32“And we declare to you glad tidings—vthat promise which was made to the fathers.

  33“God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm:

  w‘You are My Son,

  Today I have begotten You.’

  34“And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to 9corruption, He has spoken thus:

  x‘I will give you the sure 10mercies of David.’

  35“Therefore He also says in another Psalm:

  y‘You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.’

  36“For David, after he had served 11his own generation by the will of God, zfell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and 12saw corruption;

  37“but He whom God raised up 13saw no corruption.

  38“Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that athrough this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins;

  39“and bby Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.

  40“Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you:

  41‘Behold,c you despisers,

  Marvel and perish!

  For I work a work in your days,

  A work which you will by no means believe,

  Though one were to declare it to you.’ ”

  Blessing and Conflict at Antioch

  4214So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.

  43Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, dpersuaded them to continue in ethe grace of God.

  44On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.

  45But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they fopposed the things spoken by Paul.

  46Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, g“It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but hsince you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, iwe turn to the Gentiles.

  47“For so the Lord has commanded us:

  j‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles,

  That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”

  48Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. kAnd as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

  49And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region.

  50But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, lraised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.

  51mBut they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium.

  52And the disciples nwere filled with joy and owith the Holy Spirit.

  Acts 14

  At Iconium

  1Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the aGreeks believed.

  2But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and 1poisoned their 2minds against the brethren.

  3Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, bwho was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and cwonders to be done by their hands.

  4But the multitude of the city was ddivided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the eapostles.

  5And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, fto abuse and stone them,

  6they became aware of it and gfled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region.

  7And they were preaching the gospel there.

  Idolatry at Lystra


  8hAnd in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked.

  9This man heard Paul speaking. 3Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed,

  10said with a loud voice, i“Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked.

  11Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, j“The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!”

  12And Barnabas they called 4Zeus, and Paul, 5Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.

  13Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, kintending to sacrifice with the multitudes.

  14But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, lthey tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out

  15and saying, “Men, mwhy are you doing these things? nWe also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from othese useless things pto the living God, qwho made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them,

  16r“who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways.

  17s“Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, tgave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with ufood and gladness.”

  18And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them.

  Stoning, Escape to Derbe

  19vThen Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, wthey stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be xdead.

  20However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

  Strengthening the Converts

  21And when they had preached the gospel to that city yand made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,

  22strengthening the souls of the disciples, zexhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, a“We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”

  23So when they had bappointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

  24And after they had passed through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.

  25Now when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.

  26From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed.

  27Now when they had come and gathered the church together, cthey reported all that God had done with them, and that He had dopened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

  28So they stayed there a long time with the disciples.

  Acts 15

  Conflict over Circumcision

  1And acertain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, b“Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

  2Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that cPaul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.

  3So, dbeing sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, edescribing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren.

  4And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them.

  5But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”

  The Jerusalem Council

  6Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.

  7And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: f“Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.

  8“So God, gwho knows the heart, 1acknowledged them by hgiving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us,

  9i“and made no distinction between us and them, jpurifying their hearts by faith.

  10“Now therefore, why do you test God kby putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

  11“But lwe believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus 2Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”

  12Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had mworked through them among the Gentiles.

  13And after they had 3become silent, nJames answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me:

  14o“Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.

  15“And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:

  16‘Afterp this I will return

  And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down;

  I will rebuild its ruins,

  And I will set it up;

  17So that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD,

  Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name,

  Says the 4LORD who does all these things.’

  185“Known to God from eternity are all His works.

  19“Therefore qI judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who rare turning to God,

  20“but that we swrite to them to abstain tfrom things polluted by idols, ufrom 6sexual immorality, vfrom things strangled, and from blood.

  21“For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, wbeing read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

  The Jerusalem Decree

  22Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named xBarsabas,7 and Silas, leading men among the brethren.

  23They wrote this letter by them:

  The apostles, the elders, and the brethren,

  To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:

  Greetings.

  24Since we have heard that ysome who went out from us have troubled you with words, zunsettling your souls, 8saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law”—to whom we gave no such commandment—

  25it seemed good to us, being assembled with one 9accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

  26amen who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

  27We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth.

  28For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:

  29bthat you abstain from things offered to idols, cfrom blood, from things strangled, and from dsexual10 immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.

  Farewell.

  Continuing Ministry in Syria

  30So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.

  31When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement.

  32Now Judas and Silas, themselves being eprophets also, fexhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words.

  33And after they had stayed there for a time, they were gsent back with greetings from the brethren to 11the apostles.

  3412However, it seemed good to Silas to remain there.

  35hPaul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

  Division over John Mark

  36Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.
”

  37Now Barnabas 13was determined to take with them iJohn called Mark.

  38But Paul insisted that they should not take with them jthe one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work.

  39Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to kCyprus;

  40but Paul chose Silas and departed, lbeing 14commended by the brethren to the grace of God.

  41And he went through Syria and Cilicia, mstrengthening the churches.

  Acts 16

  Timothy Joins Paul and Silas

  1Then he came to aDerbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, bnamed Timothy, cthe son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek.

  2He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium.

  3Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he dtook him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek.

  4And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the edecrees to keep, fwhich were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.

  5gSo the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.

  The Macedonian Call

  6Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of hGalatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in 1Asia.

  7After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the 2Spirit did not permit them.

  8So passing by Mysia, they icame down to Troas.

  9And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A jman of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

  10Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go kto Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

  Lydia Baptized at Philippi

  11Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis,

  12and from there to lPhilippi, which is the 3foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days.