Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly.“ We had to speak God’s word to you first,” they said.“ But you don’t accept it. You don’t think you are good enough for eternal life. So now we are turning to the Gentiles.

保罗和巴拿巴放胆说：“神的道先讲给你们原是应当的；只因你们弃绝这道，断定自己不配得永生，我们就转向外邦人去。

于是保罗和巴拿巴放胆说：“上帝的道本应先传给你们；只因你们弃绝这道，断定自己不配得永生，我们就转向外邦人。

于是保罗和巴拿巴放胆说：“神的道本应先传给你们；只因你们弃绝这道，断定自己不配得永生，我们就转向外邦人。

保罗和巴拿巴毫不畏惧地说：“上帝的道本该先传给你们，你们既然拒绝接受，认为自己不配得永生，我们现在就把这道传给外族人。

保罗和巴拿巴却放胆说：“神的道，先讲给你们听，是应该的。但因为你们弃绝这道，断定自己不配得永生，所以我们现在就转向外族人去了。

保罗和巴拿巴就放胆直言，说：“神的话语先传给你们是必须的。既然你们弃绝这道，断定自己不配得永恒的生命，看哪，我们就转向外邦人，

保羅和巴拿巴放膽說：「神的道先講給你們原是應當的；只因你們棄絕這道，斷定自己不配得永生，我們就轉向外邦人去。

於是保羅和巴拿巴放膽說：「上帝的道本應先傳給你們；只因你們棄絕這道，斷定自己不配得永生，我們就轉向外邦人。

於是保羅和巴拿巴放膽說：「神的道本應先傳給你們；只因你們棄絕這道，斷定自己不配得永生，我們就轉向外邦人。

保羅和巴拿巴毫不畏懼地說：「上帝的道本該先傳給你們，你們既然拒絕接受，認為自己不配得永生，我們現在就把這道傳給外族人。

保羅和巴拿巴卻放膽說：“神的道，先講給你們聽，是應該的。但因為你們棄絕這道，斷定自己不配得永生，所以我們現在就轉向外族人去了。

保羅和巴拿巴卻放膽直說：『上帝之道先對你們講、是必須的，你們既把它推開，斷定自己為不配得永生的，那你就看吧，我們轉向外國人了。

保羅和巴拿巴就放膽直言，說：「神的話語先傳給你們是必須的。既然你們棄絕這道，斷定自己不配得永恆的生命，看哪，我們就轉向外邦人，

保羅巴拿巴毅然曰、上帝道宜先宣於爾、而爾棄之、自擬不堪得永生、我儕轉向異邦人矣、

保羅巴拿巴、毅然曰、上帝道必先傳爾、而爾曹棄之、自擬不當得永生、故我儕轉向異邦人、

保羅巴拿巴毅然曰、天主之道、當先傳於爾、而爾棄之、自以為不堪得永生、故我儕轉向異邦人、

葆樂、巴拿巴坦然答曰：『天主之道、本當先傳於爾；爾既棄之、而自絕於永生之道、吾乃轉傳於異邦。

Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly:“ We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.

And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying,“ It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.

Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and declared,“ It was necessary that we first preach the word of God to you Jews. But since you have rejected it and judged yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we will offer it to the Gentiles.

Paul and Barnabas boldly replied,“ It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first. Since you reject it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we are turning to the Gentiles.

Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said,“ It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first. Since you repudiate it and consider yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.

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

And Paul and Barnabas spake out boldly, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first be spoken to you. Seeing ye thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

Then Paul and Barnabas boldly said:“ It was necessary that God’s message be spoken to you first. But since you reject it and consider yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles!

Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

Both Paul and Barnabas replied courageously,“ It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we are turning to the Gentiles.

Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, and said,“ It was necessary that God’s word should be spoken to you first. Since indeed you thrust it from yourselves, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.

“ Here is what I want you to know. God has sent his salvation to the Gentiles. And they will listen!”

First I preached to people in Damascus. Then I preached in Jerusalem and in all Judea. And then I preached to the Gentiles. I told them to turn away from their sins to God. The way they live must show that they have turned away from their sins.

God raised up Jesus, who serves him. God sent him first to you. He did it to bless you. He wanted to turn each of you from your evil ways.”

“ So here is what I tell you. The kingdom of God will be taken away from you. It will be given to people who will produce its fruit.

“ Then the Lord said to me,‘ Go. I will send you far away to people who are not Jews.’ ”

You too will send for nations you do not know. Even though you do not know them, they will come running to you. That is what I will do. I am the Lord your God. I am the Holy One of Israel. I have honored you.”

But there will be glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good. That is meant first for the Jews. It is also meant for the Gentiles.

Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia. Then Paul spent all his time preaching. He was a witness to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah.But they opposed Paul. They treated him badly. So he shook out his clothes in protest. Then he said to them,“ God’s judgment against you will be your own fault! Don’t blame me for it! From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

I want to preach it because I’m not ashamed of the good news. It is God’s power to save everyone who believes. It is meant first for the Jews. It is meant also for the Gentiles.

“ Listen, fellow children of Abraham! Listen, you Gentiles who worship God! This message of salvation has been sent to us.

Again I ask,“ Didn’t Israel understand?” First, Moses says,“ I will use people who are not a nation to make you jealous. I will use a nation that has no understanding to make you angry.”( Deuteronomy 32:21)Then Isaiah boldly speaks about what God says. God said,“ I was found by those who were not trying to find me. I made myself known to those who were not asking for me.”( Isaiah 65:1)But Isaiah also speaks about what God says concerning Israel. God said,“ All day long I have held out my hands. I have held them out to a stubborn people who do not obey me.”( Isaiah 65:2)

Jesus replied,“ A certain man was preparing a great banquet. He invited many guests.Then the day of the banquet arrived. He sent his servant to those who had been invited. The servant told them,‘ Come. Everything is ready now.’“ But they all had the same idea. They began to make excuses. The first one said,‘ I have just bought a field. I have to go and see it. Please excuse me.’“ Another said,‘ I have just bought five pairs of oxen. I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’“ Still another said,‘ I just got married, so I can’t come.’“ The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry. He ordered his servant,‘ Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the town. Bring in those who are poor. Also bring those who can’t see or walk.’“‘ Sir,’ the servant said,‘ what you ordered has been done. But there is still room.’“ Then the master told his servant,‘ Go out to the roads. Go out to the country lanes. Make the people come in. I want my house to be full.I tell you, not one of those people who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’ ”

He came to what was his own. But his own people did not accept him.

His followers will preach in his name. They will tell others to turn away from their sins and be forgiven. People from every nation will hear it, beginning at Jerusalem.

Again, here is what I ask. The Israelites didn’t trip and fall once and for all time, did they? Not at all! Because Israel sinned, the Gentiles can be saved. That will make Israel jealous of them.Israel’s sin brought riches to the world. Their loss brings riches to the Gentiles. So then what greater riches will come when all Israel turns to God!I am talking to you who are not Jews. I am the apostle to the Gentiles. So I take pride in the work I do for God and others.

“ You stubborn people! You won’t obey! You won’t listen! You are just like your people of long ago! You always oppose the Holy Spirit!

They are the people of Israel. They have been adopted as God’s children. God’s glory belongs to them. So do the covenants. They received the law. They were taught to worship in the temple. They were given the promises.The founders of our nation belong to them. The Messiah comes from their family line. He is God over all. May he always be praised! Amen.

The rest grabbed his slaves. They treated them badly and then killed them.The king became very angry. He sent his army to destroy them. They killed those murderers and burned their city.“ Then the king said to his slaves,‘ The wedding dinner is ready. But those I invited were not fit to come.So go to the street corners. Invite to the dinner anyone you can find.’So the slaves went out into the streets. They gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good. Soon the wedding hall was filled with guests.

Now, Lord, consider the bad things they say they are going to do. Help us to be very bold when we speak your word.Stretch out your hand to heal. Do signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. They were bold when they spoke God’s word.

They made me jealous by serving what is not even a god. They made me angry by worshiping worthless statues of gods. I will use people who are not a nation to make them jealous. A nation that has no understanding will make them angry.

Sinners run away even when no one is chasing them. But those who do what is right are as bold as lions.

“ I have seen these people,” the Lord said to Moses.“ They are stubborn.Now leave me alone. I will destroy them because of my great anger. Then I will make you into a great nation.”

And because I am a prisoner, most of the believers have become bolder in the Lord. They now dare even more to preach the good news without fear.

Instead, go to the people of Israel. They are like sheep that have become lost.

If that home welcomes you, give it your blessing of peace. If it does not, don’t bless it.Some people may not welcome you or listen to your words. If they don’t, leave that home or town, and shake the dust off your feet.What I’m about to tell you is true. On judgment day it will be easier for Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.

The Lord formed me in my mother’s body to be his servant. He wanted me to bring the family of Jacob back to him. He wanted me to gather the people of Israel to himself. The Lord will honor me. My God will give me strength.Here is what the Lord says to me.“ It is not enough for you as my servant to bring the tribes of Jacob back to their land. It is not enough for you to bring back the people of Israel I have kept alive. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles. Then you will make it possible for the whole world to be saved.”The Lord sets his people free. He is the Holy One of Israel. He speaks to his servant, who is looked down on and hated by the nations. He speaks to the servant of rulers. He says to him,“ Kings will see you and stand up to honor you. Princes will see you and bow down to show you their respect. I am the Lord. I am faithful. I am the Holy One of Israel. I have chosen you.”The Lord says to his servant,“ When it is time to have mercy on you, I will answer your prayers. When it is time to save you, I will help you. I will keep you safe. You will put into effect my covenant with the people of Israel. Then their land will be made like new again. Each tribe will be sent back to its territory that was left empty.

From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath day they entered the synagogue and sat down.

You Samaritans worship what you do not know. We worship what we do know. Salvation comes from the Jews.

They put out great fires. They escaped being killed by swords. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became powerful in battle. They beat back armies from other countries.

They arrived at Salamis. There they preached God’s word in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.

The leaders saw how bold Peter and John were. They also realized that Peter and John were ordinary men with no training. This surprised the leaders. They realized that these men had been with Jesus.

Pray also for me. Pray that whenever I speak, the right words will be given to me. Then I can be bold as I tell the mystery of the good news.Because of the good news, I am being held by chains as the Lord’s messenger. So pray that I will be bold as I preach the good news. That’s what I should do.