I have scattered them among the nations. But in lands far away they will remember me. They and their children will be kept alive. And they will return.

我虽然播散他们在列国中，他们必在远方记念我。他们与儿女都必存活，且得归回。

我要将他们分散在列国中，他们必在远方记得我；他们与儿女都必存活，他们要归回。

我要将他们分散在列国中，他们必在远方记得我；他们与儿女都必存活，他们要归回。

虽然我把他们分散到列国，他们必在远方想起我，他们及其子女必得以幸存，并且回到故土。

虽然我把他们散播在万民中，他们仍要在远方记念我；他们与他们的子孙都要存活，并且归回。

我雖然播散他們在列國中，他們必在遠方記念我。他們與兒女都必存活，且得歸回。

我要將他們分散在列國中，他們必在遠方記得我；他們與兒女都必存活，他們要歸回。

我要將他們分散在列國中，他們必在遠方記得我；他們與兒女都必存活，他們要歸回。

雖然我把他們分散到列國，他們必在遠方想起我，他們及其子女必得以倖存，並且回到故土。

雖然我把他們散播在萬民中，他們仍要在遠方記念我；他們與他們的子孫都要存活，並且歸回。

我雖播散他們在列族之民中，他們在遠方還是要懷念着我；他們跟兒女都必活着，並且回來。

我雖然把他們播散在萬民中，他們卻要在遠方記念我；他們與他們的兒女都必存活，並要回歸。

我將播之於列邦、彼在遠方、必記憶我、偕其子女得生而還、

彼雖流離於列邦、必在遠方念我、率其子女、勢若復生、而歸斯土、

我曾散之於列邦、彼在遠方、亦必念我、彼偕子女、皆生存而歸故土、

Though I scatter them among the peoples, yet in distant lands they will remember me. They and their children will survive, and they will return.

Though I scattered them among the nations, yet in far countries they shall remember me, and with their children they shall live and return.

Though I have scattered them like seeds among the nations, they will still remember me in distant lands. They and their children will survive and return again to Israel.

Though I sow them among the nations, they will remember me in the distant lands; they and their children will live and return.

When I scatter them among the peoples, They will remember Me in distant countries, And they with their children will live and come back.

“ I will sow them among the peoples, And they shall remember Me in far countries; They shall live, together with their children, And they shall return.

And I will sow them among the peoples; and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and shall return.

Though I sow them among the nations, they will remember Me in the distant lands; they and their children will live and return.

And I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and turn again.

Though I scatter them among the nations, they will remember in far-off places– they and their children will sprout forth and return.

I will sow them among the peoples; and they will remember me in far countries; and they will live with their children, and will return.

You will be taken away to those nations as prisoners. Those of you who escape will remember me. You will recall how much pain your unfaithful hearts gave me. You turned away from me. Your eyes longed to see the statues of your gods. You will hate yourselves because of all the evil things you have done. I hate those things too.

But suppose your people change their ways in the land where they are held as prisoners. They turn away from their sins. They beg you to help them in the land of those who won the battle over them. They say,‘ We have sinned. We’ve done what is wrong. We’ve done what is evil.’And they turn back to you with all their heart and soul. Suppose it happens in the land of their enemies who took them away as prisoners. There they pray to you toward the land you gave their people long ago. They pray toward the city you have chosen. And they pray toward the temple I’ve built for your Name.

I will plant her in the land for myself. I will show my love to the one I called Not My Loved One. I will say,‘ You are my people’ to those who were called Not My People. And they will say,‘ You are my God.’ ”

Here is what the Lord announces.“ The days are coming when I will plant the kingdoms of Israel and Judah again. I will plant them with children and young animals.

They celebrated and enjoyed good food. They were glad and full of joy. That was true everywhere the king’s order came. It was true in every territory and every city. Many people from other nations announced that they had become Jews. That’s because they were so afraid of the Jews.

The believers who had been scattered preached the word everywhere they went.

“ I will give an order. I will shake the people of Israel among all the nations. They will be like grain that is shaken through a screen. Not a pebble will fall to the ground.

King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue. It was 90 feet tall and 9 feet wide. He set it up on the plain of Dura near the city of Babylon.Then the king sent for the royal rulers, high officials and governors. He sent for the advisers, treasurers, judges and court officers. And he sent for all the other officials of Babylon. He asked them to come to a special gathering to honor the statue he had set up.So the royal rulers, high officials and governors came together. So did the advisers, treasurers, judges and court officers. All the other officials joined them. They came to honor the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. They stood in front of it.Then a messenger called out loudly,“ Listen, you people who come from every nation! Pay attention, you who speak other languages! Here is what the king commands you to do.You will soon hear the sound of horns and flutes. You will hear zithers, lyres, harps and pipes. In fact, you will hear all kinds of music. When you do, you must fall down and worship the gold statue. That is the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.If you don’t, you will be thrown into a blazing furnace right away.”

I have told you about all these blessings and curses. The Lord your God will bring them on you. Then you will think carefully about the blessings and curses. You will think about them everywhere the Lord your God scatters you among the nations.You and your children will return to the Lord your God. You will obey him with all your heart and with all your soul. That will be according to everything I’m commanding you today.When all that happens, the Lord your God will bless you with great success again. He will be very kind to you. He’ll bring you back from all the nations where he scattered you.Suppose you have been forced to go away to the farthest land on earth. The Lord your God will bring you back even from there.

Some believers had been scattered by the suffering that unbelievers had caused them. They were scattered after Stephen was killed. Those believers traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch. But they spread the word only among Jews.Some believers from Cyprus and Cyrene went to Antioch. There they began to speak to Greeks also. They told them the good news about the Lord Jesus.The Lord’s power was with them. Large numbers of people believed and turned to the Lord.

Peter replied,“ All of you must turn away from your sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then your sins will be forgiven. You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.The promise is for you and your children. It is also for all who are far away. It is for all whom the Lord our God will choose.”

Jacob’s people who are still left alive will be scattered among many nations. They will be like dew the Lord has sent. Dew doesn’t depend on any human being. They will be like rain that falls on the grass. Rain doesn’t wait for someone to give it orders.

But if you return to me, I will bring you back. If you obey my commands, I will gather you together again. I will bring you back from the farthest places on earth. I will bring you to the special place where I have chosen to put my Name.’

After all, weren’t you cut from a wild olive tree? Weren’t you joined to an olive tree that was taken care of? And wasn’t that the opposite of how things should be done? How much more easily will the natural branches be joined to their own olive tree!

In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers. Among them were Barnabas, Simeon, and Lucius from Cyrene. Simeon was also called Niger. Another was Manaen. He had been brought up with Herod, the ruler of Galilee. Saul was among them too.While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit spoke.“ Set apart Barnabas and Saul for me,” he said.“ I have appointed them to do special work.”The prophets and teachers fasted and prayed. They placed their hands on Barnabas and Saul. Then they sent them off.Barnabas and Saul were sent on their way by the Holy Spirit. They went down to Seleucia. From there they sailed to Cyprus.They arrived at Salamis. There they preached God’s word in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.They traveled all across the island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jew named Bar- Jesus. He was an evil magician and a false prophet.He was an attendant of Sergius Paulus, the governor. Paulus was a man of understanding. He sent for Barnabas and Saul. He wanted to hear God’s word.But the evil magician named Elymas opposed them. The name Elymas means Magician. He tried to keep the governor from becoming a believer.Saul was also known as Paul. He was filled with the Holy Spirit. He looked straight at Elymas. He said to him,“ You are a child of the devil! You are an enemy of everything that is right! You cheat people. You use all kinds of tricks. Won’t you ever stop twisting the right ways of the Lord?Now the Lord’s hand is against you. You are going to go blind. For a while you won’t even be able to see the light of the sun.” Right away mist and darkness came over him. He tried to feel his way around. He wanted to find someone to lead him by the hand.When the governor saw what had happened, he believed. He was amazed at what Paul was teaching about the Lord.From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia. There John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem.From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath day they entered the synagogue and sat down.The Law and the Prophets were read aloud. Then the leaders of the synagogue sent word to Paul and his companions. They said,“ Brothers, do you have any words of instruction for the people? If you do, please speak.”Paul stood up and motioned with his hand. Then he said,“ Fellow Israelites, and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me!The God of Israel chose our people who lived long ago. He blessed them greatly while they were in Egypt. With his mighty power he led them out of that country.He put up with their behavior for about 40 years in the desert.And he destroyed seven nations in Canaan. Then he gave the land to his people as their rightful share.All this took about 450 years.“ After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet.Then the people asked for a king. He gave them Saul, son of Kish. Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin. He ruled for 40 years.God removed him and made David their king. Here is God’s witness about him.‘ David, son of Jesse, is a man dear to my heart,’ he said.‘ David will do everything I want him to do.’“ From this man’s family line God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus. This is what he had promised.Before Jesus came, John preached that we should turn away from our sins and be baptized. He preached this to all Israel.John was coming to the end of his work.‘ Who do you suppose I am?’ he said.‘ I am not the one you are looking for. But there is someone coming after me. I am not good enough to untie his sandals.’“ Listen, fellow children of Abraham! Listen, you Gentiles who worship God! This message of salvation has been sent to us.The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus. By finding him guilty, they made the prophets’ words come true. These are read every Sabbath day.The people and their rulers had no reason at all for sentencing Jesus to death. But they asked Pilate to have him killed.They did everything that had been written about Jesus. Then they took him down from the cross. They laid him in a tomb.But God raised him from the dead.For many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. Now they are telling our people about Jesus.“ We are telling you the good news. What God promised our people long agohe has done for us, their children. He has raised up Jesus. This is what is written in the second Psalm. It says,“‘ You are my son. Today I have become your father.’( Psalm 2:7)God raised Jesus from the dead. He will never rot in the grave. As God has said,“‘ Holy and sure blessings were promised to David. I will give them to you.’( Isaiah 55:3)In another place it also says,“‘ You will not let your holy one rot away.’( Psalm 16:10)“ David carried out God’s purpose while he lived. Then he died. He was buried with his people. His body rotted away.But the one whom God raised from the dead did not rot away.“ My friends, here is what I want you to know. I announce to you that your sins can be forgiven because of what Jesus has done.

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.I hope somehow to stir up my own people to want what you have. Perhaps I can save some of them.When they were not accepted, it became possible for the whole world to be brought back to God. So what will happen when they are accepted? It will be like life from the dead.The first handful of dough that is offered is holy. This makes all of the dough holy. If the root is holy, so are the branches.Some of the natural branches have been broken off. You are a wild olive branch. But you have been joined to the tree with the other branches. Now you enjoy the life- giving sap of the olive tree root.

At Iconium, Paul and Barnabas went into the Jewish synagogue as usual. They spoke there with great power. Large numbers of Jews and Greeks became believers.But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up some of the Gentiles who were there. They turned them against the two men and the new believers.So Paul and Barnabas spent a lot of time there. They spoke boldly for the Lord. He gave them the ability to do signs and wonders. In this way the Lord showed that they were telling the truth about his grace.The people of the city did not agree with one another. Some were on the side of the Jews. Others were on the side of the apostles.Jews and Gentiles alike planned to treat Paul and Barnabas badly. Their leaders agreed. They planned to kill them by throwing stones at them.But Paul and Barnabas found out about the plan. They escaped to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding area.There they continued to preach the good news.In Lystra there sat a man who couldn’t walk. He hadn’t been able to use his feet since the day he was born.He listened as Paul spoke. Paul looked right at him. He saw that the man had faith to be healed.So he called out,“ Stand up on your feet!” Then the man jumped up and began to walk.The crowd saw what Paul had done. They shouted in the Lycaonian language.“ The gods have come down to us in human form!” they exclaimed.They called Barnabas Zeus. Paul was the main speaker. So they called him Hermes.Just outside the city was the temple of the god Zeus. The priest of Zeus brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates. He and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas.But the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard about this. So they tore their clothes. They rushed out into the crowd. They shouted,“ Friends, why are you doing this? We are only human, just like you. We are bringing you good news. Turn away from these worthless things. Turn to the living God. He is the one who made the heavens and the earth and the sea. He made everything in them.In the past, he let all nations go their own way.But he has given proof of what he is like. He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven. He gives you crops in their seasons. He provides you with plenty of food. He fills your hearts with joy.”Paul and Barnabas told them all these things. But they had trouble keeping the crowd from offering sacrifices to them.Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium. They won the crowd over to their side. They threw stones at Paul. They thought he was dead, so they dragged him out of the city.The believers gathered around Paul. Then he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.Paul and Barnabas preached the good news in the city of Derbe. They won large numbers of followers. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch.

I will give children to the families of Jacob and Judah. They will possess my entire land. My chosen people will be given all of it. Those who serve me will live there.

You who have not been killed in the war against Babylon, leave! Do not wait! In a land far away remember me. And think about Jerusalem.”

What the prophets said was meant for you. The covenant God made with your people long ago is yours also. He said to Abraham,‘ All nations on earth will be blessed through your children.’( Genesis 22:18; 26:4)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.”

Their work will not be worthless anymore. They will not have children who are sure to face sudden terror. Instead, I will bless them. I will also bless their children after them.

And Saul had agreed with the Sanhedrin that Stephen should die. On that day the church in Jerusalem began to be attacked and treated badly. All except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.