Acts 13:1

I will give you shepherds according to my heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.

Now in these days, prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.

But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are in the Dispersion: Greetings.

At that time, Herod the tetrarch heard the report concerning Jesus,

These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new languages;

Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.

When he found out that he was in Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem during those days.

They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.

‘It will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream dreams.

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “You rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,

But Saul ravaged the assembly, entering into every house and dragged both men and women off to prison.

who, when he had come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad. He exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they should remain near to the Lord.

Thinking about that, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.

When they had appointed elders for them in every assembly, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.

He came to Derbe and Lystra: and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewess who believed; but his father was a Greek.

These accompanied him as far as Asia: Sopater of Beroea; Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians; Gaius of Derbe; Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia.

On the next day, we who were Paul’s companions departed, and came to Caesarea. We entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.

Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives and my fellow prisoners, who are notable among the apostles, who were also in Christ before me.

I went up by revelation, and I laid before them the Good News which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately before those who were respected, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain.

being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone;

But you be sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, and fulfill your ministry.

Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand; and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dances.

“It will happen afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; and your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions.

and they bound him, and led him away, and delivered him up to Pontius Pilate, the governor.

As they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, and they compelled him to go with them, that he might carry his cross.

There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity,

Joses, who by the apostles was also called Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, Son of Encouragement), a Levite, a man of Cyprus by race,

whom they set before the apostles. When they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

For they heard them speaking in other languages and magnifying God. Then Peter answered,

But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus.

But he, beckoning to them with his hand to be silent, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.

So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia. From there they sailed to Cyprus.

strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many afflictions we must enter into God’s Kingdom.

When they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly and the apostles and the elders, and they reported everything that God had done with them.

The apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter.

Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brothers.

As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered the decrees to them to keep which had been ordained by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem.

But the unpersuaded Jews took along some wicked men from the marketplace, and gathering a crowd, set the city in an uproar. Assaulting the house of Jason, they sought to bring them out to the people.

Having spent some time there, he departed, and went through the region of Galatia, and Phrygia, in order, establishing all the disciples.

From Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called to himself the elders of the assembly.

For I say through the grace that was given me, to every man who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think reasonably, as God has apportioned to each person a measure of faith.

God has set some in the assembly: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various kinds of languages.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will be done away with. Where there are various languages, they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be done away with.

All the saints greet you.

which in other generations was not made known to the children of men, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit,

Therefore he says, “When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to people.”

Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching.

Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.

I left you in Crete for this reason, that you would set in order the things that were lacking and appoint elders in every city, as I directed you,

Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the assembly, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord,

Therefore I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and who will also share in the glory that will be revealed.

But I have this against you, that you tolerate your woman, Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. She teaches and seduces my servants to commit sexual immorality, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.

He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will go out from there no more. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, and my own new name.

Yahweh said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him.

Therefore behold, I send to you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify; and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city;

James the son of Zebedee; and John, the brother of James, (whom he called Boanerges, which means, Sons of Thunder);

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,

but Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things which Herod had done,

These words pleased the whole multitude. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch;

Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he did to your saints at Jerusalem.

Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words and strengthened them.

He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies.

Some of the disciples from Caesarea also went with us, bringing one Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we would stay.

The day following, Paul went in with us to James; and all the elders were present.

having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us: if prophecy, let’s prophesy according to the proportion of our faith;

or service, let’s give ourselves to service; or he who teaches, to his teaching;

or he who exhorts, to his exhorting; he who gives, let him do it with generosity; he who rules, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Then I came to the regions of Syria and Cilicia.

He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers;

as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

They compelled one passing by, coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to go with them, that he might bear his cross.

and Joanna, the wife of Chuzas, Herod’s steward; Susanna; and many others; who served them from their possessions.

When they led him away, they grabbed one Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it after Jesus.

Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,

But some of those who were of the synagogue called “The Libertines”, and of the Cyrenians, of the Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and Asia arose, disputing with Stephen.

Saul was consenting to his death. A great persecution arose against the assembly which was in Jerusalem in that day. They were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles.

But Saul, still breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest

They therefore who were scattered abroad by the oppression that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews only.

which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fastened his eyes on him,

But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the assembly, and went down to Antioch.

When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them and they spoke with other languages and prophesied.

Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.

Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you, as do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my relatives.

Or have only Barnabas and I no right to not work?

and when they perceived the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, those who were reputed to be pillars, gave to Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcision.

And the rest of the Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.

All the saints greet you, especially those who are of Caesar’s household.

Don’t despise prophecies.

Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment.

Those who are wise will shine as the brightness of the expanse. Those who turn many to righteousness will shine as the stars forever and ever.

Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their service, also taking with them John who was called Mark.