The Church in Antioch

^19 (A)Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. ²⁰ But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists^[a] also, ^(B)preaching the Lord Jesus. ²¹ And ^(C)the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed ^(D)turned to the Lord. ²² The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. ²³ When he came and saw ^(E)the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord ^(F)with steadfast purpose, ²⁴ for he was a good man, ^(G)full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people ^(H)were added to the Lord. ²⁵ So Barnabas went to ^(I)Tarsus to look for Saul, ²⁶ and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called ^(J)Christians.

²⁷ Now in these days ^(K)prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. ²⁸ And one of them named ^(L)Agabus stood up and foretold ^(M)by the Spirit that there would be a great ^(N)famine over all the world (this took place in the days of ^(O)Claudius). ²⁹ So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, ^(P)to send relief to ^(Q)the brothers^[b] living in Judea. ^30 (R)And they did so, sending it to ^(S)the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

Barnabas and Saul Sent Off

13 Now there were in the church at Antioch ^(A)prophets and ^(B)teachers, ^(C)Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger,^[a] Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of ^(D)Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. ² While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, ^(E)the Holy Spirit said, ^(F)“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul ^(G)for the work to which I have called them.” ³ Then after fasting and ^(H)praying they laid their hands on them and ^(I)sent them off.