Barnabas

32All the believers were like one heart and one person. No one said, "This thing is mine alone." They shared everything they had.

And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

33With great power the apostles kept telling people the news. They said the Lord Jesus came back to life. And God was very kind to all of them.

And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

NoteThe apostles were the men Jesus chose to lead. Their job was to tell people about him.

34No one among them went without what they needed. People who owned land or houses sold them. Then they brought the money from the sale.

Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

35They laid the money at the apostles' feet. It was given out to each person who needed it.

And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

NoteLaying money at someone's feet meant handing it over. The apostles now decided who needed help.

36One man was named Joses, and the apostles called him Barnabas. That name means "son of comfort." He was a Levite. He came from Cyprus.

And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,

NoteMany people back then had two names. Barnabas was a friendly name the apostles gave him. A Levite came from a family that helped at the temple. Cyprus is an island.

37He owned a field, so he sold it. He brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.

Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

26Saul came to Jerusalem. He tried to join the followers of Jesus there. But they were all afraid of him. They did not believe he was really a follower.

And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

27Then Barnabas took him to the apostles, the men Jesus chose to lead. He told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road. He told them how the Lord had spoken to Saul. He told them how bravely Saul preached about Jesus in Damascus.

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

NoteBarnabas was a leader the believers trusted. The apostles were the men Jesus chose to lead his followers. The word apostle means "someone sent out."

28So Saul stayed with them. He came and went all around Jerusalem.

And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.

29He spoke bravely about the Lord Jesus. He argued with Jews who spoke Greek. Those men tried to kill him.

And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

NoteThese were Jewish men who grew up speaking Greek. Greek was the language most people used then for talking and trading. Saul and these men argued about Jesus.

30When the other believers found this out, they took Saul to the city of Caesarea. From there they sent him to Tarsus.

Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

NoteCaesarea was a city on the sea with a big harbor. From there a person could sail away by ship. Tarsus was Saul's hometown, far to the north.

19Some believers had run away when Stephen was killed and others were hurt. They traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch. They told the message only to Jews.

Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.

NoteStephen was a believer who was killed for teaching about Jesus. After that, people hurt other believers too, so many ran away. Phoenicia was land by the sea. Cyprus is an island. Antioch was a large city far to the north.

20But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene. They came to Antioch and spoke to Greek people too. They shared the good news about the Lord Jesus.

And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the LORD Jesus.

NoteCyrene was a city in north Africa. "Grecians" means people who spoke Greek. They were not Jewish.

21The Lord's power was with them. Many people believed and turned to the Lord.

And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.

Note"The hand of the Lord" is a picture. It means God's help and power were with them.

22The church in Jerusalem heard this news. So they sent Barnabas to Antioch.

Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.

Note"Tidings" means news. The "church" was the group of people who believed in Jesus. It was not a building.

23When he came, he saw how kind God had been to them. He was glad. He told them all to stay close to the Lord with all their heart.

Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

Note"Grace" means God's kindness, given freely. "Cleave unto" means hold on tight and stay close.

24Barnabas was a good man. He was full of the Holy Spirit and full of faith. Many more people came to the Lord.

For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.

Note"Faith" means trusting God. "Much people was added" means many more people joined them.

25Then Barnabas went to the city of Tarsus to look for Saul.

Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:

NoteTarsus was a city far away. It was Saul's hometown. Saul is the same man later called Paul.

26He found him and brought him back to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church there. They taught a great many people. In Antioch the followers were first called Christians.

And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

Note"Disciples" means followers, people who learn from a teacher. "Christians" means Christ's people. Christ was a title for Jesus. It means the king God chose. This was the first place anyone used that name.

27During that time some prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch.

And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.

NoteA prophet is someone who tells people a message from God.

28One of them was named Agabus. He stood up and said, by the Spirit, that a great hunger was coming everywhere. This happened later, when Claudius was the ruler of Rome.

And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.

NoteThe King James word "dearth" means a famine. That is when crops fail and there is not enough food. Claudius Caesar ruled the Roman empire. "Caesar" was the title for that ruler, like "king."

29So the followers decided to send help to the believers living in Judea. Each one gave what he was able to give.

Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:

Note"According to his ability" means each person gave what he could. "Relief" means help, like food or money.

30That is what they did. They sent the gift to the church leaders. Barnabas and Saul carried it for them.

Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

Note"Elders" were the older leaders who guided the group of believers. "By the hands of" means these two men carried the gift there.

1In the city of Antioch, the church had prophets and teachers. They were Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius from Cyrene. There was also Manaen, who grew up with Herod the ruler, and Saul.

Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

NoteA church here means a group of Jesus' followers who met together. A prophet is someone who told people what God said. Antioch was a big city far north of Jerusalem. Cyrene was a city in Africa. Herod was a ruler who worked for the Romans.

2One day they were worshiping God and fasting, which means going without food to pray. The Holy Spirit said, "Set apart Barnabas and Saul for me. I have work for them to do."

As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

NoteFasting means going without food for a while. People did it to help them pray. The King James says "Holy Ghost." Ghost was an old word for spirit, so this means the Holy Spirit.

3So they fasted and prayed some more. They laid their hands on Barnabas and Saul. Then they sent them off.

And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

NotePutting your hands on someone's head was a way of praying for them. It showed the church was sending them out with its blessing.

4The Holy Spirit had sent them out. They went down to the town of Seleucia. From there they sailed to the island of Cyprus.

So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

NoteSeleucia was the port town where ships left from. Cyprus is a big island out in that sea.

5In the town of Salamis they told God's word in the Jewish meeting places. John came along to help them.

And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.

NoteA Jewish meeting place was called a synagogue. People gathered there to pray and read God's word. The King James calls John their "minister." Here that word just means helper.

6They traveled all across the island to the town of Paphos. There they met a Jewish man named Bar-Jesus. He did magic and pretended to speak for God.

And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:

NoteMagic here means using secret words and spells to make things happen. A false prophet was someone who pretended God gave him messages.

7This man stayed near Sergius Paulus, the Roman ruler of the island. Sergius Paulus was wise. He sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear God's word.

Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.

NoteRome ruled many lands far away. Rome sent a governor to run each one. The King James calls him "the deputy of the country."

8But the magic worker fought against them. He was also called Elymas, which is what his name means. He tried to keep the ruler from believing.

But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.

9Then Saul, who is also called Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit. He looked straight at Elymas.

Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,

NoteMany Jewish people then had two names. Saul was his Jewish name. Paul was his Roman name. From here on, this book calls him Paul.

10He said, "You are full of lies and tricks. You are a child of the devil. You are the enemy of everything good. Will you never stop twisting the Lord's straight paths?

And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

NoteCalling someone a child of something meant he acted just like it. It did not mean the devil was really his father.

11Now the Lord's hand is against you. You will be blind for a while and will not see the sun." Right away a fog and darkness came over him. He felt around for someone to lead him by the hand.

And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

Note"The hand of the Lord" is a way of saying God's power at work.

12When the ruler saw what happened, he believed. He was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.

Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

NoteThe King James word "doctrine" is an old word for teaching.

42When the Jewish people left the meeting place, the others begged Paul and Barnabas to come back. They wanted to hear more next Sabbath. These others were Gentiles, which means people who are not Jewish.

And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.

NoteGentiles means everyone in the world who is not Jewish.

43After the meeting ended, many Jews followed Paul and Barnabas. Others followed too, people who had joined the Jewish faith. Paul and Barnabas talked with them. They told them to keep on trusting God's kindness.

Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

NoteThe King James calls them "proselytes." They were people not born Jewish who had joined the Jewish faith. Grace means God's kindness, given as a gift nobody earns.

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

And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

45But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They argued against what Paul said and spoke insults.

But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

NoteBlaspheming means saying insulting things about God.

46Then Paul and Barnabas spoke bravely. "God's word had to be told to you first. But you push it away. You show that you do not think you should have life forever. So now we are going 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.

47This is what the Lord told us to do. He said, "I have made you a light for the Gentiles. You will bring my saving help to the far ends of the earth."

For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

NoteThese words come from the prophet Isaiah, in an older part of the Bible.

48When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad. They gave honor to the Lord's word. And all who were chosen for life forever believed.

And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

49The word of the Lord spread all through that whole area.

And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.

50But the Jews stirred up important women who worshiped God. They stirred up the leading men of the city too. They made trouble for Paul and Barnabas and pushed them out of that area.

But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.

NotePersecution means hurting people on purpose because of what they believe. The King James word "coasts" means the edges of an area, not a seashore.

51So Paul and Barnabas shook the dust off their feet at them. Then they went on to the city of Iconium.

But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.

NoteShaking the dust off your feet was a sign people understood. It meant, "We tried here, and now we are done." Iconium was another city farther inland.

52And the followers of Jesus were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

NoteA disciple is a follower who learns from a teacher.

1In the city called Iconium, Paul and Barnabas went into the synagogue. A synagogue is where Jewish people met to pray and learn. They spoke so well that many Jews and Greeks believed.

And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.

NoteJews were the people God chose long ago. Greeks were people from other lands who spoke Greek. Both kinds of people lived in this city.

2But some Jews would not believe. They stirred up the Gentiles, who were people who were not Jewish. They made them think bad things about the believers.

But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.

3So Paul and Barnabas stayed there a long time. They spoke bravely, trusting in the Lord. God showed their message was true. He let them do signs and wonders, amazing things people saw happen.

Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

NoteSigns and wonders are amazing things that people see happen.

4The people of the city took sides. Some agreed with the Jews. Some agreed with the apostles, the men Jesus sent out to tell about him.

But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.

5Then some Gentiles and Jews and their leaders made a plan. They wanted to hurt Paul and Barnabas and throw stones at them.

And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them,

NoteLong ago, throwing stones was a way people killed someone. A crowd would throw big rocks until the person died.

6Paul and Barnabas found out about the plan. So they ran away to Lystra and Derbe. Those were cities in an area called Lycaonia. They went to the towns nearby too.

They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:

7In those places they kept telling people the good news about Jesus.

And there they preached the gospel.