And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believing, were converted to the Lord.22 And the tidings came to the ears of the church that was at Jerusalem, touching these things: and they sent Barnabas as far as Antioch.†23 Who, when he was come, and had seen the grace of God, rejoiced: and he exhorted them all with purpose of heart to continue in the Lord.24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith. And a great multitude was added to the Lord.25 And Barnabas went to Tarsus to seek Saul: whom, when he had found, he brought to Antioch.26 And they conversed there in the church a whole year; and they taught a great multitude, so that at Antioch the disciples were first named Christians.†1 Now there were in the church which was at Antioch, prophets and doctors, among whom was Barnabas, and Simon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manahen, who was the foster brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.2 And as they were ministering to the Lord, and fasting, the Holy Ghost said to them: Separate me Saul and Barnabas, for the work whereunto I have taken them.3 Then they, fasting and praying, and imposing their hands upon them, sent them away.†
Behold I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves. Be ye therefore wise as serpents and simple as doves.†17 But beware of men. For they will deliver you up in councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues.†18 And you shall be brought before governors, and before kings for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the Gentiles:19 But when they shall deliver you up, take no thought how or what to speak: for it shall be given you in that hour what to speak.20 For it is not you that speak, but the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you.21 The brother also shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the son: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and shall put them to death.22 And you shall be hated by all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall persevere unto the end, he shall be saved.†
He first attempted the softer sex, allured her by hope, and promised a share of immortality. Do you in like manner seize every opportunity, look well into each man’s nature and inclination, use wisdom of speech, reveal hope of good things to come; that what he promised falsely we may preach truly according to God’s promise, that they that believe shall be like to the Angels.
And by this their testimony not only was all excuse of ignorance of His divinity taken away from their persecutors, but also to the Gentiles was opened the way of believing on Christ, who was thus devotedly preached by the voices of the confessors among the flames of persecution; and this is that He adds, and the Gentiles.
For our faith, observing all the precepts of the Divine will, will be instructed with an answer according to knowledge, after the example of Abraham, to whom when he had given up Isaac, there was not wanting a ram for a victim. For it is not ye who speak, but the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you.
About CSB. A personal translation of the New Testament, rendered directly from the public-domain Greek in a literary style — not a scholarly critical edition, and not for liturgical or doctrinal authority. It is one reader's work, offered for enjoyment; where it matters, weigh it against an established translation. (Placeholder text — final wording to come.)