Acts.12.19

When Herod sent for him and they could neither produce him nor explain why not, he ordered their execution: "Off with their heads!" Fed up with Judea and Jews, he went for a vacation to Caesarea.

Acts.12.19

After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed.

Acts.12.19

But when Herod had searched for him and not found him, he examined the guards and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.

Acts.12.19

Herod Agrippa ordered a thorough search for him. When he couldn't be found, Herod interrogated the guards and sentenced them to death. Afterward Herod left Judea to stay in Caesarea for a while.

Acts.12.20

But things went from bad to worse for Herod. Now people from Tyre and Sidon put him on the warpath. But they got Blastus, King Herod's right-hand man, to put in a good word for them and got a delegation together to iron things out. Because they were dependent on Judea for food supplies, they couldn't afford to let this go on too long.

Acts.12.20

Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there a while. He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. Having secured the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king's country for their food supply.

Acts.12.20

Now Herod had been very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; but they came to him with one accord, and having made Blastus the king's personal aide their friend, they asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food by the king's country.

Acts.12.20

Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they sent a delegation to make peace with him because their cities were dependent upon Herod's country for their food. They made friends with Blastus, Herod's personal assistant,

Acts.12.21

On the day set for their meeting, Herod, robed in pomposity, took his place on the throne and regaled them with a lot of hot air.

Acts.12.21

On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people.

Acts.12.21

So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them.

Acts.12.21

and an appointment with Herod was granted. When the day arrived, Herod put on his royal robes, sat on his throne, and made a speech to them.

Acts.12.22

The people played their part to the hilt and shouted flatteries: "The voice of God! The voice of God!"

Acts.12.22

They shouted, "This is the voice of a god, not of a man."

Acts.12.22

And the people kept shouting, "The voice of a god and not of a man!"

Acts.12.22

The people gave him a great ovation, shouting, "It is the voice of a god, not of a man!"

Acts.12.23

That was the last straw. God had had enough of Herod's arrogance and sent an angel to strike him down. Herod had given God no credit for anything. Down he went. Rotten to the core, a maggoty old man if there ever was one, he died.

Acts.12.23

Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.

Acts.12.23

Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.

Acts.12.23

Instantly, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, because he accepted the people's worship instead of giving the glory to God. So he was consumed with worms and died.

Acts.12.24

Meanwhile, the ministry of God's Word grew by leaps and bounds.

Acts.12.24

But the word of God continued to increase and spread.

Acts.12.24

But the word of God grew and multiplied.

Acts.12.24

But God's Good News was spreading rapidly, and there were many new believers.

Acts.12.25

Barnabas and Saul, once they had delivered the relief offering to the church in Jerusalem, went back to Antioch. This time they took John with them, the one they called Mark.

Acts.12.25

When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.

Acts.12.25

And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry, and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark.

Acts.12.25

When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission in Jerusalem, they returned to Antioch, taking John Mark with them.

Acts.13.1

The congregation in Antioch was blessed with a number of prophet-preachers and teachers: Barnabas, Simon, nicknamed Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen, an advisor to the ruler Herod, Saul.

Acts.13.1

In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.

Acts.13.1

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

Acts.13.1

Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called "the black man" ), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas ), and Saul.

Acts.13.2

One day as they were worshiping God--they were also fasting as they waited for guidance--the Holy Spirit spoke: "Take Barnabas and Saul and commission them for the work I have called them to do."

Acts.13.2

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."

Acts.13.2

As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."

Acts.13.2

One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work I have for them."

Acts.13.3

So they commissioned them. In that circle of intensity and obedience, of fasting and praying, they laid hands on their heads and sent them off.

Acts.13.3

So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

Acts.13.3

Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.

Acts.13.3

So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.

Acts.13.4

Sent off on their new assignment by the Holy Spirit, Barnabas and Saul went down to Seleucia and caught a ship for Cyprus.

Acts.13.4

The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.

Acts.13.4

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

Acts.13.4

Sent out by the Holy Spirit, Saul and Barnabas went down to the seaport of Seleucia and then sailed for the island of Cyprus.

Acts.13.5

The first thing they did when they put in at Salamis was preach God's Word in the Jewish meeting places. They had John along to help out as needed.

Acts.13.5

When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.

Acts.13.5

And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant.

Acts.13.5

There, in the town of Salamis, they went to the Jewish synagogues and preached the word of God. (John Mark went with them as their assistant.)

Acts.13.6

They traveled the length of the island, and at Paphos came upon a Jewish wizard

Acts.13.6

They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus,

Acts.13.6

Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus,

Acts.13.6

Afterward they preached from town to town across the entire island until finally they reached Paphos, where they met a Jewish sorcerer, a false prophet named Bar-Jesus.

Acts.13.7

who had worked himself into the confidence of the governor, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man not easily taken in by charlatans. The wizard's name was Bar-Jesus. He was as crooked as a corkscrew. The governor invited Barnabas and Saul in, wanting to hear God's Word firsthand from them.

Acts.13.7

who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God.

Acts.13.7

who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.

Acts.13.7

He had attached himself to the governor, Sergius Paulus, a man of considerable insight and understanding. The governor invited Barnabas and Saul to visit him, for he wanted to hear the word of God.

Acts.13.8

But Dr. Know-It-All (that's the wizard's name in plain English) stirred up a ruckus, trying to divert the governor from becoming a believer.

Acts.13.8

But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.

Acts.13.8

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

Acts.13.8

But Elymas, the sorcerer (as his name means in Greek), interfered and urged the governor to pay no attention to what Saul and Barnabas said. He was trying to turn the governor away from the Christian faith.

Acts.13.9

But Saul (or Paul), full of the Holy Spirit and looking him straight in the eye, said,

Acts.13.9

Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said,

Acts.13.9

Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him

Acts.13.9

Then Saul, also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked the sorcerer in the eye and said,

Acts.13.10

"You bag of wind, you parody of a devil--why, you stay up nights inventing schemes to cheat people out of God.

Acts.13.10

"You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?

Acts.13.10

and said, "O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?

Acts.13.10

"You son of the Devil, full of every sort of trickery and villainy, enemy of all that is good, will you never stop perverting the true ways of the Lord?

Acts.13.11

But now you've come up against God himself, and your game is up. You're about to go blind--no sunlight for you for a good long stretch." He was plunged immediately into a shadowy mist and stumbled around, begging people to take his hand and show him the way.

Acts.13.11

Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun."

Acts.13.11

And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time." And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.

Acts.13.11

And now the Lord has laid his hand of punishment upon you, and you will be stricken awhile with blindness." Instantly mist and darkness fell upon him, and he began wandering around begging for someone to take his hand and lead him.

Acts.13.12

When the governor saw what happened, he became a believer, full of enthusiasm over what they were saying about the Master.

Acts.13.12

Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.

Acts.13.12

Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

Acts.13.12

When the governor saw what had happened, he believed and was astonished at what he learned about the Lord.