42
As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath.
43
When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.
44
On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.
45
When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him.
46
Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.
47
For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “ ‘I have made you[a] a light for the Gentiles, that you[b] may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’[c] ”
48
When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.
49
The word of the Lord spread through the whole region.