Daily Scripture Reading

THE CHURCH IN ANTIOCH

19 Now those who had been scattered as a result of the persecution that started because of Stephen made their way as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch,g speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the GreeksB also, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus.h 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.i 22 News about them reachedC the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to travelD as far as Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged all of them to remain true to the Lord with devoted hearts,j 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spiritk and of faith. And large numbers of people were addedl to the Lord.

25 Then heE went to Tarsus to search for Saul, 26 and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught large numbers. The disciplesm were first called Christians at Antioch.n

FAMINE RELIEF

27 In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.o 28 One of them, named Agabus, stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine throughout the Roman world.F This took place during the reign of Claudius.p 29 Each of the disciples, according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brothers and sisters who lived in Judea.q 30 They did this, sending it to the eldersr by means of Barnabas and Saul.

JAMES MARTYRED AND PETER JAILED

12 About that time King Herod violently attacked some who belonged to the church, 2 and he executed James,s John’s brother, with the sword. 3 When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too, during the Festival of Unleavened Bread.t 4 After the arrest, he put him in prison and assigned four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was praying fervently to God for him.

g Ac 6:5; 13:1; 14:26; 15:22–23,30,35; 18:22; Gl 2:11

B Lit Hellenists

h Mt 27:32; Ac 4:36

i Lk 1:66; Ac 2:47; 9:35

C Lit reached the ears of

D Other mss omit to travel

j Ac 13:43; 14:26; 15:40; 20:24,32

k Lk 4:1; Ac 6:5; 7:55

l Ac 2:41,47; 5:14

E Other mss read Barnabas

m Ac 6:1; 9:1; 13:52; 14:20; 15:10; 16:1; 19:1

n Ac 26:28; 1Pt 4:16

o Ac 13:1; 15:32; 1Co 12:28; Eph 4:11

F Or the whole world

p Mt 24:14; Ac 18:2; 21:10; Gl 2:2

q Rm 15:26; 2Co 9:1–2; Gl 2:10

r Ac 14:23; 15:2; 16:4; 20:17; 21:18; 1Tm 5:17,19; Jms 5:14; 2Jn 1

s Mt 4:21; 20:23

t Ex 12:15; 23:15; Ac 12:5; 20:6; 24:27; 25:9; 2Co 1:11; Eph 6:18

 Christian Standard Bible (Ac 11:19–12:5). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.