WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.030 --> 00:00:02.860 Henry: Welcome to immerse, the daily bible reading experience. 00:00:02.988 --> 00:00:03.748 Day 15. 00:00:03.999 --> 00:00:07.629 When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission to Jerusalem, they 00:00:07.629 --> 00:00:10.179 returned taking John Mark with them. 00:00:11.139 --> 00:00:15.099 Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were 00:00:15.099 --> 00:00:22.899 Barnabas Simeon called the Black Man, Lucius from Cyrene Manion, the Childhood 00:00:22.899 --> 00:00:25.949 Companion of King Herod Anus and Saul. 00:00:26.889 --> 00:00:31.389 One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit 00:00:31.389 --> 00:00:36.309 said, appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them. 00:00:37.059 --> 00:00:40.569 So after more fasting in prayer, the men laid their hands on 00:00:40.569 --> 00:00:42.309 them and sent them on their way. 00:00:43.869 --> 00:00:47.019 So Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit. 00:00:47.739 --> 00:00:52.659 They went down to the seaport of Scia and then sailed for the island of Cyprus. 00:00:53.244 --> 00:00:57.084 There in the town of Salami, they went to the Jewish synagogues 00:00:57.084 --> 00:00:58.464 and preached the word of God. 00:00:59.004 --> 00:01:01.194 John Mark went with them as their assistant. 00:01:02.184 --> 00:01:05.964 Afterward, they traveled from town to town across the entire island 00:01:06.324 --> 00:01:08.214 until finally they reached pfas. 00:01:08.754 --> 00:01:13.404 Where they met a Jewish sorcerer, a false prophet named bar Jesus. 00:01:13.764 --> 00:01:19.074 He had attached himself to the governor, Serius Paulus, who was an intelligent man. 00:01:19.704 --> 00:01:24.024 The governor invited Barnabas and Saul to visit him for, he wanted to hear the 00:01:24.024 --> 00:01:30.744 word of God, but elmas the sorcerer as his name means in Greek, interfered and 00:01:30.774 --> 00:01:35.664 urged the governor to pay no attention to what Barnabas and Saul said he was trying 00:01:35.664 --> 00:01:37.254 to keep the governor from believing. 00:01:37.989 --> 00:01:43.029 Saul, also known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit and 00:01:43.029 --> 00:01:44.769 he looked the sorcerer in the eye. 00:01:45.309 --> 00:01:50.349 Then he said, you son of the devil, full of every sort of deceit and 00:01:50.354 --> 00:01:53.019 fraud and enemy of all that is good. 00:01:53.469 --> 00:01:56.739 Will you never stop perverting the true ways of the Lord. 00:01:57.279 --> 00:02:01.329 Watch now for the Lord has laid his hand of punishment upon you 00:02:01.689 --> 00:02:03.099 and you will be struck blind. 00:02:03.609 --> 00:02:06.099 You will not see the sunlight for some time. 00:02:06.984 --> 00:02:11.214 Instantly mist and darkness came over the man's eyes and he began 00:02:11.214 --> 00:02:14.694 groping around begging for someone to take his hand and lead him. 00:02:15.564 --> 00:02:19.644 When the governor saw what had happened, he became a believer for he 00:02:19.644 --> 00:02:25.584 was astonished at the teaching about the Lord Paul and his companions. 00:02:25.584 --> 00:02:30.294 Then left fuss by ship for Pamphylia landing at the port town of Perga. 00:02:31.164 --> 00:02:35.544 There, John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem, but Paul 00:02:35.544 --> 00:02:40.344 and Barnabas traveled inland to Antioch of Pisidia on the Sabbath. 00:02:40.404 --> 00:02:44.454 They went to the synagogue for the services after the usual readings from 00:02:44.454 --> 00:02:46.134 the books of Moses and the prophets. 00:02:46.524 --> 00:02:49.044 Those in charge of the service sent them this message. 00:02:49.584 --> 00:02:52.224 Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for 00:02:52.224 --> 00:02:53.964 the people, come and give it. 00:02:54.834 --> 00:02:59.364 So Paul stood, lifted his hand to quiet them and started speaking. 00:03:00.369 --> 00:03:05.589 Men of Israel, he said, and you, God-fearing Gentiles, listen to me. 00:03:06.849 --> 00:03:11.769 The God of this nation of Israel chose our ancestors and made them multiply and 00:03:11.774 --> 00:03:13.899 grow strong during their stay in Egypt. 00:03:14.709 --> 00:03:16.389 Then with a powerful arm. 00:03:16.389 --> 00:03:18.189 He led them out of slavery. 00:03:18.819 --> 00:03:22.329 He put up with them through 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. 00:03:23.049 --> 00:03:27.129 Then he destroyed seven nations in Canaan and gave their land 00:03:27.129 --> 00:03:29.109 to Israel as an inheritance. 00:03:29.724 --> 00:03:36.204 All this took about 450 years after that God gave them judges to rule 00:03:36.204 --> 00:03:38.064 until the time of Samuel the prophet. 00:03:38.724 --> 00:03:42.984 Then the people begged for a king and God gave them Saul, son 00:03:42.984 --> 00:03:47.874 of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, who reigned for 40 years. 00:03:48.534 --> 00:03:51.564 But God removed Saul and replaced him with David. 00:03:51.924 --> 00:03:53.454 A man about whom God said. 00:03:53.694 --> 00:03:57.894 I have found David's son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. 00:03:58.404 --> 00:04:02.934 He will do everything I want him to do, and it is one of King 00:04:02.934 --> 00:04:07.884 David's descendants, Jesus, who is God's promised Savior of Israel. 00:04:08.544 --> 00:04:12.444 Before he came, John the Baptist preached that all the people of 00:04:12.444 --> 00:04:17.034 Israel needed to repent of their sins and turned to God and be baptized. 00:04:17.724 --> 00:04:22.104 As John was finishing his ministry, he asked, do you think I am the Messiah? 00:04:22.434 --> 00:04:23.754 No, I am not. 00:04:24.264 --> 00:04:29.184 But he is coming soon and I'm not even worthy to be his slave and 00:04:29.189 --> 00:04:31.164 untie the sandals on his feet. 00:04:32.274 --> 00:04:36.984 Brothers, you sons of Abraham, and also you God-fearing Gentiles. 00:04:37.494 --> 00:04:40.644 This message of salvation has been sent to us. 00:04:41.244 --> 00:04:44.904 The people in Jerusalem and their leaders did not recognize Jesus as 00:04:44.904 --> 00:04:46.614 the one the prophets had spoken about. 00:04:47.124 --> 00:04:52.194 Instead, they condemned him and in doing this, they fulfilled the prophet's 00:04:52.194 --> 00:04:54.444 words that are read every Sabbath. 00:04:54.924 --> 00:05:00.384 They found no legal reason to execute him, but they asked Pilate to have him killed. 00:05:00.384 --> 00:05:05.904 Anyway, when they had done all that, the prophecies said about him, they took him 00:05:05.904 --> 00:05:11.814 down from the cross and placed him in a tomb, but God raised him from the dead. 00:05:12.309 --> 00:05:16.149 And over a period of many days, he appeared to those who had gone 00:05:16.149 --> 00:05:18.369 with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. 00:05:18.939 --> 00:05:21.819 They are now his witnesses to the people of Israel. 00:05:22.599 --> 00:05:25.959 And now we are here to bring you this good news. 00:05:26.439 --> 00:05:31.209 The promise was made to our aunt ancestors and God has now fulfilled it for us, 00:05:31.209 --> 00:05:33.549 their descendants by raising Jesus. 00:05:34.269 --> 00:05:38.979 This is what the second Psalm says about Jesus, you are my son. 00:05:39.369 --> 00:05:41.769 Today I have become your father. 00:05:42.384 --> 00:05:47.334 For God had promised to raise him from the dead, not leaving him to rot in the grave. 00:05:47.814 --> 00:05:52.254 He said, I will give you the sacred blessings I promise to David. 00:05:52.974 --> 00:05:55.014 Another Psalm explains it more fully. 00:05:55.404 --> 00:05:58.914 You will not allow your holy one to rot in the grave. 00:05:59.484 --> 00:06:04.104 This is not a reference to David for after David had done the will of God in his 00:06:04.104 --> 00:06:09.684 own generation, he died and was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed. 00:06:10.344 --> 00:06:14.814 No, it was a reference to someone else, someone whom God raised 00:06:14.934 --> 00:06:16.974 and whose body did not decay. 00:06:17.754 --> 00:06:19.104 Brothers, listen. 00:06:19.614 --> 00:06:23.334 We are here to proclaim that through this man, Jesus. 00:06:23.424 --> 00:06:25.674 There is forgiveness for your sins. 00:06:26.184 --> 00:06:29.964 Everyone who believes in him is made right in God's sight. 00:06:30.204 --> 00:06:32.544 Something the law of Moses could never do. 00:06:33.459 --> 00:06:34.209 Be careful. 00:06:34.299 --> 00:06:36.759 Don't let the prophet's words apply to you. 00:06:36.999 --> 00:06:42.489 For they said, look, you mockers, be amazed and die for I am doing something 00:06:42.489 --> 00:06:47.439 in your own day, something you wouldn't believe even if someone told you about it. 00:06:48.489 --> 00:06:52.959 As Paul and Barnabas left the synagogue that day, the people begged them to speak 00:06:52.959 --> 00:06:54.759 about these things again the next week. 00:06:55.434 --> 00:07:00.114 Many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, 00:07:00.294 --> 00:07:04.674 and the two men urged them to continue to rely on the grace of God. 00:07:06.324 --> 00:07:09.834 The following week, almost the entire city turned out to hear 00:07:09.839 --> 00:07:11.274 them preach the word of the Lord. 00:07:11.904 --> 00:07:15.294 But when some of the Jews saw the crowds, they were jealous. 00:07:15.624 --> 00:07:19.044 So they slandered Paul and argued against whatever he said. 00:07:20.019 --> 00:07:25.119 Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and declared it was necessary that we 00:07:25.119 --> 00:07:27.849 first preach the word of God to you Jews. 00:07:28.389 --> 00:07:32.349 But since you have rejected it and judged yourselves unworthy of eternal 00:07:32.349 --> 00:07:34.929 life, we will offer it to the Gentiles. 00:07:35.349 --> 00:07:40.029 For the Lord gave us this command when he said, I have made you a light to 00:07:40.029 --> 00:07:44.319 the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the farthest corners of the earth. 00:07:45.204 --> 00:07:49.554 When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and thanked the Lord for 00:07:49.554 --> 00:07:54.174 his message, and all who were chosen for eternal life became believers. 00:07:54.684 --> 00:07:57.504 So the Lord's message spread throughout that region. 00:07:58.494 --> 00:08:03.114 Then the Jews stirred up the influential religious women and the leaders of the 00:08:03.114 --> 00:08:08.364 city, and they incited a mob against Paul and Barnabas and ran them out of town. 00:08:09.039 --> 00:08:13.539 So they shook the dust from their feet as a sign of rejection and went to the 00:08:13.539 --> 00:08:19.269 town of Iconium, and the believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. 00:08:21.069 --> 00:08:23.169 The same thing happened in Iconium. 00:08:23.589 --> 00:08:27.369 Paul and Barnabas went to the Jewish synagogue and preached with such 00:08:27.369 --> 00:08:31.569 power that a great number of both Jews and Greeks became believers. 00:08:32.154 --> 00:08:36.564 Some of the Jews, however, spurned God's message and poisoned the minds of the 00:08:36.564 --> 00:08:38.694 Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas. 00:08:39.414 --> 00:08:42.954 But the apostles stayed there a long time preaching boldly 00:08:42.954 --> 00:08:44.364 about the grace of the Lord. 00:08:44.964 --> 00:08:48.804 And the Lord proved their message was true by giving them power to 00:08:48.804 --> 00:08:50.874 do miraculous signs and wonders. 00:08:51.474 --> 00:08:54.504 But the people of the town were divided in their opinion about them. 00:08:55.014 --> 00:08:58.284 Some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles. 00:08:59.199 --> 00:09:02.799 Then a mob of Gentiles and Jews, along with their leaders, 00:09:03.099 --> 00:09:05.169 decided to attack and stone them. 00:09:05.769 --> 00:09:10.599 When the apostles learned of it, they fled to the region of Lyonia, to the towns of 00:09:10.929 --> 00:09:13.359 Lyra and Derby and the surrounding area. 00:09:13.989 --> 00:09:16.329 And there they preached the good news. 00:09:17.859 --> 00:09:22.299 While they were at Lira, Paul and Barnabas came upon a man with crippled feet. 00:09:22.749 --> 00:09:25.869 He had been that way from birth, so he had never walked. 00:09:26.649 --> 00:09:28.119 He was sitting and listening. 00:09:28.119 --> 00:09:34.029 As Paul preached looking straight at him, Paul realized he had faith to be healed. 00:09:34.689 --> 00:09:39.519 So Paul called to him in a loud voice, stand up, and the man jumped 00:09:39.519 --> 00:09:41.619 to his feet and started walking. 00:09:42.459 --> 00:09:46.899 When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in their local dialect, 00:09:47.109 --> 00:09:49.719 these men are gods in human form. 00:09:50.349 --> 00:09:54.579 They decided that Barnabas was their Greek God, Zeus, and that Paul was 00:09:54.584 --> 00:09:57.039 Hermes since he was the chief speaker. 00:09:57.879 --> 00:10:02.199 Now the temple of Zeus was located just outside the town, so the priest 00:10:02.199 --> 00:10:06.159 of the temple and the crowd brought bowls and wreaths of flowers to the 00:10:06.159 --> 00:10:10.239 town gates, and they prepared to offer sacrifices to the apostles. 00:10:11.199 --> 00:10:15.189 But when the Apostles Barnabas and Paul heard what was happening, they 00:10:15.189 --> 00:10:19.239 tore their clothing in dismay and ran out among the people, shouting 00:10:19.509 --> 00:10:21.579 friends, why are you doing this? 00:10:22.029 --> 00:10:24.549 We are merely human beings just like you. 00:10:24.939 --> 00:10:28.449 We have come to bring you the good news that you should turn from these 00:10:28.449 --> 00:10:34.359 worthless things and turn to the living God who made heaven and earth the sea 00:10:34.359 --> 00:10:39.009 and everything in them in the past, he permitted all the nations to go their 00:10:39.009 --> 00:10:43.539 own ways, but he never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness. 00:10:44.079 --> 00:10:47.979 For instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives 00:10:47.979 --> 00:10:50.019 you food and joyful hearts. 00:10:50.754 --> 00:10:54.894 But even with these words, Paul and Barnabas could scarcely restrain 00:10:54.894 --> 00:10:56.694 the people from sacrificing to them. 00:10:58.044 --> 00:11:03.534 Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowds to their side. 00:11:04.104 --> 00:11:07.914 They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town thinking he was dead. 00:11:08.724 --> 00:11:13.434 But as the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town. 00:11:14.844 --> 00:11:17.844 The next day, he left with Barnabas for Derby. 00:11:18.999 --> 00:11:22.629 After preaching the good news in Derby and making many disciples, 00:11:23.019 --> 00:11:28.659 Paul and Barnabas returned to Lira, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia where 00:11:28.659 --> 00:11:30.129 they strengthened the believers. 00:11:30.729 --> 00:11:34.059 They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that 00:11:34.064 --> 00:11:37.329 we must suffer many hardships to enter the kingdom of God. 00:11:38.169 --> 00:11:41.649 Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in every church. 00:11:42.024 --> 00:11:43.584 With prayer and fasting. 00:11:43.764 --> 00:11:48.414 They turned the elders over to the care of the Lord in whom they had put their trust. 00:11:49.194 --> 00:11:52.224 Then they traveled back through pisidia to Pamphylia. 00:11:52.764 --> 00:11:56.364 They preached the word in perga, then went down to Aliah. 00:11:57.174 --> 00:12:02.274 Finally, they returned by ship to Antioch of Syria where their journey had begun. 00:12:02.994 --> 00:12:06.714 The believers there had entrusted them to the grace of God to do 00:12:06.714 --> 00:12:08.304 the work they had now completed. 00:12:09.069 --> 00:12:13.509 Upon arriving in Antioch, they called the church together and reported 00:12:13.509 --> 00:12:16.899 everything God had done through them and how he had opened the 00:12:16.899 --> 00:12:18.969 door of faith to the Gentiles too. 00:12:19.659 --> 00:12:22.839 And they stayed there with the believers for a long time. 00:12:24.179 --> 00:12:28.689 The while Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch of Syria, some men from Judea 00:12:28.689 --> 00:12:30.759 arrived and began to teach the believers. 00:12:31.269 --> 00:12:36.399 Unless you are circumcised, as required by the law of Moses, you cannot be saved. 00:12:37.179 --> 00:12:40.329 Paul and Barnabas disagreed with them arguing vehemently. 00:12:40.929 --> 00:12:45.729 Finally, the church decided to send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem accompanied 00:12:45.734 --> 00:12:50.499 by some local believers to talk to the apostles and elders about this question. 00:12:51.069 --> 00:12:55.659 The church sent the delegates to Jerusalem and they stopped along the way in Fania 00:12:55.749 --> 00:12:57.759 and Samaria to visit the believers. 00:12:58.269 --> 00:13:03.429 They told them much to everyone's joy that the Gentiles too were being converted. 00:13:04.434 --> 00:13:08.574 When they arrived in Jerusalem, Barnabas and Paul were welcomed by the whole 00:13:08.574 --> 00:13:11.244 church, including the apostles and elders. 00:13:11.694 --> 00:13:15.624 They reported everything God had done through them, but then some of the 00:13:15.624 --> 00:13:19.584 believers who belonged to the sec, the Pharisees stood up and insisted the 00:13:19.589 --> 00:13:24.864 Gentile converts must be circumcised and required to follow the law of Moses. 00:13:25.614 --> 00:13:29.094 So the apostles and elders met together to resolve this issue. 00:13:29.709 --> 00:13:34.329 At the meeting after a long discussion, Peter stood and addressed them as follows. 00:13:35.079 --> 00:13:39.759 Brothers, you all know that God chose me from among you some time ago to 00:13:39.759 --> 00:13:43.509 preach to the Gentiles so that they could hear the good news and believe. 00:13:44.469 --> 00:13:49.419 God knows people's hearts and he confirmed that he accepts Gentiles by giving them 00:13:49.419 --> 00:13:51.669 the Holy Spirit just as he did to us. 00:13:52.329 --> 00:13:56.049 He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed 00:13:56.049 --> 00:13:57.339 their hearts through faith. 00:13:58.119 --> 00:14:00.369 So why are you now challenging God? 00:14:00.369 --> 00:14:04.629 By burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor 00:14:04.629 --> 00:14:06.669 our ancestors were able to bear. 00:14:07.329 --> 00:14:11.349 We believe that we are all saved the same way by the undeserved 00:14:11.349 --> 00:14:13.059 grace of the Lord Jesus. 00:14:14.154 --> 00:14:18.564 Everyone listened quietly as Barnabas and Paul told about the miraculous 00:14:18.564 --> 00:14:21.744 signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. 00:14:22.494 --> 00:14:26.934 When they had finished, James stood and said, brothers, listen to me. 00:14:27.384 --> 00:14:31.284 Peter has told you about the time God first visited the Gentiles to 00:14:31.289 --> 00:14:35.664 take from them a people for himself, and this conversion of Gentiles is 00:14:35.664 --> 00:14:37.434 exactly what the prophets predicted. 00:14:38.004 --> 00:14:43.014 As it is written afterward, I will return and restore the fallen house of David. 00:14:43.614 --> 00:14:48.144 I will rebuild its ruins and restore it so that the rest of humanity might 00:14:48.144 --> 00:14:50.754 seek the Lord, including the Gentiles. 00:14:51.114 --> 00:14:52.974 All those I have called to be mine. 00:14:53.544 --> 00:14:54.834 The Lord has spoken. 00:14:55.164 --> 00:15:00.954 He who made these things known so long ago, and so my judgment is that 00:15:00.954 --> 00:15:04.374 we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 00:15:05.109 --> 00:15:09.219 Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from eating food offered 00:15:09.219 --> 00:15:11.559 to idols from sexual immorality. 00:15:11.949 --> 00:15:15.729 From eating the meat of strangled animals and from consuming blood. 00:15:16.389 --> 00:15:20.469 For these laws of Moses have been preached in Jewish synagogues in every city, 00:15:20.469 --> 00:15:23.079 on every Sabbath for many generations. 00:15:24.354 --> 00:15:28.164 Then the apostles and elders together with the whole church in Jerusalem 00:15:28.194 --> 00:15:32.424 chose delegates, and they sent them to Antioch of Syria with Paul and 00:15:32.424 --> 00:15:34.314 Barnabas to report on this decision. 00:15:34.974 --> 00:15:37.254 The men chosen were two of the church leaders. 00:15:37.404 --> 00:15:40.794 Judas also called Barsabas and Silas. 00:15:41.334 --> 00:15:42.984 This is the letter they took with them. 00:15:44.184 --> 00:15:48.264 This letter is from the apostles and elders, your brothers in Jerusalem. 00:15:48.774 --> 00:15:52.674 It is written to the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and cia. 00:15:53.679 --> 00:15:54.459 Greetings. 00:15:55.299 --> 00:15:58.839 We understand that some men from here have troubled you and upset you with 00:15:58.839 --> 00:16:01.209 their teaching, but we did not send them. 00:16:01.899 --> 00:16:05.559 So we decided having come to complete agreement to send you 00:16:05.559 --> 00:16:09.249 official representatives along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul 00:16:09.549 --> 00:16:12.969 who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:16:13.659 --> 00:16:17.499 We are sending Judas and Silas to confirm what we have decided 00:16:17.499 --> 00:16:18.639 concerning your question. 00:16:19.584 --> 00:16:24.144 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden 00:16:24.144 --> 00:16:26.184 on you than these few requirements. 00:16:26.544 --> 00:16:30.684 You must abstain from eating food offered to idols from consuming 00:16:30.689 --> 00:16:35.034 blood, or the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. 00:16:35.424 --> 00:16:37.614 If you do this, you will do well. 00:16:38.274 --> 00:16:43.134 Farewell, the messengers went at once to Antioch, where they 00:16:43.134 --> 00:16:46.164 called a general meeting of the believers and delivered the letter. 00:16:46.779 --> 00:16:49.959 There was great joy throughout the church that day as they 00:16:49.959 --> 00:16:51.669 read this encouraging message. 00:16:52.509 --> 00:16:57.669 Then Judas and Silas, both being prophets spoke at length to the believers 00:16:57.999 --> 00:17:00.129 encouraging and strengthening their faith. 00:17:00.729 --> 00:17:04.359 They stayed for a while, and then the believers sent them back to the church 00:17:04.359 --> 00:17:09.459 in Jerusalem with a blessing of peace, Paul and Barnabas stayed at Antioch. 00:17:09.849 --> 00:17:13.479 They and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord There. 00:17:15.084 --> 00:17:20.574 After some time, Paul said to Barnabas, let's go back and visit each city where we 00:17:20.574 --> 00:17:24.744 previously preached the word of the Lord to see how the new believers are doing. 00:17:25.404 --> 00:17:30.474 Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark, but Paul disagreed 00:17:30.474 --> 00:17:34.944 strongly since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not 00:17:34.944 --> 00:17:36.564 continued with them in their work. 00:17:37.134 --> 00:17:41.964 Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated Barnabas took John 00:17:41.964 --> 00:17:44.364 Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus. 00:17:44.919 --> 00:17:49.149 Paul chose Silas, and as he left, the believers entrusted 00:17:49.149 --> 00:17:50.919 him to the Lord's gracious care. 00:17:51.519 --> 00:17:56.169 Then he traveled throughout Syria, Andia strengthening the churches there. 00:17:57.339 --> 00:18:00.819 Paul went first to Derby and then to Lyra, where there was 00:18:00.819 --> 00:18:02.679 a young disciple named Timothy. 00:18:03.189 --> 00:18:07.569 His mother was a Jewish believer, but his father was a Greek Timothy 00:18:07.569 --> 00:18:11.829 was well thought of by the believers in Lira and Iconium, so Paul wanted 00:18:11.829 --> 00:18:13.629 him to join them on their journey. 00:18:14.304 --> 00:18:17.784 In deference to the Jews of the area, he arranged for Timothy to 00:18:17.784 --> 00:18:19.734 be circumcised before they left. 00:18:20.064 --> 00:18:22.404 For everyone knew that his father was a Greek. 00:18:23.034 --> 00:18:26.334 Then they went from town to town, instructing the believers to 00:18:26.334 --> 00:18:30.084 follow the decisions made by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. 00:18:31.344 --> 00:18:36.114 So the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew larger every day. 00:18:38.004 --> 00:18:40.854 This concludes today's Immer reading experience. 00:18:40.974 --> 00:18:42.174 Thank you for joining us.