18. When they heard this they became silent. Then they glorified God, saying, “So God has granted repentance resulting in life even to the Gentiles! ”
19. 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, speaking the message to no one except Jews.
20. But there were some of them, Cypriot and Cyrenian men, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Hellenists, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus.
21. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.
22. Then the report about them was heard by the church that was at Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to travel 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 a firm resolve of the heart,
24. for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And large numbers of people were added to the Lord.
25. Then he 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 disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.
27. In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.