16. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
17. Therefore if God gave them the same gift as also to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to be able to hinder God?”
18. And when they heard these things, they became silent and praised God, saying, “Then God has granted the repentance leading to life to the Gentiles also!”
19. Now those who had been scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, proclaiming the message to no one except Jews alone.
20. But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they came to Antioch, began to speak to the Hellenists also, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus.
21. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.
22. And the report came to the attention of the church that was in Jerusalem about them, and they sent out Barnabas as far as Antioch,
23. who, when he arrived and saw the grace of God, rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with devoted hearts,
24. because he was a good man and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a large number were added to the Lord.
25. So he departed for Tarsus to look for Saul.
26. And when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it happened to them also that they met together for a whole year with the church and taught a large number of people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.