4th Sunday of Easter Year C: 1st Reading

Acts 13:14, 43-52

Paul and Barnabas continued on from Perga
   and reached Antioch in Pisidia.
On the sabbath they entered the synagogue and took their seats.
Many Jews and worshipers who were converts to Judaism
   followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them
   and urged them to remain faithful to the grace of God.

On the following sabbath almost the whole city gathered
   to hear the word of the Lord.
When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy
   and with violent abuse contradicted what Paul said.
Both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said,
   “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first,
   but since you reject it
   and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life,
   we now turn to the Gentiles.
For so the Lord has commanded us,
   I have made you a light to the Gentiles,
   that you may be an instrument of salvation
   to the ends of the earth.”

The Gentiles were delighted when they heard this
   and glorified the word of the Lord.
All who were destined for eternal life came to believe,
   and the word of the Lord continued to spread
   through the whole region.
The Jews, however, incited the women of prominence who were worshipers
   and the leading men of the city,
   stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas,
   and expelled them from their territory.
So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them,
   and went to Iconium.
The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.