Acts 13 - CEVUS06 & MB

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Giving is a powerful act that reflects the heart of God and His desire for us to live generously. Throughout the Bible, we find numerous teachings that emphasize the importance and impact of giving. Whether it’s through offering our time, resources, or love, the act of giving not only blesses others but also enriches our own lives. Here are seven Bible verses that highlight the power of giving and encourage us to embrace a life of generosity.

1. Acts 20:35 “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

When we give to others, especially those in need, we are not only helping them but also experiencing the joy and fulfillment that comes from generosity. It reminds us that true happiness is found in selflessness.

2. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

The emphasis on giving cheerfully reminds us that our attitude matters. God values a heart that gives freely and joyfully, knowing that our contributions can lead to abundant blessings.

3. Proverbs 11:25 “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”

Generosity is not just about meeting the needs of others; it also brings personal renewal and prosperity. When we give, we often receive in return, not necessarily in material wealth, but in spiritual and emotional well-being. The act of giving refreshes both the giver and the recipient.

4. Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Jesus emphasizes the abundance that comes from giving. The imagery of a generous measure being returned to us illustrates that our giving will not go unnoticed or unrewarded. When we give with an open heart, we can expect God’s blessings to overflow in our lives.

5. Matthew 6:3-4 “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

We should give quietly and humbly, without seeking recognition or praise. The focus is on the sincerity and purity of our giving. God sees our acts of kindness, even when they are done in secret, and He will reward us accordingly. It reminds us that true giving is done for the benefit of others, not for personal glory.

6. Hebrews 13:16 “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”

Sharing what we have with others is a sacrifice that pleases God. This verse highlights the importance of being mindful of others’ needs and taking action to meet them. It serves as a reminder that our acts of generosity are not just good deeds; they are expressions of our faith and love for God.

7. James 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

All we have comes from God. Recognizing that every gift we receive is from Him encourages us to be generous in sharing those gifts with others. When we give, we are participating in God’s work, distributing His blessings to those around us.

Conclusion

The Bible teaches that giving is a powerful way to express our faith, love, and gratitude. These verses reveal that generosity not only impacts those we help but also enriches our own lives, bringing us closer to God and His purposes. Whether through our resources, time, or compassion, giving allows us to reflect God’s love in a tangible way, creating a ripple effect of blessings that extend far beyond what we can see. By embracing a spirit of generosity, we open ourselves up to experience the fullness of life that God desires for us.

Barnabas and Saul Are Chosen and Sent

1 The church at Antioch had several prophets and teachers. They were Barnabas, Simeon, also called Niger, Lucius from Cyrene, Manaen, who was Herod's close friend, and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and going without eating, the Holy Spirit told them, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul to do the work for which I have chosen them.” 3 Everyone prayed and went without eating for a while longer. Next, they placed their hands on Barnabas and Saul to show that they had been appointed to do this work. Then everyone sent them on their way.

Barnabas and Saul in Cyprus

4 After Barnabas and Saul had been sent by the Holy Spirit, they went to Seleucia. From there they sailed to the island of Cyprus. 5 They arrived at Salamis and began to preach God's message in the synagogues. They also had John as a helper.

6 Barnabas and Saul went all the way to the city of Paphos on the other end of the island, where they met a Jewish man named Bar-Jesus. He practiced witchcraft and was a false prophet. 7 He also worked for Sergius Paulus, who was very smart and was the governor of the island. Sergius Paulus wanted to hear God's message, and he sent for Barnabas and Saul. 8 But Bar-Jesus, whose other name was Elymas, was against them. He even tried to keep the governor from having faith in the Lord.

9 Then Saul, better known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit. He looked straight at Elymas 10 and said, “You son of the devil! You are a liar, a crook, and an enemy of everything that is right. When will you stop speaking against the true ways of the Lord? 11 The Lord is going to punish you by making you completely blind for a while.”

Suddenly the man's eyes were covered by a dark mist, and he went around trying to get someone to lead him by the hand. 12 When the governor saw what had happened, he was amazed at this teaching about the Lord. So he put his faith in the Lord.

Paul and Barnabas in Antioch of Pisidia

13 Paul and the others left Paphos and sailed to Perga in Pamphylia. But John left them and went back to Jerusalem. 14 The rest of them went on from Perga to Antioch in Pisidia. Then on the Sabbath they went to the synagogue and sat down.

15 After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the leaders sent someone over to tell Paul and Barnabas, “Friends, if you have anything to say that will help the people, please say it.”

16 Paul got up. He motioned with his hand and said:

People of Israel, and everyone else who worships God, listen! 17 The God of Israel chose our ancestors, and he let our people prosper while they were living in Egypt. Then with his mighty power he led them out, 18 and for about 40 years he took care of them in the desert. 19 He destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan and gave their land to our people. 20 All this happened in about 450 years.

Then God gave our people judges until the time of the prophet Samuel, 21 but the people demanded a king. So for 40 years God gave them King Saul, the son of Kish from the tribe of Benjamin. 22 Later, God removed Saul and let David rule in his place. God said about him, “David the son of Jesse is the kind of person who pleases me most! He does everything I want him to do.”

23 God promised that someone from David's family would come to save the people of Israel, and this one is Jesus. 24 But before Jesus came, John was telling everyone in Israel to turn back to God and be baptized. 25 Then, when John's work was almost done, he said, “Who do you people think I am? Do you think I am the Promised One? He will come later, and I am not good enough to untie his sandals.”

26 Now listen, you descendants of Abraham! Pay attention, all of you Gentiles who are here to worship God! Listen to this message about how to be saved, because it is for everyone. 27 The people of Jerusalem and their leaders didn't realize who Jesus was. And they didn't understand the words of the prophets they read each Sabbath. So they condemned Jesus just as the prophets had said.

28-29 They did exactly what the Scriptures said they would. Even though they couldn't find any reason to put Jesus to death, they still asked Pilate to have him killed.

After Jesus had been put to death, he was taken down from the cross and placed in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from death! 31 Then for many days Jesus appeared to his followers who had gone with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. Now they are telling our people about him.

32 God made a promise to our ancestors. And we are here to tell you the good news 33 that he has kept this promise to us. It is just as the second Psalm says about Jesus,

“You are my son because today

I have become your Father.”

34 God raised Jesus from death and will never let his body decay. It is just as God said,

“I will make to you

the same holy promises

that I made to David.”

35 And in another psalm it says, “God will never let the body of his Holy One decay.”

36 When David was alive, he obeyed God. Then after he died, he was buried in the family grave, and his body decayed. 37 But God raised Jesus from death, and his body did not decay.

38 My friends, the message is that Jesus can forgive your sins! The Law of Moses could not set you free from all your sins. 39 But everyone who has faith in Jesus is set free. 40 Make sure what the prophets have said doesn't happen to you. They said,

41 “Look, you people

who make fun of God!

Be amazed

and disappear.

I will do something today

that you won't believe,

even if someone

tells you about it!”

42 As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people begged them to say more about these same things on the next Sabbath. 43 After the service, many Jews and a lot of Gentiles who worshiped God went with them. Paul and Barnabas begged them all to remain faithful to God, who had treated them with undeserved grace.

44 The next Sabbath almost everyone in town came to hear the message about the Lord. 45 When the Jewish people saw the crowds, they were very jealous. They insulted Paul and spoke against everything he said.

46 But Paul and Barnabas bravely said:

We had to tell God's message to you before we told it to anyone else. But you rejected the message! This proves that you don't deserve eternal life. Now we are going to the Gentiles. 47 The Lord has given us this command,

“I have placed you here

as a light

for the Gentiles.

You are to take

the saving power of God

to people everywhere on earth.”

48 This message made the Gentiles glad, and they praised what they had heard about the Lord. Everyone who had been chosen for eternal life then put their faith in the Lord.

49 The message about the Lord spread all over this region. 50 But the Jewish leaders went to some of the important men in the town and to some respected women who were religious. They turned them against Paul and Barnabas and started making trouble for them. They even chased them out of this part of the country.

51 Paul and Barnabas shook the dust from that place off their feet and went on to the city of Iconium.

52 But the Lord's followers in Antioch were very happy and were filled with the Holy Spirit.

Baranaba ndi Saulo be Anjite ago Azote

1 Känisa Anetiokia roya nebii azaka ndi miemba'bai be orivoya: Baranaba, Simeona (se äzite Uni) Lukio (ni Kurene yasi), Manae (se mbate voaloya wari'ba Eroda be), ago Saulo. 2 Ondro ànya kayi ugu ruindu Opi ri ndi ugu akpa be oko, Tori Alokado atate ànyari ekye: “Mìdi Baranaba ndi Saulo be märi, losi se mäzi ànya be kigye oyene.”

3 Ànya akpayite ago mätuyite, 'bayi dríi ànyaro te ànya dri; ago zoyi ànya te.

Paulo ndi Baranaba be Saiporosi ya

4 Tori Alokado kozo ànya te oko, Baranaba ndi Saulo be oyiyite Seleukia ya ago diyite ni lau le roŋga Saiporosi roya. 5 Ondro ànya kesayite Salami ya oko, ànya peyi ata Lu rote zoitaeriro ya. Yoane se äzibe Marako ana orivoya ànya yibe ŋgaopa oyevoya losi ya.

6 Ànya oyiyite roŋga drisi le Pafo ya ago ànya usuyi tetedri'ba aza te lau äzite Bara-Yesu, nda orivoya Yuda yi se atate ekye yi nebi yi. 7 Nda orivoya bereazi Seregio Paulo, wari'ba roŋga ana ro ro, se orivoya mano tauniekye yi. Wari'ba zi Baranaba ndi Saulo be te nda kandra tana nda le ata Lu ro erine. 8 Oko tetedri'ba Eleyema (Ävuru ndaro Giriki si ni wo), edreteŋbi ànya mile, nda ojote wari'ba anane ni taoma ya. 9 'Dooko Saulo, se ävuruna kpa Paulo, ṛo twi Tori Alokado be, nda ndrevo ṛo ŋgye tetedri'ba dri 10 ago atate ekye: “Mi ŋgwa kicu'ba ro ono! Mi orivoya kyila'baazi ŋgase cini orivoya kadoro ro. Mi orivoya twi ta cini undiro ŋgaodoro robe, ago ondoalo nyugu ruutri taŋgye Opi ro tozane kowero! 11 Drí Opi ro ikyina 'da midri yau; nya'dona 'da miako ago miri ŋgaeyi kitu ro ondrene i'do tuna fere.”

Dori vouni lätutu ro e'dete äkpu Eleyema dri ago tako mi ndaro te; ago nda abate täṛitäṛi ruutribe 'diaza usune nda lepene drí si. 12 Ondro wari'ba kondre tase ka'dobe ana te oko, nda matate; tana nda larote ndra ŋgaemba ta Opi rota ro.

Paulo ndi Baranaba be Anetiokia Pisidia roya

13 Paulo ndi abaazii ndaro be diyi teni Pafo yasi ago sayite Perega, 'bakici Pamefulia roya, se ni kigyesi Yoane se äzibe Marako ana e'be ànya te ago gote kovole Yerusalema ya. 14 Ànya oyiyite ni Perega yasi ago esayite Anetiokia ya Pisidia ya, ago tu Sabata rosi ànya oyiyite zotaeriro ya ago riyite vuru. 15 Ondro äzi tate ni Ota Musa ro ndi taegyi nebii robe yasi oko, dri'bai zotaeriro ro ozoyi tate ànyari ekye: “Ädrupii, màle ämiri taopene lidri ri ondro nyà'dote lazo agoago ozoro be ànyari owo.” 16 Paulo edrete kuru, kanda drí ndaro te ago eto taope te ekye: “Yisaraele'bai azi ago Atrai se cini noŋwa kabe Lu mätu ono; nyèri ta maro! 17 Lu lidri Yisaraele ro ro nji zutui amaro ni ago 'ba lidri ono te tu'de 'desi ro tuse ànya koriyibe atrai ro Ezipeto ya ana si. Lu lofo ànya te tesi ni Ezipeto yasi mbara para ndaro si, 18 ago ndroa 'butesu nda iŋgyiyate ànya ta vocowa ya. 19 Nda tufu tu'dei njidrieri te wari Kanana roya ago 'ba lidri ndaro te a'done wari kuzupi'bai ro. 20 Tase cini ono ru ndroa oso kama su ago 'butenji.

“Ono vosi nda ozo vureope'bai te ànyari madale tu nebi Samuele rosi. 21 Ago ondro ànya kejiyi tate 'bädri'ba ta oko, Lu ozo Saulo ŋgwa Kisi ro ni 'bakala Benjamina ro yasi te ànyari, a'done 'bädri'ba ànyaro ndroa 'butesu. 22 Nda ona vosi, Lu 'ba Dawidi te 'bädri'ba ro ànyari. Ono ni tase Lu katabe ta ndaro ta owo ekye: ‘Musu Dawidi ŋgwa Yisai ro ni mano se mulube owo, mano se oyena tase cini male be oyene ndi.’ 23 Yesu orivoya ni zelevo Dawidi ro yasi, se Lu 'bate Opa'ba lidri Yisaraele ro ro, oso nda ko'batabe ronye. 24 Teinye Yesu ri losi ndaro eto ako, Yoane petate lidri cini Yisaraele ro ri ekye beṛo ànyari drietane ni takozi ànyaro yasi ago a'done bapatisi be. 25 Ago Yoane ka oyete losi ndaro ondene oko, nda atate lidri ri ekye: ‘Nyusu amiro be ma a'di owo ya? Ma ko nda se nyàbe kotena owo. Oko nyeri! Nda se kabe ikyi mavo ono takado maro i'do amba mvoka otrine ni pa ndaro yasi.’

26 “Yisaraele'bai azi, zelevoi Abarayama ro, ndi Atrai cini se noŋwa kabe Lu mätu ono be; lazo se ŋgaopa ro ono ezote ämäri! 27 Tana lidri se koribe Yerusalema ya ndi dri'bai ànyaro be niyi kote anjioko Yesu ni Opa'ba owo, ca niyi ata nebii ro se abe uzina Sabata cini si kpa ko. Caoko 'bayi ata nebii rote a'done ŋgye vure Yesu ro opesi. 28 Ago ànya niyi ca ko ta aza usune nda o'baza odrane oko, ànya ejiyi Pilato te nda o'bane odrane. 29 Ago tase cini taegyi katabe ta ndaro ta ànyari oyena vosi oko, ànya ruyi nda te vuru ni taka dri ago seyi nda te 'bu ya. 30 Oko Lu lofo nda teni avo ya, 31 ago u'duna amba nda ka'darute ànya se kababe nda be ni Galilaya ya le Yerusalema ya kai ri. Yauono ànya ni tazevoedre'bai ndaro Lidri Yisaraele ro ri. 32 Ago noŋwa ono mèzi Lazokado yi ämiri; tao'baro se Lu ko'ba be zutui amaro ri 33 yauono nda yete ämäri, ama se ni orivoya zelevoi ànyaro, Yesu eŋga si adri ya. Oso egyi ta be Räṛu ṛiri ya ronye ekye:

‘Mi te Ŋgwa maro;

ondro ono ma te Täpi miro.’

34 Ago ono ni tase Lu katabe ta nda loforo ta ni avo yasi owo, nda oŋgwana ko alona 'budri ya:

‘Mozona äṛu alokado ago endaro 'da miri

se, ma'ba tana be Dawidi ri ana.’

35 Oso nda ata kpate vo aza ya ronye ekye:

‘Milena ta ruindu'ba ŋgye miro ro ko oŋgwane 'budri ya.’

36 Tana Dawidi indurute ta Lu rota tu modo ndaro roya, ago 'dooko nda drate, ago ase nda te zutui ndaro be, ago avo ndaro ŋgwate 'budri ya. 37 Oko ono a'do kote nda se Lu kolofobe ni avo yasi ri. 38 Ami cini, Yisaraele'bai azi, ämiri ta ono unine ŋgye anjioko Yesu si lazo ta 'die'bero ta takozi rota apete ämiri. 39 Ànya se cini kabe taoma nda ya a'bate dritai ro ni takozi cini risi se Ota Musa ro ni ko ami o'bane dritai ro ni rigye. 40 Ka'do inye, nya'do taoti be, ukyi tase nebii katabe ana a'do 'da ämiri.

41 ‘Mindre, ami 'diugu'bai! Nya'do larolaro ro ago midra!

Tana tase mabe oyena ondro ono

orivoya ŋgase mìnina ko tana omane owo,

ondro 'diaza kedretazevona gica ämiri!’ ”

42 Ago Paulo ndi Baranaba be kayi efo ni zotaeriro yasi oko, lidri eji ànya te egone Sabata kinjo si ago ŋgase kwoi itine ànyari ndra. 43 Lidri ri kalakoto e'be vosi oko, Yudai amba ndi Atrai se amba kotozarube mätu Yudai roya ana be soyite Paulo ndi Baranaba be vo. Lazo'bai ozo agoago te ànyari ugu orine tai'dwero Lu roya. 44 Sabata kinjo si lidri 'ba'desi ro aba le ṛo ikyine yele ata Opi ro erine. 45 Ondro Yudai kondreyi lowa te oko, ànya a'dote twi yaoko be, ànya wasayi tase Paulo kugu atana be te ago 'dayi nda te. 46 Oko Paulo ndi Baranaba be atayite ṛeṛe amba driupiako si ekye: “Kadopara anjioko beṛo ata Lu ro opene käti ämiri. Oko mìgabete zo ago nyùsu andivo amiro kote kadoro ta adri äduako rota ono, mè'bena ami gwo ago mòyina te Atrai re. 47 Tana ono ni tase Opi kozobe ämäri owo ekye:

‘Ma'ba ami te ŋgaeyi ro Atrai ri,

tana apa 'bädri cini robe.’ ”

48 Ondro Atrai keri tase ono te oko ànya a'doyite yai'dwesi ago räṛuyi ata Opi rote, ago ànya se anjibe a'done adri äduako be kai a'doyite taoma'ba ro.

49 Ata Lu ro larirute vo cini ya wari ana yasi. 50 Oko Yudai eŋgaya lidri dri'bai 'bakici ro ndi 'ditoko 'desi gboko Atrai ro ro se kabe ugu Lu mätu rote. Ànya etoyi Paulo ndi Baranaba be ezana te ago lofoyi ànya te tesi ni wari ànyaro yasi. 51 Lazo'bai yo durufu pa ànyaro rote lämiro ànya lomvo ago oyiyite Ikoniuma ya. 52 Taeri'bai Anetiokia ya a'dote riyäro amba ago twi Tori Alokado be.