15. ‘As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning.
16. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: “John baptised with water, but you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.”
17. So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?’
18. When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, ‘So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.’
19. Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed travelled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews.
20. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus.
21. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
22. News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.
23. When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.
24. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.