19 Over time, due to the persecution that began with Stefanos’s killing, the ones who had moved away went as far as Foinikai, Kupros (Cyprus), and Antiokeia, but they only shared Yeshua’s (Jesus’; Grk. Yesus’) teaching with other Yehudim (Jews). 20 However, some of the believers were from Kupros and Kurainai (Cyrene), and when they got to Antiokeia they proclaimed the good news from the master Yeshua to the Hellains (Greeks). 21 Yahweh caused their efforts to prosper, so a large number of Hellains believed and decided to follow the master.

22 News about this reached the assembly in Yerushalem (Jerusalem), so they sent Barnabas to Antiokeia. 23 When he arrived and saw how God’s grace was spreading, he was elated and encouraged them all to earnestly continue to follow the master. 24 Barnabas was good man and full of the holy spirit and full of faith in God, and a large number of people decided to follow Yeshua.

25 So Barnabas went to Tarsos to look for Sha’ul (Saul; Grk. Saulos/Saul), 26 and when he found him, he brought him back to Antiokeia. Then for a whole year they met with the assembly and regularly taught a large crowd. It was there in Antiokeia that the believers were first called Christians.

27 In those days, some prophets from Yerushalem went to Antiokeia, 28 and one of them named Agabos when he was prompted by the spirit, stood up and predicted that the world would experience a severe famine (and this happened later during the reign of Klaudios). 29 The believers decided to send assistance to their fellow believers who lived in Yehudah (Judea)—each one according to his means—30 and so they did, sending their contributions with Barnabas and Sha’ul to take to the elders.