16 Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: "Men of Israel and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! |
17 The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt, with mighty power he led them out of that country, |
18 he endured their conduct1 13:18 Some manuscripts and cared for them for about forty years in the desert, |
19 he overthrew seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to his people as their inheritance. |
20 All this took about 450 years. |
21 "After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. |
22 After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: 'I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.' |
23 "From this man's descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised. |
24 Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel. |
25 As John was completing his work, he said: 'Who do you think I am? I am not that one. No, but he is coming after me, whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.' |
26 "Brothers, children of Abraham, and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent. |
27 The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. |
28 Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed. |
29 When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. |
30 But God raised him from the dead, |
31 and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people. |
32 "We tell you the good news: What God promised our fathers |
33 he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm:
" 'You are my Son;
today I have become your Father.2 13:33 Or have begotten you '3 13:33 Psalm 2:7 |
34 The fact that God raised him from the dead, never to decay, is stated in these words:
" 'I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.'4 13:34 Isaiah 55:3 |
35 So it is stated elsewhere:
" 'You will not let your Holy One see decay.'5 13:35 Psalm 16:10 |
36 "For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed. |
37 But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay. |
38 "Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. |
39 Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses. |
40 Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you:
|
41 " 'Look, you scoffers,
wonder and perish,
for I am going to do something in your days
that you would never believe,
even if someone told you.'6 13:41 Hab. 1:5 " |
