Acts 13: 13-52
13From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to
Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to
Jerusalem. 14From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch.
On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat
down. 15After the reading from the Law and the Prophets,
the synagogue rulers sent word to them, saying,
“Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for
the people, please speak.”
16Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and
said: “Men of Israel and you Gentiles who worship God,
listen to me! 17The 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,
18he endured their conduct b for about forty years
in the desert, 19he overthrew seven nations in Canaan
and gave their land to his people as their inheritance.
20All this took about 450 years.
“After this, God gave them judges until the time of
Samuel the prophet. 21Then the people asked for a king,
and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin,
who ruled forty years. 22After 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. 24Before the
coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism
to all the people of Israel. 25As 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 Godfearing
Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation
has been sent. 27The 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. 28Though they found no proper ground
for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed.
29When they had carried out all that was written
about him, they took him down from the tree and laid
him in a tomb. 30But God raised him from the dead,
31and 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 33he 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. c ’d
34The 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.’ e
35So it is stated elsewhere:
“ ‘You will not let your Holy One see decay.’ f
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. 37But 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. 39Through him everyone who believes is justified
from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses. 40Take 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.’a ”
42As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue,
the people invited them to speak further about these
things on the next Sabbath. 43When the congregation
was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to
Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with
them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.
44On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered
to hear the word of the Lord. 45When the Jews saw
the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and talked
abusively against what Paul was saying.
46Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly:
“We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since
you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of
eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. 47For this is
what the Lord has commanded us:
“ ‘I have made you b a light for the Gentiles,
that you b may bring salvation to the ends of the
earth.’c ”
48When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and
honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed
for eternal life believed.
49The word of the Lord spread through the whole region.
50But the Jews incited the God-fearing women of
high standing and the leading men of the city. They
stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and
expelled them from their region. 51So they shook the
dust from their feet in protest against them and went to
Iconium. 52And the disciples were filled with joy and
with the Holy Spirit.