After 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.'
Standing up, Paul
motioned with his hand and said: 'Men of Israel and you Gentiles who
worship God, listen to me! 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, he endured their
conduct for about forty years in the desert, he overthrew seven
nations in Canaan and gave their land to his people as their
inheritance. All this took about 450 years.
'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. 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." From this
man's descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he
promised."
Before the coming of Jesus, John preached
repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel. 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."
Brothers, children of Abraham, and you God-fearing
Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent.
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. Though they found no proper ground for a
death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed. When they
had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down
from the tree and laid him in a tomb.
But God raised him from the dead, 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.
We tell you the good news: What God promised our
fathers 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.
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.' So
it is stated elsewhere: "You will not let your Holy One see
decay.'
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. But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see
decay.
Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through
Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him
everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be
justified from by the law of Moses.
Take care that what the prophets have said does not
happen to you: '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.'"
42-47
As Paul and Barnabas
were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further
about these things on the next Sabbath. when
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.
On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to
hear the word of the Lord. When the Jews saw the crowds, they were
filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was
saying.
Then 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.
For this is what the Lord has commanded us: 'I have
made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to
the ends of the earth.'
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