¹³From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia. There John left them and returned to Jerusalem. ¹⁴From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath day they entered the synagogue and sat down. ¹⁵The Law and the Prophets were read aloud. Then the synagogue rulers sent word to Paul and his companions. They said, “Brothers, do you have a message of hope for the people? If you do, please speak.”

¹⁶Paul stood up and motioned with his hand. Then he said, “Men of Israel, and you non-Jews who worship God, listen to me! ¹⁷The God of Israel chose our people who lived long ago. He blessed them greatly while they were in Egypt. With his mighty power he led them out of that country. ¹⁸He put up with them for about 40 years in the desert. ¹⁹He destroyed seven nations in Canaan. Then he gave the land to his people as their rightful share. ²⁰All of 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. He gave them Saul, son of Kish. Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin. He ruled for 40 years. ²²God removed him and made David their king. Here is God’s witness about him. ‘David, son of Jesse, is a man dear to my heart,’ he said. ‘He will do everything I want him to do.’

²³“From this man’s family line God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus. This is what he had promised. ²⁴Before Jesus came, John preached that we should turn away from our sins and be baptized. He preached this to all Israel. ²⁵John was coming to the end of his work. ‘Who do you think I am?’ he said. ‘I am not the one you are looking for. No, he is coming after me. I am not good enough to untie his sandals.’

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