Paul's Sermon in Antioch of Pisidia
13 Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. John, however, left them and went back to Jerusalem.
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They continued their journey from Perga and reached Antioch in Pisidia. On the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down.
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After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent [word] to them, saying, "Brothers, if you have any message of encouragement for the people, you can speak."
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Then standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and spoke: "Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen!
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The God of this people Israel chose our forefathers, exalted the people during their stay in the land of Egypt, and led them out of it with a mighty arm.
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And for about 40 years He put up with them in the desert;
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then after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, He gave their land to them as an inheritance.
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This all took about 450 years. After this, He gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.
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Then they asked for a king, so God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for 40 years.
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After removing him, He raised up David as their king, of whom He testified: ' I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will carry out all My will.'
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"From this man's descendants, according to the promise, God brought the Savior, Jesus, to Israel.
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Before He came to public attention, John had previously proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
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Then as John was completing his life work, he said, 'Who do you think I am? I am not the One. But look! Someone is coming after me, and I am not worthy to untie the sandals on His feet.'
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"Brothers, sons of Abraham's race, and those among you who fear God, the message of this salvation has been sent to us.
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For the residents of Jerusalem and their rulers, since they did not recognize Him or the voices of the prophets that are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled their words by condemning Him.
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Though they found no grounds for the death penalty, they asked Pilate to have Him killed.
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When they had fulfilled all that had been written about Him, they took Him down from the tree and put Him in a tomb.
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But God raised Him from the dead,
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and He appeared for many days to those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now His witnesses to the people.
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And we ourselves proclaim to you the good news of the promise that was made to our forefathers.
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God has fulfilled this to 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.
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Since He raised Him from the dead, never to return to decay, He has spoken in this way, I will grant you the faithful covenant blessings made to David.
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Therefore He also says in another passage, You will not allow Your Holy One to see decay.
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For David, after serving his own generation in God's plan, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and decayed.
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But the One whom God raised up did not decay.
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Therefore, let it be known to you, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you,
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and everyone who believes in Him is justified from everything, which you could not be justified from through the law of Moses.
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So beware that what is said in the prophets does not happen to you:
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Look, you scoffers, marvel and vanish away, because I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will never believe, even if someone were to explain it to you. "