17
The God of this people Israel made selection of our fathers, lifting the people up from their low condition when they were living in the land of Egypt, and with a strong arm took them out of it.
18
And for about forty years he put up with their ways in the waste land.
19
And having put to destruction seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them the land for their heritage for about four hundred and fifty years.
20
And after these things he gave them judges, till the time of Samuel the prophet.
21
Then at their request for a king, God gave them Saul, the son of Kish, a man of the family of Benjamin, who was their king for forty years.
22
And having put him on one side, he made David their king, to whom he gave witness, saying, I have taken David, the son of Jesse, a man dear to my heart, who will do all my pleasure.
23
From this man's seed has God given to Israel a Saviour, even Jesus, as he gave his word;
24
For whose coming John made ready the way by preaching to all the people of Israel the baptism which goes with a change of heart.
25
And when John was completing his work, he said, What do I seem to you to be? I am not he; but one is coming after me, whose shoes I am not good enough to undo.
26
My brothers, children of the family of Abraham, and those among you who have the fear of God, to us the word of this salvation is sent.
27
For the men of Jerusalem and their rulers, having no knowledge of him, or of the sayings of the prophets which come to their ears every Sabbath day, gave effect to them by judging him.