15
After reading from Moses' Teachings and the Prophets, the synagogue leaders sent [a message] to Paul and Barnabas. The message said, "Brothers, if you have any words of encouragement for the people, feel free to speak."
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Then Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and said, "Men of Israel and converts to Judaism, listen to me.
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The God of the people of Israel chose our ancestors and made them a strong nation while they lived as foreigners in Egypt. He used his powerful arm to bring them out of Egypt,
18
and he put up with them for about forty years in the desert.
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Then he destroyed seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to his people as an inheritance.
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He did all this in about four hundred and fifty years. "After that he gave his people judges until the time of the prophet Samuel.
21
"Then the people demanded a king, so God gave them Saul, son of Kish, from the tribe of Benjamin. After forty years
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God removed Saul and made David their king. God spoke favorably about David. He said, 'I have found that David, son of Jesse, is a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.'
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"God had the Savior, Jesus, come to Israel from David's descendants, as he had promised.
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Before Jesus began his ministry, John [the Baptizer] told everyone in Israel about the baptism of repentance.
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When John was finishing his work, he said, 'Who do you think I am? I'm not the person you're looking for. He will come later. I'm not even good enough to untie his sandals.'