18
For a period of about forty years, He fed them, like a nurse, in the Desert.
19
Then, after overthrowing seven nations in the land of Canaan, He divided that country among them as their inheritance for about four hundred and fifty years;
20
and afterwards He gave them judges down to the time of the Prophet Samuel.
21
Next they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a Benjamite, who reigned forty years.
22
After removing him, He raised up David to be their king, to whom He also bore witness when He said, "`I have found David the son of Jesse, a man I love, who will obey all My commands.'
23
"It is from among David's descendants that God, in fulfilment of His promise, has raised up a Saviour for Israel, even Jesus.
24
Before the coming of Jesus, John had proclaimed to all the people of Israel a baptism of repentance.
25
But John, towards the end of his career, repeatedly asked the people, "`What do you suppose me to be? I am not the Christ. But there is One coming after me whose sandal I am not worthy to unfasten.'
26
"Brethren, descendants of the family of Abraham, and all among you who fear God, to us has this Message of salvation been sent.
27
For the people of Jerusalem and their rulers, by the judgement they pronounced on Jesus, have actually fulfilled the predictions of the Prophets which are read Sabbath after Sabbath, through ignorance of those predictions and of Him.
28
Without having found Him guilty of any capital offence they urged Pilate to have Him put to death;