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13:13-52 Those who were with Paul set sail from Paphos and came to Perga of Pamphylia. Then
John (Mark) departed from them and returned to Jerusalem. The others continued, going from Perga and arriving in Antioch of Persidia. They then went into the synagogue on the
Sabbath day and sat down. After the
reading of the law and of the prophets the synagogue rulers said to them "Brethren. If there is any word of
exhortation amongst you for the people say it." So rising up Paul motioned with his hand
and said "Fellow Israelites and those who fear God, listen. The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and exalted their
people during their sojourn in the land of Egypt. Then with a raised arm he led them out of
it. They endured in the desert for
about forty years. Then having
destroyed seven nations in the land
of Canaan the land
was given to them for about four hundred and fifty years. After this God gave (them) judges until the time of
Samuel a prophet. Then they asked
for a king and God gave them Saul the son of Cis of the tribe of Benjamin
for forty years. Then removing him
he (God) raised David up for them as a king. He also gave witness to (David) saying
"I have found David the son of Jesse to be a man according to my heart
who will do all that I want."
According to his promise God raised from the descendants of this man
a Saviour called Jesus and brought him to Israel. Before His public entrance John
proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. As this (preparation) was completed John
said "Who do you suppose me to be? I am not the promised one. He is coming after me and I am not worthy
to loosen the sandal on his foot."
(Paul
continued) "Brethren, sons of the race of Abraham and those amongst
you who fear God, the word of this salvation was sent forth to us. But those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, did not
recognise him. So they fulfilled the
judgement of the voices of the prophets being read through on every
Sabbath. On finding no reason to condemn him to death they asked Pilate to
destroy him. Then when they finished
doing all the things which had been written concerning him they took him down
from the tree and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him out of the dead
and he appeared over many
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days
to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now witnesses about him to the
people. What we preach to you, is
that the promise made to the fathers has come about. God has fulfilled that promise to our
children by raising up Jesus. This has been as it is written in the second
psalm. "You are my son. To-day I have begotten you." And
(also) "He raised him up out of the dead so that he would no longer
return to corruption." Thus he
has said "I will give to you the holy things of David the faithful
one. Wherefore also in another psalm
he says "You will not give your holy one to see corruption." As far as David himself was concerned
having served his own generation with the counsel of God he fell asleep and
was added to his fathers and he did see corruption. But the one (Jesus) whom God raised (from
the dead) did not see it." Know
therefore and let it be understood brethren that it is through this man
(Jesus) that forgiveness of sins is announced. (Through him) you are
(saved) justified from all the things that you could not be saved from by
the law of Moses. Indeed everyone is
justified by believing in this man.
Watch out therefore in case what has been said in the prophets (re
warnings) comes upon you. i.e.
"You scoffers, marvel and perish because I work something in your
time, yet it is something you refuse to believe in when you are told about
it."
And
as they (Paul and Barnabas) went out the people asked them to tell them
more about this during the week.
When the assembly (in the synagogue) was broken up many of the Jews
and the worshipping proselytes (converts to Judaism) who were speaking to
Paul and Barnabas urged them to continue. And so on the next Sabbath almost
all the city was assembled to hear the word of God. But on seeing the crowds the Jews were filled with jealousy and contradicted the things spoken by
Paul and so they blasphemed. Paul
and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said.
"It was necessary for the word of God to be spoken to
yourselves first of all. However
since you put it away and were not worthy (of it) judge yourselves
regarding eternal life. Behold we
are going to turn to the Gentiles (non-Jews). For the
Continued
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