Acts 13:13-45

New International Reader's Version

Paul Preaches in Pisidian Antioch

¹³ From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia. There John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem. ¹⁴ From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath day they entered the synagogue and sat down. ¹⁵ The Law and the Prophets were read aloud. Then the leaders of the synagogue sent word to Paul and his companions. They said, “Brothers, do you have any words of instruction for the people? If you do, please speak.”

¹⁶ Paul stood up and motioned with his hand. Then he said, “Fellow Israelites, and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! ¹⁷ The God of Israel chose our people who lived long ago. He blessed them greatly while they were in Egypt. With his mighty power he led them out of that country. ¹⁸ He put up with their behavior for about 40 years in the desert. ¹⁹ And he destroyed seven nations in Canaan. Then he gave the land to his people as their rightful share. ²⁰ All this took about 450 years.

“After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. ²¹ Then the people asked for a king. He gave them Saul, son of Kish. Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin. He ruled for 40 years. ²² God removed him and made David their king. Here is God’s witness about him. ‘David, son of Jesse, is a man dear to my heart,’ he said. ‘David will do everything I want him to do.’

²³ “From this man’s family line God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus. This is what he had promised. ²⁴ Before Jesus came, John preached that we should turn away from our sins and be baptized. He preached this to all Israel. ²⁵ John was coming to the end of his work. ‘Who do you suppose I am?’ he said. ‘I am not the one you are looking for. But there is someone coming after me. I am not good enough to untie his sandals.’

²⁶ “Listen, fellow children of Abraham! Listen, you Gentiles who worship God! This message of salvation has been sent to us. ²⁷ The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus. By finding him guilty, they made the prophets’ words come true. These are read every Sabbath day. ²⁸ The people and their rulers had no reason at all for sentencing Jesus to death. But they asked Pilate to have him killed. ²⁹ They did everything that had been written about Jesus. Then they took him down from the cross. They laid him in a tomb. ³⁰ But God raised him from the dead. ³¹ For many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. Now they are telling our people about Jesus.

³² “We are telling you the good news. What God promised our people long ago ³³ he has done for us, their children. He has raised up Jesus. This is what is written in the second Psalm. It says,

³⁴ God raised Jesus from the dead. He will never rot in the grave. As God has said,

³⁵ In another place it also says,

³⁶ “David carried out God’s purpose while he lived. Then he died. He was buried with his people. His body rotted away. ³⁷ But the one whom God raised from the dead did not rot away.

³⁸ “My friends, here is what I want you to know. I announce to you that your sins can be forgiven because of what Jesus has done. ³⁹ Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin. Moses’ law could not make you right in God’s eyes. ⁴⁰ Be careful! Don’t let what the prophets spoke about happen to you. They said,

⁴² Paul and Barnabas started to leave the synagogue. The people invited them to say more about these things on the next Sabbath day. ⁴³ The people were told they could leave the service. Many Jews followed Paul and Barnabas. Many Gentiles who faithfully worshiped the God of the Jews did the same. Paul and Barnabas talked with them. They tried to get them to keep living in God’s grace.

⁴⁴ On the next Sabbath day, almost the whole city gathered. They gathered to hear the word of the Lord. ⁴⁵ When the Jews saw the crowds, they became very jealous. They began to disagree with what Paul was saying. They said evil things against him.