Acts 13:24-38

New International Reader's Version

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.