Acts 13:13-25

New Testament for Everyone

Address in Antioch

¹³ Paul and his companions set off from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. John, however, left them and went back to Jerusalem. ¹⁴ But they came through from Perga and arrived in Antioch of Pisidia, where they went into the synagogue on the sabbath day and sat down. ¹⁵ After the reading of the law and the prophets, the ruler of the synagogue sent word to them.

“My brothers,” he said, “if you have any word of exhortation for the people, let us hear it.”

¹⁶ So Paul stood up and motioned with his hand for attention.

“Fellow Israelites,” he said, “and the godfearers among you: listen. ¹⁷ The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors, and he raised the people up to greatness during their stay in the land of Egypt. Then he led them out from there with his outstretched hand, ¹⁸ and for about forty years he put up with them in the desert. ¹⁹ He drove out seven nations from the land of Canaan, and gave them the land as their inheritance ²⁰ for about four hundred and fifty years. After that, he gave them judges, up until Samuel the prophet. ²¹ After that, they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man from the tribe of Benjamin. He ruled for forty years, ²² and after God had removed him he raised up for them David as king. He is the one to whom God bore witness when he said, ‘I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will accomplish all my purpose.’

²³ “From this man’s offspring, in accordance with his promise, God has produced a savior for Israel: Jesus! ²⁴ Before he appeared, John had announced a baptism of repentance for the whole people of Israel. ²⁵ As John was finishing his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose I am? I am not the one. But look: someone is coming after me, and I am not worthy to untie the sandals on his feet.’ ”