Old/New Testament

²⁶ `Men and brothers, sons of Abraham, and all of you who worship God, the news of this way to be saved has been sent to us.

²⁷ The people who live in Jerusalem and their rulers did not know who this Jesus really was. They did not understand the words of the prophets of God long ago which were read every Sabbath day. But even so, they did what the prophets had said they would do. They judged him.

²⁸ They could not prove that he did anything wrong for which he should die. Yet they begged Pilate to kill him.

²⁹ They did all the things that the prophets had written about him. Then they took him down from the cross made from a tree. They laid him in a grave cut from the rock.

³⁰ But God raised him from death.

³¹ People had come with Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem. They saw him many days. Now they tell people what they saw.

³² And we are bringing you this good news. God made a promise to our fathers long ago. Now he has made his promise come true.

³³ We, their children, have now received the promise. He sent Jesus just as it was written in the second, "You are my Son. Today I have become your Father."

³⁴ `God raised Jesus from death. His body did not go back to the grave to be spoiled. Here is what God said about it. "I will give to you the blessings which I promised David."

³⁵ `In another psalm it says, "You will not let the body of your Holy One be spoiled."

³⁶ `As for David, he did the work God wanted him to do for the people in his time. Then, after that, he died. He was buried with his fathers. His body spoiled.

³⁷ But God has raised one from death. His body did not spoil.

³⁸ `Men and brothers, understand this. It is because of this Jesus that we tell you your wrong ways will be forgiven you.

³⁹ The law of Moses could not make you free. But this man makes you free. You will not be judged if you believe in him.

⁴⁰ Be careful then, so that what the prophets said will not happen to you.

⁴¹ They said, "Look, you people who despise everything. You will look in wonder before you die. I will do something in your time. I will do something that you will not believe even if someone told you what it is." '

⁴² As Paul and Barnabas left the meeting house the people said, `Tell us these things again next Sabbath day.'

⁴³ The meeting was finished. There were many Jews, also those who were not Jews but worshipped God. They followed Paul and Barnabas. Paul and Barnabus kept talking to the people and told them to keep on living in the way that will bring God's blessing.

⁴⁴ The next Sabbath day almost all of the people in that city gathered to hear God's word.

⁴⁵ The leaders of the Jews saw that many people came. They were very jealous. They talked back to Paul and said he was not telling the truth. They also said wrong things about him.

⁴⁶ But Paul and Barnabas did not fear the Jewish leaders. They said, `We had to tell God's word to you first but you will not listen to it. By that you are saying you Jews are not good enough to live for ever. So we will go to the people who are not Jews.

⁴⁷ That is what the Lord told us to do. He said, "I have made you to be a light to the people who are not Jews. You will tell people everywhere in the world how to be saved." '

⁴⁸ Those who were not Jews heard this. They were glad and they thanked God for his message. All those who had been chosen to live for ever believed.

⁴⁹ The word of the Lord was told through all that part of the country.

⁵⁰ But the leaders of the Jews talked to the leading women who worshipped God and to the chief men of Antioch. They made plenty of trouble for Paul and Barnabas. They made them leave that part of the country.

⁵¹ So Paul and Barnabas shook the dust off their feet and left them. They went on to Iconium.

⁵² And the followers were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.