LESSON
58
THE MESSAGE TO PISIDIA
Acts 13:13-32 New Living Translation (NLT)
13 Paul and
his companions then left Paphos by ship for Pamphylia, landing at the port town
of Perga. There John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem.14 But Paul
and Barnabas traveled inland to Antioch of Pisidia. On the Sabbath they went to the synagogue
for the services. 15 After the
usual readings from the books of Moses and the prophets, those in charge
of the service sent them this message: “Brothers, if you have any word of
encouragement for the people, come and give it.” 16 So Paul stood, lifted his hand to quiet them, and started
speaking. “Men of Israel,” he said, “and you God-fearing Gentiles, listen to me.
17 “The God of this nation of Israel chose our ancestors and made
them multiply and grow strong during their stay in Egypt. Then with a powerful
arm he led them out of their slavery. 18 He put up with them through forty years of wandering
in the wilderness. 19 Then he
destroyed seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to Israel as an
inheritance. 20 All this
took about 450 years. “After that, God gave them judges to rule until
the time of Samuel the prophet.21 Then the people begged for a king, and God gave them Saul son of
Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, who reigned for forty years. 22 But God removed Saul and replaced him with David, a man about whom
God said, ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will
do everything I want him to do.’ 23 “And it is
one of King David’s descendants, Jesus, who is God’s promised Savior of Israel! 24 Before he came, John the Baptist preached that all the people of
Israel needed to repent of their sins and turn to God and be baptized.25 As John
was finishing his ministry he asked, ‘Do you think I am the Messiah? No, I am
not! But he is coming soon—and I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie
the sandals on his feet.’ 26 “Brothers—you
sons of Abraham, and also you God-fearing Gentiles—this message of salvation
has been sent to us! 27 The people
in Jerusalem and their leaders did not recognize Jesus as the one the prophets
had spoken about. Instead, they condemned him, and in doing this they fulfilled
the prophets’ words that are read every Sabbath. 28 They found no legal reason to execute him, but they asked Pilate
to have him killed anyway. 29 “When they
had done all that the prophecies said about him, they took him down from the
cross and placed him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead! 31 And over a period of many days he appeared to those who had gone
with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to the people of
Israel.
32 “And now
we are here to bring you this Good News. The promise was made to our ancestors,
