Paul . . . came to Antioch of Pisidia; and on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. After the reading from the Law of Moses and the writings of the prophets, the officials of the synagogue sent them a message: "Brothers, we want you to speak to the people if you have a message of encouragement for them." Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and began to speak:

   ". . . Men and brothers, sons of the race of Abraham, and all among you who fear God, it is to us that this message of salvation has now been sent! For the people of Jerusalem and their rulers refused to recognize Him [Jesus] or to understand the voice of the prophets which are read every Sabbath day - even though in condemning Him they fulfilled these very prophecies! For though they found no cause for putting Him to death, they begged Pilate to have Him executed. And when they had completed everything that was written about Him, they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a tomb.

   "But God raised Him from the dead. For many days He was seen by those who had come up from Galilee to Jerusalem with Him, and these men are now His witnesses to the people. And as for us we tell you the good news that the promise made to our forefathers has come true . . . This is endorsed in the second psalm: 'Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee.'

   ". . . And then going further he says in another psalm, 'Thou shalt not suffer thine holy one to see corruption.' For David, remember, after he had served God's purpose in his own generation fell asleep and was laid with his ancestors. He did in fact 'see corruption,' but this Man Whom God raised never saw corruption! It is therefore imperative, men and brothers, that every one of you should realize that forgiveness of sins is now proclaimed to you through this Man. And through faith in Him a man is absolved from all those things from which the Law of Moses could never set him free. Take care then that this saying of the prophets should never apply to you: 'Look, you scoffers! Wonder and die! For the work that I am doing in your own day is something that you will not believe, even when someone explains it to you!' "

Taken from Acts 13, Today's English Version and The Phillips Translation. For free
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