34. God raised Jesus from the dead, and he will never go back to the grave and become dust. So God said:‘I will give you the holy and sure blessingsthat I promised to David.’
35. But in another place God says:‘You will not let your Holy One rot.’
36. David did God’s will during his lifetime. Then he died and was buried beside his ancestors, and his body did rot in the grave.
37. But the One God raised from the dead did not rot in the grave.
38-39. Brothers, understand what we are telling you: You can have forgiveness of your sins through Jesus. The law of Moses could not free you from your sins. But through Jesus everyone who believes is free from all sins.
40. Be careful! Don’t let what the prophets said happen to you:
41. ‘Listen, you people who doubt!You can wonder, and then die.I will do something in your lifetimethat you won’t believe even when you are told about it!’ ”
42. While Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people asked them to tell them more about these things on the next Sabbath.
43. When the meeting was over, many people with those who had changed to worship God followed Paul and Barnabas from that place. Paul and Barnabas were persuading them to continue trusting in God’s grace.
44. On the next Sabbath day, almost everyone in the city came to hear the word of the Lord.
45. Seeing the crowd, the Jewish people became very jealous and said insulting things and argued against what Paul said.
46. But Paul and Barnabas spoke very boldly, saying, “We must speak the message of God to you first. But you refuse to listen. You are judging yourselves not worthy of having eternal life! So we will now go to the people of other nations.
47. This is what the Lord told us to do, saying:‘I have made you a light for the nations;you will show people all over the world the way to be saved.’ ”
48. When those who were not Jewish heard Paul say this, they were happy and gave honor to the message of the Lord. And the people who were chosen to have life forever believed the message.