16. So Paul arose, and motioning with his hand said, Men of Israel and you who reverence and fear God, listen!
17. The God of this people Israel selected our forefathers and made this people great and important during their stay in the land of Egypt, and then with an uplifted arm He led them out from there. [Exod. 6:1, 6.]
18. And for about forty years like a fatherly nurse He cared for them in the wilderness and endured their behavior. [Deut. 1:31.]
19. When He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He gave them [the Hebrews] their land as an inheritance [distributing it to them by lot; all of which took] about 450 years. [Deut. 7:1; Josh. 14:1.]
20. After that, He gave them judges until the prophet Samuel.
21. Then they asked for a king; and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.
22. And when He had deposed him, He raised up David to be their king; of him He bore witness and said, I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart, who will do all My will and carry out My program fully. [I Sam. 13:14; Ps. 89:20; Isa. 44:28.]
23. Of this man's descendants God has brought to Israel a Savior [in the person of Jesus], according to His promise.
24. Before His coming John had [already] preached baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
25. And as John was ending his course, he asked, What or who do you secretly think that I am? I am not He [the Christ. No], but note that after me One is coming, the sandals of Whose feet I am not worthy to untie!
26. Brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and all those others among you who reverence and fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation [the salvation obtained through Jesus Christ]. [Ps. 107:20.]