17 The God of the people of Israel chose our ancestors. He made the people great during the time they lived in Egypt. He brought them out of that country with great power.
18 And he was patient with them for 40 years in the desert.
19 God destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan and gave the land to his people.
20 All this happened in about 450 years.“After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet.
21 Then the people asked for a king. God gave them Saul son of Kish. Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin. He was king for 40 years.
22 After God took him away, God made David their king. This is what God said about him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse. He is the kind of man I want. He will do all that I want him to do.’
23 So God has brought one of David’s descendants to Israel to be their Savior. That descendant is Jesus. And God promised to do this.