Acts 13:26Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Everywhere the apostles strive to show that this is for the Jews' own good. Otherwise, hearing of it as something foreign, they might withdraw, since they themselves had crucified Him. But let us return to what was said above. "Men and brethren, children of the race of Abraham." He names them from their forefather. "To you the word of this salvation has been sent." Here, by the word "you," he does not mean only the Jews. Rather, he gives them the possibility of separating themselves from those who committed the murder, as is clear from what follows.

"Men and brethren, sons of the race of Abraham." Here he points to the noble origin of the Jews. "Not knowing Him." In some measure he excuses them. They crucified Him, he says, not knowing who He was, for the crime was committed through ignorance.

Paul's sermon in this synagogue gives us the first example of the Apostle's wisdom and skill in acting upon the hearts of his hearers. Wishing to gain their attention and trust, he first points to how God chose them as a people set apart for Himself. Then he briefly reviews all that God did for His people until David, from whose seed the Messiah was to come in fulfillment of the promises. After this preparation, the Apostle turns to the chief purpose of his speech. He speaks of the appearance of the Messiah and of what He accomplished for the salvation of the human race. Paul now said, addressing the Jews and proselytes present, that this preaching of salvation was appointed for them.

From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to the peninsula of Asia Minor and came to Perga in Pamphylia. From there John Mark returned to Jerusalem. Paul, with his other companions, continued the journey and advanced into the inland regions of Asia Minor. He came to Antioch of Pisidia. There the Apostle Paul's preaching about Christ made a powerful impression on the city's inhabitants. It converted many Jews and Gentiles to Christ. Yet the majority of the Jews remained deaf to the apostles' preaching. They even stirred up a disturbance against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of the city. Therefore the apostles went on farther, shaking off the dust from their feet against them, according to Christ's commandment (Mt 10:14).

"Men and brethren," and so forth. With a loving appeal, even stronger than before (v. 16), and directed to the heart and conscience of his hearers, the Apostle begins to set forth the essence of the Gospel preaching. This is the preaching of Christ's sufferings, death, and resurrection, and of the salvation of mankind accomplished by Him. This is what he now offers to his hearers. "Men and brethren" is a greeting addressed to all the hearers present. "Children of the race of Abraham" refers to those among them who were native Jews. "Those who fear God" refers to the proselytes present in the synagogue assembly (cf. v. 16). "To you has been sent the word of this salvation." The word of salvation is the preaching of the world's salvation by the Savior Jesus (v. 23).

In the application of the speech to the hearers, one sees the preacher's special skill in making use of what the facts at hand provide. Speaking of how Christ the Savior was not recognized in Jerusalem, he draws from this the conclusion that salvation has been sent to his hearers. Thus they should make use of what others did not know how to use. It is worth noting that this offer is made respectfully to the hearers, as children of Abraham and heirs of the promises they had received. He also speaks calmly about the inhabitants of Jerusalem, without any condemnation of them. He even gives a certain justification, namely, that they did not know. Moreover, they acted in fulfillment of the prophecies read in the synagogues and therefore known to all, more or less.