Acts 13:38Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He does not stop even here, since the argument had already been proved. He threatens punishment, then turns to what they longed for, showing that the law comes to an end.

He enlarges on what is profitable, namely that great blessings await the obedient and great calamities will overtake the disobedient.

But let us hear what the apostles taught when they said that Christ was crucified. What is more incredible than that He was buried by those to whom He promised salvation?

What is more incredible than that, having been buried, He forgives sins, and does so beyond the law?

Therefore Paul did not say, "in what you did not wish," but, "by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses."

See how he does not fully state the essence of the matter, concerning the promised seed. He did not bring forward a testimony on which they could rely to prove that the remission of sins is accomplished through Jesus. Yet this was beyond doubt.

Paul's preaching in the synagogue there 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 out how God chose them as a people set apart for Himself. Then he briefly surveys all that God did for His people up to David.

From David's seed, in fulfillment of the promises, the Messiah was to come. After this preparation, the apostle turns to the chief aim of his speech.

He speaks of the manifestation of the Messiah and of what He accomplished for the salvation of the human race.

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 his journey and went deeper into the interior regions of Asia Minor. He came to Pisidian Antioch.

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 from the city.

Therefore the apostles went on, shaking off the dust from their feet against them, according to Christ's commandment (Mt 10:14).

"Therefore let it be known to you," and so forth. From all that has been said above about Christ, the apostle draws the conclusion that only through Him can every person receive forgiveness of sins and be justified before God.

"Through Him it is proclaimed" means that, by faith in Him and through our proclamation or preaching, you can receive forgiveness of sins.

This is, of course, with repentance and conversion to Him (Acts 2:38 and note).

Until then you will remain in sins, for which a person is subject to eternal condemnation. Until then you will not be reconciled to God.

This remains so until you believe in Christ as the Redeemer of the world, who, through faith in Him, can forgive you your sins.

Forgiveness of sins and justification by faith in Jesus Christ: this is the essential word of consolation that the Apostle Paul spoke to his hearers in Pisidian Antioch.

He did not keep silent about the fact that the Jews could not receive this justification through the law of Moses.

Now not only the Jew, but everyone who believes in Jesus as the Son of God, sent into the world for the salvation of men, can receive this justification and, with it, salvation.

"What is new here, and what most closely recalls the Apostle Paul's teaching, unfolded with special force in his epistles, is the word about faith.

It is faith that saves and justifies, giving what the law of Moses could not give" (see Guide for Rural Pastors, 1874, No. 46).