Acts 13:39Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

By this he shows the weakness of the law. He excellently added, "everyone," to show that everyone who believes is justified.

None of these things would have had any profit if there were no benefaction. Therefore he finally speaks of the "forgiveness" of sins.

He draws the greater point from what came before. He shows that what the law could not do, the One who suffered accomplished by His death.

But why did he not add a testimony by which they would be convinced that forgiveness of sins takes place through Christ?

Because he first wished to prove that Christ rose. Once this is accepted, it becomes certain from this that forgiveness of sins takes place through Him.

On the other hand, he wished to awaken in them desire for this great blessing.

Thus His death was not a deprivation, but the fulfillment of the prophecies. He mentions historical events because, by not understanding them, the Jews suffered many evils.

He points to this in conclusion when he says, "Beware."

Now, Paul said, addressing the Jews and proselytes present, this preaching of salvation is appointed for you. Those whom this good tidings first reached, the Jews of Jerusalem and their rulers, would not receive it.

They did not recognize the Messiah. They did not understand the prophecies read every Sabbath in the synagogue.

Yet by condemning the Messiah to death, they could not destroy the promises. Without their own knowledge or expectation, they only served their fulfillment.

For He endured all that He had to suffer according to the predictions of the prophets, and He rose from death.

You did not see Him, but through faith in Him you can receive forgiveness of sins and justification, which the law could never provide. Having proclaimed this promise, the apostle added a threat against unbelief.

In the passage under consideration, the Apostle Paul's teaching on this is met for the first time in brief and clear expression.

In his epistles, especially to the Romans and Galatians, the apostle expounds and proves this teaching at length.

It is one of the most important points in the teaching of this very apostle to the Gentiles.

"From all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses" does not mean that a person can be justified before God in something by the law of Moses, and in something else by Christ.

No. According to the apostle's teaching, the law of Moses does not justify a person before God in anything.

Only faith in Christ justifies him, joined with the works of Christian love (Rom 3:20-28; Gal 3:10ff., and many others).

Even the righteous under the law were justified only by faith in the coming Messiah, the Redeemer of the world from sins (Heb 11).

Therefore the Jews and proselytes, the apostle's present hearers, must not hope for justification before God in the law of Moses or the works of the law.

They must believe in Christ, and in this faith they will find justification and, consequently, salvation.

"Do you see," says Saint John Chrysostom, "how carefully the apostle showed that everything is the work of the divine economy?

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, after being buried, He forgives sins, and does so beyond the law?

He did not add 'everyone' in vain, but to show that everyone who believes is justified. Therefore he finally speaks of the remission of sins.

He draws the greater point from what came before. He shows that what the law could not do, the One who suffered accomplished by His death.

But why did he not add the testimony (see Ps 2:12) by which they could be convinced that forgiveness of sins takes place through Christ?

Because Paul wished to awaken in them desire for this great blessing."

"The Jews supposed that one could be justified, that is, be right before God, through the fulfillment of the commandments of the Mosaic law in all its fullness and integrity.

According to the apostle's teaching, however, the law of Moses does not justify a person before God in anything.

Only faith in Christ justifies him, joined with the works of Christian love (see Rom 3:20; Gal 3:10).

Even the righteous under the law were justified only by faith in the coming Messiah, the Redeemer of the world from sins (see Heb 11).

Therefore Jews and proselytes must not hope for justification before God through the law of Moses and the works of the law.

They must believe in Christ, and in this faith they will find justification and, consequently, salvation."