“Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed. But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay. “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses."

Acts 13:36-39

Following his summary of Jewish biblical history, Paul goes on to focus more on Christ and the message of salvation in this portion of his Pisidian Antioch synagogue speech. However, he continues to preach in a thoroughly Jewish way, lacing his speech with references to the familiar figures of Abraham, Moses, David, the prophets, and Israel itself. Toward the end, he quotes four Old Testament passages (vv. 33–41). These have a messianic thrust and focus on the reality of the resurrection, which seems to be the crux of Paul’s salvation message.

Paul is building affinity with his hearers by speaking as a Jewish insider, as one of them, yet he is not afraid to confront them. After tying his Christological message as convincingly as possible into the Jewish scriptural worldview and framework, he declares that, because Jesus has been raised from the dead, believers are ‘set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses’ (v. 39). He finishes with a solemn warning against unbelief, quoting Habakkuk about scoffers who will perish.

Paul offers forgiveness of sins through Jesus in a masterfully crafted Jewish speech, full of rhetorical flourishes that establish rapport and common ground. Yet he does not let his hearers off the hook—they must respond to this news, one way or another. He presses them for a reaction to the good news about Jesus.

Closing Prayer

Father, help me to remember that in Christ, I have been made an overcomer (1 John 5:4). Continue to increase my faith and give me boldness to proclaim the gospel and call others to believe in Jesus (edited from Encounter with God).