Acts 13:39

KJV

And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} by {G1722} him {G5129} all {G3956} that believe {G4100} are justified {G1344} from {G575} all things {G3956}, from which {G3739} ye could {G1410} not {G3756} be justified {G1344} by {G1722} the law {G3551} of Moses {G3475}.

Complete Jewish Bible

That is, God clears everyone who puts his trust in this man, even in regard to all the things concerning which you could not be cleared by the Torah of Moshe.

Berean Standard Bible

Through Him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.

American Standard Version

and by him every one that believeth is justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Acts 13:39 serves as a climactic declaration within Paul's sermon in Antioch of Pisidia, succinctly articulating the core gospel truth that all who believe in Jesus Christ are fully justified from every sin and condemnation, a righteousness that the Mosaic Law, despite its divine origin, was inherently incapable of providing. This verse powerfully contrasts the limitations of the Old Covenant with the comprehensive and perfect salvation offered through faith in the resurrected Messiah.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Acts 13:39 concludes a significant portion of Paul's inaugural recorded sermon in the book of Acts, delivered in a synagogue in Antioch of Pisidia. Following an extensive historical overview of Israel's journey, the coming of John the Baptist, and the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Paul pivots to the theological implications of Christ's work. This verse, along with [Acts 13:38](/acts/13-38 "Acts 13:38 - Forgiveness through Jesus"), forms the powerful summation of his argument, moving from historical narrative to a direct proclamation of the gospel's saving power. It directly follows Paul's emphasis on Jesus as the fulfillment of God's promises to David, culminating in the ultimate promise of salvation.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Paul's audience in the synagogue consisted of both Jews and "God-fearers" (Gentiles who worshipped the God of Israel and adhered to some Jewish practices). For centuries, the Law of Moses had been the central pillar of Jewish identity and their covenant relationship with God. The concept of "justification" (being declared righteous) was deeply embedded in their understanding of how one stood before a holy God, often associated with adherence to the Law and participation in its sacrificial system. Paul's declaration directly challenges the prevailing notion that perfect obedience to the Law was the path to righteousness, presenting a radical alternative rooted in faith in a crucified and resurrected Messiah. This message would have been both revolutionary and potentially offensive to those who held the Law as supreme.
* **Key Themes:** This verse encapsulates several major themes prevalent in the book of Acts and Paul's broader theology. Firstly, it highlights the **supremacy of Christ** as the sole means of salvation, fulfilling and surpassing the Old Covenant system. Secondly, it underscores the **inadequacy of the Mosaic Law** to provide complete justification, revealing its role not as a means to earn righteousness but as a revealer of sin and a guide toward Christ, as explored in [Galatians 3:24](/galatians/3-24 "Galatians 3:24 - The Law as a Guardian"). Thirdly, the theme of **justification by faith** is central, emphasizing that righteousness before God is a gracious gift received through belief, not through human works or ritualistic observance. This theme resonates deeply with the theological arguments Paul develops more fully in his epistles, particularly in [Romans 3](/romans/3 "Romans 3 - Righteousness Through Faith") and [Galatians 2](/galatians/2 "Galatians 2 - Justification by Faith").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Justified (Greek, _dikaióō'_):** From G1344, this term means "to render (i.e. show or regard as) just or innocent." In a theological sense, it refers to God's act of declaring a person righteous, acquitting them of guilt, and establishing them in a right standing before Him. It is a legal declaration, not a process of making one inherently righteous, but rather imputing righteousness to them.
* **Believe (Greek, _pisteúō'_):** From G4100, this word signifies "to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ)." It denotes a complete reliance and trust in Jesus Christ, not merely intellectual assent, but a commitment of one's life and destiny to Him.
* **Law (Greek, _nómos'_):** From G3551, this refers to "law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of Moses (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively (a principle)." Here, it specifically denotes the Mosaic Law, the comprehensive body of commandments and regulations given to Israel through Moses, which governed their religious, moral, and civil life.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And by him all that believe are justified from all things,"**: This opening clause presents the radical new reality of salvation in Christ. The phrase "by him" (referring to Jesus Christ) establishes Him as the exclusive agent and source of this justification. The scope is universal: "all that believe" indicates that this justification is available to anyone, Jew or Gentile, who places their faith in Jesus. The declaration "are justified" signifies a completed act, a divine pronouncement of righteousness. Crucially, they are justified "from all things," meaning from every sin, every transgression, and every accusation, encompassing a complete and comprehensive pardon and acquittal.
* **"from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses."**: This second clause directly contrasts the efficacy of Christ with the limitations of the Mosaic Law. The "things from which ye could not be justified" refer to the inability of the Law to truly remove sin or impart perfect righteousness. While the Law revealed sin and provided a standard, it could not provide a complete atonement or a permanent solution for humanity's fallen state. It could not justify from all things, particularly those sins that carried the death penalty or the inherent inability of human beings to perfectly keep its demands. This highlights the Law's role as a guide and a revealer of sin, rather than a means of ultimate salvation.

#### Literary Devices
Paul employs **Contrast** as a primary literary device, starkly setting the power of Christ's justification against the inherent limitations of the Mosaic Law. This antithesis underscores the revolutionary nature of the gospel message. There is also a strong element of **Emphasis** through the repeated use of "all" ("all that believe," "all things"), highlighting the comprehensive scope of Christ's saving work. The verse functions as a **Declarative Statement**, a definitive theological pronouncement that serves as the climax and summary of Paul's argument, leaving no room for ambiguity regarding the source of true righteousness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Acts 13:39 is a cornerstone of Pauline theology, articulating the fundamental truth of justification by faith apart from works of the Law. It reveals God's perfect righteousness, which is not merely a legalistic adherence to rules but a divine act of declaring sinners righteous through their union with Christ. This truth underscores that humanity's problem is not merely a lack of effort but a deep-seated inability to meet God's holy standard, necessitating a divine intervention. The Law, while holy and good, served to expose this inability and point to the need for a Savior, rather than providing the means of salvation itself. Through Christ, God provides a complete and final solution, freely imputing His righteousness to those who believe, thereby reconciling them fully to Himself.

* [Romans 3:28](/romans/3-28 "Romans 3:28 - Justification by Faith Apart from the Law")
* [Galatians 2:16](/galatians/2-16 "Galatians 2:16 - Justification Not by Works of the Law")
* [Hebrews 10:4](/hebrews/10-4 "Hebrews 10:4 - The Inability of Animal Sacrifices to Take Away Sins")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This profound verse offers immense spiritual liberation and assurance. It calls us to recognize that our standing before a holy God is not dependent on our own imperfect efforts to keep rules or earn favor, but entirely on the finished work of Jesus Christ. For those who place their trust in Him, there is a complete and irreversible declaration of righteousness, freeing us from the crushing burden of striving for acceptance. This truth should lead to deep gratitude and humble confidence, knowing that we are fully acquitted and reconciled to God "from all things." It encourages us to rest in Christ's sufficiency, to live not under the condemnation of the law, but in the freedom and power of His grace, allowing this radical justification to transform our lives from the inside out, motivating us to live in obedience out of love and thankfulness.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding justification by faith in Christ change your perspective on personal effort and striving for God's approval?**
* **In what areas of your life might you still be trying to earn what God has freely given through Christ?**
* **How does the comprehensive nature of being "justified from all things" impact your sense of security and peace with God?**

### FAQ

**Does Acts 13:39 mean the Law of Moses was bad or useless?**

Answer: No, Acts 13:39 does not imply that the Law of Moses was bad or useless. The Law was holy, righteous, and good, given by God to reveal His character, His standards, and to expose sin. As Paul states elsewhere, the Law was a "schoolmaster" leading to Christ ([Galatians 3:24](/galatians/3-24 "Galatians 3:24 - The Law as a Guardian")). Its purpose was not to provide justification, but to demonstrate humanity's inability to perfectly fulfill God's demands and thus highlight the need for a Savior. It served to reveal sin and to point to the ultimate solution found in Jesus Christ, who perfectly fulfilled the Law.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Acts 13:39 is a powerful declaration of Christ's centrality in God's redemptive plan, revealing Him as the ultimate fulfillment of all that the Law foreshadowed but could not accomplish. The Law, a shadow of good things to come, pointed to the need for a perfect sacrifice and a righteous one who could stand in humanity's place. Jesus Christ, by His sinless life, atoning death, and triumphant resurrection, perfectly fulfilled the righteous requirements of the Law and bore its curse on behalf of humanity ([Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Redeemed Us from the Curse of the Law")). Through His finished work, He became the "end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes" ([Romans 10:4](/romans/10-4 "Romans 10:4 - Christ, the End of the Law")). Thus, the justification "from all things" that the Law could not provide is now freely offered "by him," meaning by Christ alone. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), the one in whom believers are declared righteous, not by their own merit, but by His imputed righteousness ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")). Acts 13:39 therefore magnifies Christ as the unique and all-sufficient source of salvation, the one in whom God's justice and mercy perfectly converge to justify the ungodly.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Romans 10:4

For Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

Galatians 2:16

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Romans 8:3

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

Hebrews 7:19

For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope [did]; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

Romans 10:10

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 8:1

¶ [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 4:5

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.