What is the meaning of Acts 13:39?

Through Him

The verse opens by pointing to a Person—“Through Him.”

• “Him” is Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah proclaimed moments earlier in Paul’s sermon (Acts 13:23, 32-33).

• Salvation is mediated solely through Christ: “Salvation exists in no one else” (Acts 4:12; cf. John 14:6).

• The focus remains on Christ’s finished work, not on human ability or religious system.

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everyone who believes

• The offer is universal in scope—“everyone.” No ethnic, social, or moral barrier stands in the way (Romans 10:12-13).

• The means of receiving is faith, not ritual: “The righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe” (Romans 3:22; cf. John 3:16).

• Belief here is trusting reliance, not mere assent. It embraces Jesus as Savior and Lord (Acts 16:31).

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is justified

• “Justified” describes a legal declaration: God pronounces the believing sinner righteous (Romans 5:1).

• This is instantaneous and complete, rooted in Christ’s atoning sacrifice (2 Corinthians 5:21).

• Justification is forensic, not experiential; it settles our standing before God even as sanctification continues.

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from everything

• No sin or stain lies outside the reach of Christ’s cleansing (1 John 1:7; Colossians 2:13-14).

• All guilt—past, present, future—is addressed. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18).

• This total coverage gives believers unshakable assurance (Hebrews 10:14).

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from which you could not be justified

• The Law reveals sin but cannot erase it (Romans 3:20).

• Animal sacrifices foreshadowed Christ yet left worshipers “conscious of sins” (Hebrews 10:1-4).

• Human effort, however sincere, falls short of God’s perfect standard (James 2:10).

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by the law of Moses

• The Mosaic Law was holy and good (Romans 7:12) yet designed to lead us to Christ by exposing our need (Galatians 3:24-25).

• Its priesthood, rituals, and commandments pointed forward to the ultimate sacrifice (Hebrews 9:11-12).

• Under grace, believers relate to God on the basis of Christ’s obedience, not their own (Romans 8:3-4).

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summary

Acts 13:39 proclaims that Jesus accomplishes what the Law never could: full and final justification for every believer. Through faith in Him, all sin is forgiven, every charge dismissed, and a righteous standing before God is granted. The Law served its purpose by highlighting our need; Christ meets that need completely, offering a universal, comprehensive salvation that rests solely on His finished work and is received by simple trust.