Acts 13 · Verse 39

Acts 13:39

And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
Acts 13:39, King James Version

Acts 13:39 in other translations

BSBThrough Him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.
WEBand by him everyone who believes is justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
ASVand by him every one that believeth is justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
YLTand from all things from which ye were not able in the law of Moses to be declared righteous, in this one every one who is believing is declared righteous;
DARBYand from all things from which ye could not be justified in the law of Moses, in him every one that believes is justified.
BBEAnd through him everyone who has faith is made free from all those things, from which the law of Moses was not able to make you free.
WebsterAnd by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

What does Acts 13:39 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 13:38-41

38-41. the forgiveness of sins--the first necessity of the sinner, and so the first experienced blessing of the Gospel.

Read the full comment on Acts 13:38-41 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 39. And by him. By means of him; by his sufferings and death.

All that believe. Mk 16:16.

Are justified. Are regarded and treated as if they were righteous. They are pardoned, and admitted to the favour of God, and treated as pardoned sinners, and as if they had not offended. See this point explained in Rom 1:17; Rom 3:24, Rom 3:25; Rom 4:1, and Rom 4:2-8.

From all things. From the guilt of all offences. All will be pardoned.

From which ye could not, etc. The law of Moses commanded what was to be done. It appointed sacrifices and offerings, as typical of a greater Sacrifice. But the same apostle has fully shown, in the Epistle to the Hebrews, that those sacrifices could not take away sin, Heb 9:7-14; Heb 10:1-4,11. The design of the law was not to reveal a way of pardon. That was reserved to be the peculiar purpose of the gospel.

The law of Moses. The commands and institutions which he, under the direction of God, established.

(c) "by him" Isa 53:11, Hab 2:4, Rom 3:28, 8:1

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 39 And by him - On his account, and through him, all that believe in his Divine mission, and the end for which he has been manifested, namely, to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself, are justified from all things, from the guilt of all transgressions committed against God; from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses; because it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, or any other rite or service of this kind, could take away sin from the soul, cancel its guilt in the conscience, or make an atonement to the Divine justice; but this is the sacrifice which God has required; this is every way suited to the end for which it has been instituted; and this is the sacrifice alone which God can accept. Your law says, "Do this, and ye shall live;" and, "Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law to do them." Ye have not done these things required; ye have not continued in any good thing; ye have not only not done all things commanded, but ye have done none, none as they ought to be done; and therefore ye are under the curse. The Gospel says, Believe on the Lord Jesus; credit his Divine mission; consider his death an atonement for sin; believe in his resurrection, as a proof that the atonement is made, believe that he suffered, died, and rose again for your justification; and that for his sake God, though he be infinitely just, can be the justifier of all who believe in him. By the law of Moses there is neither justification nor salvation: in Jesus Christ there are both, and all the sure mercies of David. Therefore, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and ye shall be justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 13:38-41

Let all that hear the gospel of Christ, know these two things: 1. That through this Man, who died and rose again, is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins. Your sins, though many and great, may be forgiven, and they may be so without any injury to God's honour. 2. It is by Christ only that those who believe in him, and none else, are justified from all things; from all the guilt and stain of sin, from which they…

Read the full comment on Acts 13:38-41 →

Acts 13:39 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiAndG2532
ἀπὸapofromG575
πάντωνpantōnall thingsG3956
ὧνhōnfrom whichG3739
οὐκouknotG3756
ἠδυνήθητεēdunēthēteyou were ableG1410
ἐνeninG1722
νόμῳnomōlawG3551
ΜωϋσέωςMōuseōsof MosesG3475
δικαιωθῆναι,dikaiōthēnaito be justified,G1344
ἐνen(39) inG1722
τούτῳtoutōHimG3778
πᾶςpaseveryoneG3956
ὁhowhoG3588
πιστεύωνpisteuōnis believingG4100
δικαιοῦται.dikaioutaiis justified.G1344

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 13:39

  • 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 10:4

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

  • 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 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:

  • 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 3:19

    Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

  • Romans 4:15

    Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

  • Romans 4:5-8

    But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

  • Galatians 3:21-25

    Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. …

  • Romans 5:9

    Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

  • John 1:17

    For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
by.
Isa 53:11; Hab 2:4; Lu 18:14; Joh 5:24; Ro 3:24-30; 4:5-8,24; 5:1,9
Ro 8:1,3,30-34; 10:10; 1Co 6:11; Ga 2:16; 3:8
from which.
Job 9:20; 25:4; Ps 143:2; Jer 31:32; Lu 10:25,28; Joh 1:17; Ro 3:19
Ro 4:15; 5:20; 7:9-11; 8:3; 9:31; 10:4; Ga 2:16,19; 3:10-12,21-25; 5:3
Php 3:6-9; Heb 7:19; 9:9,10; 10:4,11

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 13:38

    Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

  • Acts 13:39

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

  • Acts 13:40

    Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets;

Read all of Acts 13

Acts 13:39 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y de todo lo que por la ley de Moisés no pudisteis ser justificados, en éste es justificado todo aquel que creyere.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et que de tout ce dont vous n’avez pu être justifiés par la loi de Moïse, quiconque croit est justifié par lui.
German
Elberfelder 1871		und von allem, wovon ihr im Gesetz Moses nicht gerechtfertigt werden konntet, wird in diesem jeder Glaubende gerechtfertigt.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		in hoc omnis qui credit, justificatur.