Acts 13:39
Through Him everyone who believes is justified from everything from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul addresses a synagogue congregation in Antioch of Pisidia, concluding his sermon by directly contrasting the gospel's provision with the Mosaic law's limitation.
The words — ἀπό (apo) and ὧν (hōn) combine to form "from which," specifying the exact grounds of condemnation the law could not address. ἠδυνήθητε (ēdunēthēte) means "you were able," stating the text's claim that human effort under the law was fundamentally insufficient for justification.
The thread — The same contrast between law and faith-driven justification runs through Romans 10:4, Galatians 2:16, and Romans 8:3.
Why it lands — The text asserts that complete justification is available exclusively through belief in Christ, not through legal observance. It requires the reader to abandon reliance on personal merit under the law and accept faith as the sole basis for being declared righteous.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
Cross-references
- Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law, to bring righteousness to everyone who believes.
- Galatians 2:16 know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
- Romans 8:3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh,
- Hebrews 7:19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
- Romans 10:10 For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.
- Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
- Romans 3:19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.
- Romans 4:15 because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression.
- Romans 4:5 However, to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.
- John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.