Forgiveness of Sins

Forgiveness of Sins in the Bible

Forgiveness of Sins
ACTS 13 COMMENTARY
Acts 13:33-37 "Begotten" Meaning

Acts 13:38-45 Forgiveness of Sins

Acts 13:46-52 Paul and Barnabas
ACTS 13:38-39  38 “Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; 39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Through which "Man" is "forgiveness of sins" (Acts 13:38) preached?
Jesus, whom God the Father "raised up" (Acts 13:38) from the dead.

What does Jesus' resurrection have to do with forgiveness of sins?
After saying that He will die to pay the death penalty due for our sins and then rise from the dead to prove that He is God, had Jesus died and stayed dead, history wouldn't remember Him today. But He did rise from the dead and this resurrection validates what He "preached" (Acts 13:38) before He died - that He is God who will/did die to pay the death penalty due for our sins, which in turn grants us "forgiveness of sins" (Acts 13:38).

ACTS 13:40-41  40 “Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you: 41 ‘Behold, you despisers, marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days, a work which you will by no means believe, though one were to declare it to you.’ ”

What is Paul warning them to "beware" of (Acts 13:40)?
Unbelief. Paul is quoting from Habakkuk 1:5, which refers to God executing His judgment on unrepentant Israelites. Paul is warning them that if they don't believe in the forgiveness of their sins by Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross, they too will "perish" (Acts 13:41).

ACTS 13:42-43  42 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. 43 Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

When Paul finished speaking, which group left the synagogue?
"The Jews went out of the synagogue" (Acts 13:42).

Which group stayed in the Jewish synagogue?
"The gentiles," who "begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath" (Acts 13:42).

Did all of the Jews leave Paul and Barnabas?
No, "many of the Jews" (Acts 13:43) followed them.

Who are "devout proselytes" (Acts 13:43)?
See Proselyte.

ACTS 13:44-45  44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul.

How and why did the Jews oppose "the things spoken by Paul" (Acts 13:45)?
These supposed people of God were "contradicting and blaspheming," which is against God, out of "envy" (Acts 13:45).

What made them envious?
"On the next Sabbath," they saw that "almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God" (Acts 13:44).

How did that happen?
After hearing just one sermon, the hearers had invited their neighbors to come and hear the Word with them?

How many sermons have you heard, and how many neighbors have you invited to hear the Word of God with you?