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Isaiah 53:11
He shall see of the travail of his soul,and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

Habakkuk 2:4
Behold, his soulwhich is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

Luke 18:14
I tell you, this man went down to his house justifiedrather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

from which.

Job 9:20
If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me:if I say, Iam perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.

Job 25:4
How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be cleanthat is born of a woman?

Psalm 143:2
And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.

everyone who believes
The inclusivity of "everyone" highlights the universal offer of salvation, transcending ethnic, cultural, and social barriers. This is a significant theme in the Book of Acts, as the early church expands beyond Jewish communities to include Gentiles. Belief, or faith, is the key requirement for justification, as seen inRomans 10:9-10, which states that if you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart, you will be saved. This reflects the shift from the works-based righteousness of the law to faith-based righteousness.

is justified
Justification is a legal term signifying a declaration of righteousness. In the context of the New Testament, it means being declared righteous before God.Romans 5:1 states, "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." This concept is central to Pauline theology, emphasizing that justification is a gift of grace through faith, not by works, as further elaborated inEphesians 2:8-9.

from everything
This phrase indicates the comprehensive nature of the justification offered through Christ. It suggests that all sins, regardless of their nature or severity, can be forgiven. This aligns with 1John 1:9, which assures believers that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. The totality of forgiveness is a cornerstone of Christian doctrine, offering complete redemption.

from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses
The law of Moses, given in the Old Testament, includes the Ten Commandments and various ceremonial laws. While the law was holy and righteous, as stated inRomans 7:12, it was incapable of providing complete justification because it highlighted human sinfulness and the need for a savior.Galatians 3:24 describes the law as a "tutor" leading us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. The inability of the law to justify is a recurring theme in Paul's letters, emphasizing the superiority of the new covenant established through Jesus.

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.

• 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).

• “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.

• 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).

• 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).

• 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).

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.

All that believe are justified.--Literally, with a more individualising touch,every one that believeth is justified. The latter verb is not found elsewhere in the Acts. It is interesting to note in this, the first recorded example of St. Paul's teaching, the occurrence of the word which, as time passed on, came to be almost identified with him and with his work. It is clearly used, as interpreted by the "forgiveness of sins" in the context, in its forensic sense, as meaning "acquitted," "declared not guilty." (Comp. Note onMatthew 12:37.)

From which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.--The words are full of meaning, as the germ of all that was most characteristic in St. Paul's later teaching. The Law, with its high standard of righteousness (Romans 7:12), its demand of entire obedience, its sacrifices which bore witness to the burden of sin, yet had no power to liberate conscience from its thraldom (Hebrews 8:1-3), had taught him that its function in the spiritual life of man was to work out the knowledge of sin (Romans 7:7), not to emancipate men from it. The sense of freedom from guilt, and therefore of a true life, was to be found, as he had learnt by his own experience, through faith in Christ. "The just by faith shall live" (Habakkuk 2:4;Romans 1:17;Galatians 3:11). . . .