What does Acts 13:25 mean?

Paul and Barnabas are in Antioch of Pisidia, a small district on the west side of the larger Galatian province in the center of modern-day Asia Minor. They are in a synagogue filled with Jews and Gentiles who worship the Jewish God. The synagogue leader has asked them to speak, so Paul takes the opportunity. He wants to tell them about Jesus, but starts by recounting the ways that God has saved the Jews throughout Israel's history using Moses, the judges, the kings Saul and David, and the final Savior He promised would come from David's line (Acts 13:16–24).

Now, Paul has the monumental task of redefining the nature of salvation, for the sake of these people who misunderstand it. As it did throughout the Old Testament, salvation will include political rescue and independence of Israel, but because the Jewish leaders rejected God's Savior, freedom will have to wait. Paul hints that the salvation God presently offers has to do with John the Baptist's exhortation for the people to repent of their sins and the man John promised would follow him.

Although John had died years ago, his teaching of repentance and his reputation has already spread into the region (Acts 18:25; 19:3–4). Paul subtly shows there is more to John's message than repentance: there's the Savior. John, himself, asserted that he wasn't worthy to be the slave that cared for the feet of the Messiah. John said, "I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire" (Luke 3:16).

This is the end of the first of five points Paul makes in his message. Next, he will give Jesus' story, show how Jesus fulfills Jewish prophecy, explain what salvation Jesus is offering, and warn his audience to accept it.