What does Acts 13:26 mean?

This begins the second of five parts of Paul's message to the synagogue in Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13:26–31). In each section, Paul reveals God's on-going work of salvation. As in Acts 13:16, this section starts by Paul breaking into the narrative to directly address his audience to get their attention.

Paul's audience of Jews and God-fearing Gentiles may well have been confused. Paul speaks of how God delivered the Israelites in the time of Moses and gave them a homeland (Acts 13:17–19). Then he speaks of how they grew from an alliance occasionally governed by judges to a proper kingdom (Acts 13:20–21). He reminds them how God chose David, not only to be king but to father the line of Israel's kings, culminating in the promised Messiah (Acts 13:22–23). Finally, he reminds them of the message of John the Baptist who promised that the Messiah was imminent (Acts 13:24–25).

The problem, as even John the Baptist saw it (Matthew 11:3), is that there is no immediate, earthly rescue. John is long dead, Israel is still under Roman rule, and although the synagogue members far in the middle of modern-day Asia Minor know of John (Acts 18:25; 19:3–4), they know nothing of the man he promised would follow him.

Paul must explain what this "salvation" really is. Even the Jewish leaders and residents of Jerusalem "did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets" (Acts 13:27). The Messiah will free Israel and sit on the throne, but not yet. First, Paul explains, He offers "forgiveness of sins" and true freedom that is impossible under the Mosaic law (Acts 13:38–39).

But before Paul gives Jesus' promise, he must prove who Jesus is and what happened to Him (Acts 13:27–37).