Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:
This verse comes from a sermon Paul gave in a Jewish synagogue in the city of Pisidian Antioch during one of his missionary journeys across the ancient Roman world. Paul himself had once been a strict religious leader who persecuted early Christians, before a dramatic encounter with the risen Jesus transformed him. Now he stands in front of people who share his religious background — people who knew the scriptures deeply and longed for forgiveness, but had no complete, final way to secure it. The word "therefore" connects this announcement to everything Paul had just explained about Jesus's death and resurrection. The phrase "is proclaimed" is active and present-tense — not ancient history quietly filed away, but a living announcement being made right now. Paul is not whispering. He is telling them something urgent and immediate: forgiveness is available, and it comes through Jesus.
Jesus, thank you that forgiveness is not a rumor I have to chase down — it is a proclamation that finds me. On the days when shame speaks louder than grace, remind me that this announcement has not been revoked. Help me carry this news to someone today who needs to hear it as badly as I sometimes do. Amen.
Notice Paul does not say, "Forgiveness is available to those who demonstrate sufficient remorse." He does not say, "Forgiveness is possible once you have adequately made amends." He says it is *proclaimed* — broadcast, announced, declared publicly — *through Jesus*. That word "through" is doing heavy lifting. It means this forgiveness did not originate in you, and it does not depend on you maintaining it. It flows through someone else entirely, which means it cannot be revoked by your next failure. There is a particular kind of shame that keeps people at arm's length from God — not because they doubt he exists, but because they doubt forgiveness could possibly reach as far as what they have done or who they have been. Paul walked into a room full of people carrying religious guilt, temple regulations, and centuries of accumulated "try harder" — and said: *I want you to know.* Not "I want you to consider." Not "perhaps for some of you." *I want you to know* — his words, direct and personal — *that the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.* To you, specifically. That announcement is still going out. It is finding you where you actually are today, not where you think you should be before you can receive it.
Paul frames forgiveness as something that "is proclaimed" — present tense, active, ongoing. What difference does it make to think of this as a current announcement rather than a historical event that happened long ago?
Has forgiveness ever felt conditional or distant to you — something you had to earn or wait until you were ready for? Where do you think that feeling comes from?
Paul was speaking to deeply religious people who knew scripture well. Why do you think people with long religious histories sometimes have the hardest time receiving grace rather than the easiest?
How does living as someone who has genuinely received forgiveness change the specific way you extend — or withhold — forgiveness toward someone who has hurt you recently?
Is there someone in your life right now who needs to hear, in plain words like Paul used, that forgiveness is available to them? What is holding you back from saying it?
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Matthew 1:21
Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.
Micah 7:18
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Colossians 1:14
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Romans 5:1
A Psalm of David, Maschil. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Psalms 32:1
I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.
1 John 2:12
For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Psalms 16:10
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
Romans 10:4
So let it be clearly known by you, brothers, that through Him forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you;
AMP
Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,
ESV
'Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,
NASB
“Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.
NIV
Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins;
NKJV
“Brothers, listen! We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins.
NLT
I want you to know, my very dear friends, that it is on account of this resurrected Jesus that the forgiveness of your sins can be promised.
MSG