Acts 13:28

And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slaine. Acts 13:28 (KJV)

This verse is part of the sermon delivered by the apostle Paul in the synagogue of Antioch in Pisidia during his first missionary journey with Barnabas. On the Sabbath day they entered the synagogue, the reading of the Law and the Prophets was completed, and the synagogue leaders invited Paul and Barnabas to speak. Paul began by recounting Israel’s history, emphasizing God’s faithfulness and the promise of a Savior, and then presented Jesus as the fulfillment of the Messianic prophecies.

In the preceding verse, Acts 13:27, Paul quotes the prophets to show that the people of Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not know Him nor the voices of the prophets read every Sabbath, fulfilled the prophetic words in condemning Him: “For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.” This sets the stage for Acts 13:28, which underscores the unjust treatment Jesus received. The phrase “And though they found no cause of death in him” points to the lack of any valid grounds for condemning Jesus, highlighting His innocence.

Nevertheless, despite recognizing that there was no cause of death, the Jewish religious authorities still pressed Pilate, the Roman governor, to order Jesus’ execution. This insistence demonstrates the depth of hostility and rejection Jesus faced from His own people, even to the point of demanding His death.

Acts 13:28 also illuminates the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, such as Isaiah 53, which describes the suffering and rejection of the Messiah. The rejection and crucifixion of Jesus were part of God’s redemptive plan for humanity, as foretold in Scripture.

In conclusion, this verse captures the profound injustice of Jesus’ crucifixion despite His innocence. It serves as a reminder of the fulfillment of biblical prophecy and the extraordinary sacrifice Christ made for the redemption of humanity, inviting believers to reflect on the depth of God’s love and the significance of Christ’s sacrificial death.