When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
Acts 1:22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
Acts 10:37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
Acts 19:3,4 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism…
John preached
John the Baptist's role as a preacher was significant in preparing the way for Jesus. His preaching was characterized by a call to repentance and a return to God. John is often seen as the last of the Old Testament prophets, bridging the gap between the Old and New Testaments. His message was direct and uncompromising, calling people to turn from their sins and prepare for the coming kingdom of God.
a baptism of repentance
John's baptism was symbolic of a person's repentance and desire to be cleansed from sin. Unlike the later Christian baptism, which signifies identification with the death and resurrection of Jesus, John's baptism was a public declaration of a changed heart and readiness to receive the Messiah. This act of repentance was crucial for the Jewish people, as it prepared them spiritually for the new covenant that Jesus would establish.
to all the people of Israel
John's ministry was directed specifically to the Jewish nation, emphasizing the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel. His call to repentance was inclusive, reaching out to all strata of Jewish society, from religious leaders to common people. This universal call within Israel highlights the national significance of repentance and the preparation for the Messiah, who would come first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles, as seen in Romans 1:16.
Acts 13:24 opens by placing us squarely in the season just before the public ministry of Christ. God had already set the stage long in advance:
• Malachi 3:1 foretold, “Behold, I will send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me.”
• Isaiah 40:3 echoed, “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the LORD.’”
• Luke 1:17 declares that John would “make ready a people prepared for the Lord,” underlining that the forerunner’s appearance was no afterthought but a promised piece of God’s plan.
All of this reminds us that when “the fullness of time had come” (Galatians 4:4), every event—even John’s brief ministry—fit perfectly into God’s timetable.
John did not simply conduct ritual; he heralded a message. Matthew 3:1-2 records him crying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near!”
• His venue: the desert places (Luke 3:2), an environment that stripped away distraction and spotlighted the urgency of the message.
• His tone: direct, no-nonsense (Luke 3:7 calls the crowd “brood of vipers”); he refused to soften the truth.
• His authority: God-given; when priests questioned him, John 1:23 shows he anchored his identity in Scripture—“I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness.”
In short, John’s preaching forced Israel to face its sin and its coming Messiah.
Mark 1:4 explains, “John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”
What did that look like?
• External act: immersion in the Jordan—an unmistakable, public break with the old life.
• Internal reality: genuine change of heart, producing “fruit in keeping with repentance” (Luke 3:8).
• Forward focus: Acts 19:4 clarifies that John’s baptism pointed people “to believe in the One coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”
While Christian baptism today (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-4) carries fuller meaning—union with Christ in His death and resurrection—the root concept remains: outward confession must mirror inward transformation.
John’s ministry was national in scope. Matthew 3:5-6 notes, “People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan.”
• Socially inclusive: tax collectors, soldiers, Pharisees—Luke 3:10-14 shows John addressing each group specifically.
• Spiritually preparatory: John 1:31 says he came “that He might be revealed to Israel,” underscoring his mission to ready the covenant people for their Messiah.
• Ethically demanding: no exemptions; every Israelite was summoned to personal repentance, fulfilling God’s promise to bless “all the families of the earth” through Israel (Acts 3:25-26).
Acts 13:24 compresses a vital chapter of redemptive history: before Jesus stepped onto the public scene, God raised up John to preach with power, calling every Israelite to a baptism that signaled real repentance and pointed directly to the soon-arriving Savior. John’s role, message, and audience were all divinely designed to soften hearts, expose sin, and shine a spotlight on Jesus—the Lamb of God who alone takes away the sin of the world.
(24) The baptism of repentance.--See Notes on Matthew 3:1-12.Verse 24. - His coming (τῆς εἰσόδου); his entrance upon his ministry, with reference to the ὁδὸς (the way) of Isaiah 40:3 and Malachi 3:1 (for the use of dadoes, see 1 Thessalonians 1:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:1).