Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Acts 13:24

"when John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel." — Acts 13:24 (ASV)

The announcement of Jesus as the Messiah is put in the usual form of the apostolic proclamation, beginning with John the Baptist and his ministry (cf. Mark 1:2–8). John’s preaching and baptism of repentance paved the way for the public ministry of Jesus. John was the forerunner of the Messiah, as he himself confessed (cf. Lk 3:15-18).