Acts 10 37

Acts 10:37 kjv

That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;

Acts 10:37 nkjv

that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:

Acts 10:37 niv

You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached?

Acts 10:37 esv

you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed:

Acts 10:37 nlt

You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee, after John began preaching his message of baptism.

Acts 10 verses

Acts 10 37 Meaning

Acts 10:37 conveys Peter's succinct summary of Jesus' earthly ministry to Cornelius's Gentile household. It emphasizes the historical reality and public knowledge of Jesus' life, work, and teachings. Peter highlights that the audience was already aware of the events ("that word... you yourselves know") that unfolded across the entire region of Judea, beginning specifically in Galilee, and directly connected to the preparatory baptism ministry of John the Baptist. This serves as a foundational declaration of the Gospel's publicly attested origins.

Acts 10 37 Context

Acts chapter 10 records a pivotal moment in early Christian history: the conversion of Cornelius, a Roman centurion and God-fearer, and his household. This event shatters traditional Jewish-Gentile barriers within the early church, demonstrating God's impartiality. Prior to this verse, Peter has been supernaturally guided by a vision to visit Cornelius, who likewise received a divine instruction to send for Peter. Upon arrival, Peter declares that God shows no partiality (Acts 10:34) and then begins to preach the good news of Jesus Christ. Verse 37 specifically initiates Peter's exposition of the Gospel, drawing upon a narrative that the Gentile audience in Caesarea, being proximate to Judea, would already have some familiarity with, thus building common ground for the divine message to follow. Historically, the events of Jesus' ministry, including John's widely known preaching, had been a public phenomenon not confined to an obscure corner of the Roman Empire.

Acts 10 37 Word analysis

• That word (τὸ ῥῆμα, to rhēma): Not merely a singular spoken utterance, but here, it encompasses the entire "matter," "thing," or "event." It refers to the whole sum and substance of Jesus' ministry, the good news itself, not just a statement, but the divinely significant happenings of His life, death, and resurrection.
• I say, you yourselves know (ὑμεῖς οἴδατε τὸ γενόμενον, hymeis oidate to genomenon): "You yourselves" adds emphasis, signifying that their knowledge is direct, personal, or commonly understood. "Know" (oidate) denotes a settled, experiential understanding, not merely intellectual information. This phrase highlights the historical and public verifiability of Jesus' ministry.
• which was published (τὸ γενόμενον...): The verb genomenon means "that which happened," or "came into being." It underlines the historical actuality and public occurrence of the events related to Jesus. It was not a secret sect but a movement whose events were open and witnessed.
• throughout all Judaea (ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ, en holē tē Ioudaia): This phrase indicates the widespread geographical reach of Jesus' impact. His ministry and the surrounding events were not localized to a small area but permeated the entire region.
• and began from Galilee (ἀρξάμενος ἀπὸ τῆς Γαλιλαίας, arxamenos apo tēs Galilaias): Specifies the precise starting point of Jesus' public ministry. Galilee, often seen as a region on the periphery or culturally less significant than Jerusalem, was providentially chosen, fulfilling prophecies (Isa 9:1-2) and signifying the accessibility of His message beyond the religious elite.
• after the baptism which John preached (μετὰ τὸ βάπτισμα ὃ ἐκήρυξεν Ἰωάννης, meta to baptisma ho ekēryxen Iōannēs): This crucial chronological marker links Jesus' public work directly to John the Baptist's well-known ministry. John's preaching (ekēryxen – proclaimed/heralded) was a public phenomenon of repentance, preparing the way for Jesus. This connection establishes a divinely ordered sequence and authenticates Jesus' arrival.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• That word, I say, you yourselves know: This opening sets a conversational yet authoritative tone. Peter isn't introducing completely alien concepts but appeals to common knowledge, implying the historical evidence was already widely dispersed, even among God-fearing Gentiles.
• which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee: This geographical and qualitative description underlines the open, verifiable, and historical nature of Jesus' life. It was a movement that began in one region (Galilee) but had its influence felt broadly across a major region (Judea). This was not a secretive or obscure cult.
• after the baptism which John preached: This phrase clearly dates the commencement of the public events of "that word." John's widely recognized and significant preparatory ministry serves as the identifiable public benchmark for when Jesus' own public actions began, providing historical anchor points for Peter's claims.

Acts 10 37 Bonus section

The fact that Peter is preaching this message to Gentiles in Caesarea highlights the unprecedented expansion of the Gospel. Cornelius, being a Roman centurion, and his household would have had connections that could easily access information regarding the widely reported events in the nearby region of Judea, making Peter's assertion "you yourselves know" particularly potent. This verse subtly builds on a major theme in Acts – the verifiable nature of the gospel story. The widespread publication of Jesus' deeds and teachings made it difficult for anyone living in the region to remain completely ignorant. This serves as a testament to the early church's confidence in the factual basis of their faith, laying the groundwork for more detailed accounts of Jesus' death and resurrection which immediately follow this verse in Peter's sermon. The inclusion of John's baptism also implicitly connects Jesus' public anointing by God (at His baptism) with the start of His powerful ministry, demonstrating divine authorization.

Acts 10 37 Commentary

Acts 10:37 is a masterpiece of concise evangelistic communication, embodying Peter's strategy of meeting his audience where they are. He starts by invoking their shared understanding of events surrounding Jesus' life. The "word" here is not just an idea but the tangible, publicly observed, historical unfolding of God's redemptive plan through Jesus. The reference to Galilee as the starting point, despite its reputation as a provincial region, is crucial as it fulfills prophecy and indicates Jesus' inclusive approach, not restricted to Jerusalem's elite. Linking it directly to John's baptism provides irrefutable historical grounding; John's ministry was a major public event, setting the stage for the Messiah. Peter thus presents Jesus not as a myth, but as a historical figure whose public actions and teaching were widely known and verifiable, thereby establishing credibility and a framework for understanding the deeper theological implications of the Gospel. It underscores that Christianity is rooted in actual, witnessed events.