Acts 10 42

Acts 10:42 kjv

And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

Acts 10:42 nkjv

And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.

Acts 10:42 niv

He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.

Acts 10:42 esv

And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.

Acts 10:42 nlt

And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all ? the living and the dead.

Acts 10 verses

Acts 10 42 Meaning

This verse conveys a core apostolic commission from the resurrected Jesus to His disciples: to proclaim Him universally as God's designated Judge over all humanity, both those alive and those who have died. It underscores Jesus' supreme authority, divinely bestowed, in the ultimate adjudication of every person. The mandate is one of urgent and solemn testimony, highlighting the essential nature of this truth for the message of the gospel.

Acts 10 42 Context

Acts 10:42 is part of Peter's crucial sermon to Cornelius' Gentile household, a pivotal moment in early church history marking the official extension of the Gospel to non-Jews. Peter recounts the ministry of Jesus (v. 37-38), His crucifixion and resurrection (v. 39-40), and the commissioning of the apostles as witnesses (v. 41). This specific verse delineates the core message they were commanded to proclaim about the resurrected Jesus: His unique appointment by God as the universal Judge. Historically, the audience would have been aware of Jewish eschatological expectations of a divine judgment, but not necessarily that a crucified and resurrected Messiah would hold this specific universal judicial authority. The declaration thus served as a challenging and revolutionary theological statement for both Jewish listeners, who expected a national, not universal, judge, and Gentiles, who believed in multiple deities and varied eschatological outcomes.

Acts 10 42 Word analysis

• And He commanded (Καὶ προσέταξεν - Kai prosetaxen):

  • He: Refers directly to Jesus, as established in the preceding verses (Acts 10:40-41) and emphasized by Peter's discourse.
  • commanded (prosetaxen): This Greek word signifies a strong, authoritative directive, an imperative. It indicates a divine mandate, not a suggestion. It highlights Jesus' post-resurrection authority. This is not a human decision but a heavenly charge from the risen Lord.
  • Significance: Establishes the divine origin and mandatory nature of the apostolic mission. It confirms the apostles act on Christ's direct instruction.

• us (ἡμῖν - hēmin):

  • us: Refers to the apostles whom Jesus chose and who ate and drank with Him after His resurrection (Acts 10:41).
  • Significance: Confirms the apostolic succession of the message, authenticating its source through eyewitnesses specifically appointed by Christ.

• to preach (κηρύσσειν - kēryssein):

  • preach (kēryssein): To herald, to proclaim as a public messenger. It implies a public, authoritative declaration of a message. It is the announcement of the good news.
  • Significance: Defines the primary method of fulfilling the command: active, public proclamation, not quiet dissemination or private teaching alone. It connects to the common understanding of an ambassador or herald making an official announcement.

• to the people (τῷ λαῷ - tō laō):

  • the people: Initially refers to Israel, the Jewish people (Acts 10:41 "those chosen before by God"). However, within the immediate context of Cornelius, a Gentile, Peter's actions immediately broaden "the people" to encompass all humanity, both Jew and Gentile, in fulfillment of God's wider salvific plan.
  • Significance: Shows the initial target group but implicitly points to the expansion of the mission field, particularly relevant given Cornelius' presence.

• and to solemnly testify (καὶ διαμαρτύρασθαι - kai diamartyrasthai):

  • solemnly testify (diamartyrasthai): This term combines dia (through, thoroughly) with martyrein (to witness). It implies an earnest, thorough, and emphatic bearing witness, a fervent declaration, often under oath or with a deep sense of conviction. It goes beyond simple witnessing to a passionate, complete attestation.
  • Significance: Adds an urgent and unwavering quality to the proclamation. The truth about Jesus' judicial role is not a casual statement but a profound and critical declaration requiring fervent conviction.

• that it is He (ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν - hoti houtos estin):

  • He: Emphatically refers back to Jesus. "This one" is the designated one.
  • Significance: Underscores the exclusivity of Jesus in this role; no other person or deity is given this authority.

• who has been ordained by God (ὁ ὡρισμένος ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ - ho hōrismenos hypo tou theou):

  • ordained (hōrismenos): From horizo, meaning to mark out, determine, designate, appoint. It implies a pre-determined and fixed divine decision. It is God's specific act of selection.
  • by God (hypo tou theou): Clearly attributes the appointment of Jesus to God the Father.
  • Significance: Provides divine legitimation and authority for Jesus' role. This role is not self-assumed but divinely bestowed, removing any ambiguity about His qualifications. It links back to OT prophecies about a coming righteous Judge appointed by God.

• to be Judge (κριτὴς - kritēs):

  • Judge (kritēs): One who renders judicial decisions, determines right and wrong, and pronounces sentence.
  • Significance: States the specific office and function of Jesus. He is the ultimate arbiter of all humanity, the One to whom all are accountable. This challenges any other claims to ultimate judicial authority.

• of the living and the dead (ζώντων καὶ νεκρῶν - zōntōn kai nekrōn):

  • the living and the dead: A common Jewish idiom meaning all humanity, without exception or distinction of temporal status. It signifies universal judgment covering all who have ever lived or will live on earth.
  • Significance: Expands the scope of Jesus' judicial authority to every human being across all time, alive at His return or already deceased. This universality is central to the Gospel's inclusive reach and accountability.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• He commanded us to preach to the people, and to solemnly testify: This phrase encapsulates the apostolic mission as one of divinely mandated, public, and earnest proclamation. It highlights the dual nature of their work: both positive declaration ("preach") and strong witness ("solemnly testify"). The "us" and "the people" establish the agent and the target of this crucial message.
• that it is He who has been ordained by God to be Judge: This section identifies the subject and the source of authority. "He" (Jesus) is the unique and divinely appointed Judge. The specific agency "by God" grounds this role in the ultimate authority, confirming it is not merely a human assertion. "Ordained" emphasizes pre-destined divine plan.
• of the living and the dead: This phrase unequivocally defines the universal scope of Jesus' judicial authority. It leaves no person or category of humanity outside His judgment, emphasizing that all humanity will eventually face Christ as Judge.

Acts 10 42 Bonus section

• Hellenistic Context: The concept of a divine judge for both the living and the dead was not entirely new to the Hellenistic world (e.g., Minos and Rhadamanthus in Greek mythology), but Jesus' claim to this singular, divinely appointed role was distinct, asserting one true Judge and God, a challenge to polytheism.
• Messianic Expectation: While Old Testament prophets hinted at a Messiah who would rule and judge, the specific articulation of a resurrected Messiah judging all, Jew and Gentile, living and dead, expanded traditional Jewish expectations of a Messiah primarily focused on Israel.
• Foundational Kerygma: This verse represents a key element of the kerygma, the essential proclamation of the early church. It links Jesus' identity to His ultimate authority and accountability for humanity, prompting a necessary response of faith and repentance.
• Inclusive Gospel: By declaring Jesus as Judge of all (living and dead), Peter's sermon implicitly opens the door for the full inclusion of Gentiles into God's plan, as demonstrated immediately by the Holy Spirit falling upon Cornelius' household after this message. This universality of judgment mirrors the universality of salvation offered through Christ.

Acts 10 42 Commentary

Acts 10:42 is a cornerstone of Peter's sermon to Cornelius' household, powerfully articulating a foundational truth about the resurrected Jesus Christ. It states the core mandate given to the apostles directly by Jesus: not merely to spread a message of hope, but specifically to proclaim His divine appointment as the universal Judge. The use of "commanded" (prosetaxen) underscores the imperative, non-negotiable nature of this task. The act of "solemnly testifying" (diamartyrasthai) conveys the deep conviction, urgency, and undeniable truth behind this proclamation, going beyond simple factual reporting to an earnest plea. Jesus is identified as the singular figure "ordained by God" (horismenos hypo tou theou) for this supreme judicial office, emphasizing its divine origin and legitimacy. His authority spans "the living and the dead," unequivocally declaring that every human being, regardless of their state at the time of His return, falls under His ultimate jurisdiction. This verse not only confirms Jesus' resurrection power but also His eschatological role as the final arbiter of justice for all creation, making Him central to both salvation and accountability. This profound truth shapes the entirety of the apostolic preaching, laying a framework for repentance, faith, and living in anticipation of His judgment.