Acts 17 30

Acts 17:30 kjv

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Acts 17:30 nkjv

Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,

Acts 17:30 niv

In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.

Acts 17:30 esv

The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,

Acts 17:30 nlt

"God overlooked people's ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him.

Acts 17 verses

Acts 17 30 Meaning

Acts 17:30 conveys a pivotal theological shift in God's interaction with humanity. Previously, during what is termed "the times of ignorance," God, in His divine forbearance and patience, did not intervene universally and directly to judge or explicitly command the Gentiles regarding their idolatry and lack of true knowledge concerning Him. However, with the clear revelation of Himself through Jesus Christ and the preaching of the Gospel, that period of overlooking has ended. Now, God authoritatively commands all people, regardless of their location, ethnicity, or former beliefs, to repent. This universal call to repentance signifies a necessary turning away from sin and ignorance, and a turning towards God, in light of the now clearly revealed truth.

Acts 17 30 Context

Acts chapter 17 records Paul's evangelistic journey, specifically his visit to Athens, a city renowned for its intellectual prowess, philosophical schools (Epicureans and Stoics), and pervasive idolatry. Paul, seeing the city "full of idols," was deeply distressed. He engaged in discussions daily in the synagogue and the marketplace, leading to an invitation to address the Areopagus (Mars Hill), the city's highest court and a public forum.Paul's speech to the Athenian elite masterfully transitions from their pagan religiosity to the true God. He begins by acknowledging their devotion to an "unknown god," which he uses as a springboard to declare the God they unknowingly worship. He describes God as the Creator of the universe, the sovereign sustainer of all life, who does not dwell in temples made by human hands nor needs human service. He asserts God's immanence, stating that "in Him we live and move and have our being," even quoting Greek poets to establish common ground. Paul's preceding argument (Acts 17:24-29) critiques the absurdity of idol worship, arguing that if humanity is God's offspring, then the Divine Being cannot be like gold, silver, or stone formed by human artistry. Acts 17:30 directly follows this, asserting that because God is the sovereign, life-giving Creator, and given the revelation now available, the previous "times of ignorance" are over. The true God, distinct from their idols, now demands a decisive response from all humanity. This verse then immediately sets up the proclamation of judgment and the resurrection of Christ in Acts 17:31.

Acts 17 30 Word analysis

• Therefore (οὖν, oun): This word indicates a logical consequence. Paul's call to repentance directly follows his comprehensive argument for the true nature of God as Creator, sustainer, and immanent Lord, who is not served by human hands or fashioned into idols (Acts 17:24-29). It links the theological understanding of God to a mandatory human response.
• having overlooked (ὑπεριδών, hyperidōn): This past participle means to "pass over," "disregard," or "tolerate." It implies God's divine forbearance. During the times of Gentile paganism and widespread idolatry, God did not bring immediate, full judgment or globally send forth explicit, universally understandable commands for repentance in the way He now does with the Gospel. It is not condoning sin, but rather an expression of God's patience and long-suffering towards humanity, waiting for the fullness of time.
• the times of ignorance (τοὺς χρόνους τῆς ἀγνοίας, tous chronous tēs agnoias): Refers to the historical period before the full, clear revelation of God in Christ and the Gospel's proclamation to all nations. This primarily concerns the Gentile world, who did not possess the specific divine revelation given to Israel through the Law and Prophets. While some knowledge of God was discernible through creation (Rom 1:19-20), humanity suppressed this truth, leading to profound spiritual blindness and widespread idolatry.
• God (ὁ θεός, ho theos): Specifically the true, singular, living God Paul has just proclaimed as Creator and Lord, distinct from the myriad of Athenian idols.
• is now (νῦν, nyn): This adverb emphasizes a decisive, current shift and immediacy. The coming of Christ and the proclamation of the Gospel has ushered in a new epoch, a "new now," where the truth is unveiled and God's demand for repentance is clear and undeniable.
• declaring (παραγγέλλει, parangellei): This verb means to "command," "order," or "charge authoritatively." It signifies a divine imperative, a non-negotiable directive from the highest authority, not merely an suggestion. It underscores the urgency and mandatory nature of the call.
• to mankind (τοὺς ἀνθρώπους, tous anthrōpous): Universal in scope, explicitly including all human beings, Jews and Gentiles alike, thereby broadening the application beyond specific covenantal peoples to all of humanity.
• that all (πάντας, pantas): Reinforces the universality of the command, leaving no one outside its purview. It stresses absolute inclusivity.
• everywhere (πανταχοῦ, pantachou): Further emphasizes the comprehensive geographical and societal reach of this divine command. No corner of the earth or group of people is exempt from this call.
• should repent (μετανοεῖν, metanoein): This core theological term signifies a fundamental change of mind, purpose, and direction. It involves a spiritual turning away from sin, false gods, and self-rule, and a turning towards the one true God, embracing His truth and His authority. It encompasses intellectual, emotional, and volitional transformation, leading to a changed life.

Words-group analysis:

• "Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring": This phrase sharply contrasts God's past patient allowance for human ignorance (particularly among Gentiles) with His present, decisive, and active declaration. The shift from "overlooking" to "declaring" highlights the epoch-making significance of Christ's arrival and the Gospel message. It indicates a period of grace culminating in a moment of heightened divine expectation and demand.
• "to mankind that all everywhere should repent": This emphasizes the universal and mandatory nature of God's command. The specific mention of "mankind," "all," and "everywhere" eradicates any previous religious, ethnic, or geographical barriers to the call to repentance. It underscores that this is a command for the entire human race, reflecting the universal reach of the Gospel message and the impartiality of God.

Acts 17 30 Bonus section

Paul's strategic rhetoric in Acts 17:30-31 is noteworthy. He culminates his culturally sensitive discourse (using their own poets in verse 28) with two profoundly counter-cultural declarations: the universal command to repent and the resurrection of the dead as the proof of a coming universal judgment by Jesus Christ. The "times of ignorance" refer primarily to Gentile paganism, but the command to repent is universal, as both Jew and Gentile had fallen short of God's glory. God’s patience in the past does not imply indifference to sin, but rather that He chose a specific moment in history to send forth His full, clear revelation in Christ. The concept of repentance here is intimately linked to the understanding that all humanity will face judgment, a judgment executed by the very Christ who God resurrected, validating His claim to be judge. This implies that embracing Christ through repentance is the only path to stand righteous before that coming judgment.

Acts 17 30 Commentary

Acts 17:30 serves as a linchpin in Paul's Areopagus speech, encapsulating the radical shift from Old Testament understanding (mostly confined to Israel, with God's patience towards Gentile ignorance) to the New Covenant's universal Gospel. God's "overlooking" of the "times of ignorance" should not be interpreted as condoning sin, but rather as an act of divine patience, holding back full judgment for a season while His redemptive plan unfolded. These were times when specific, universally accessible divine revelation was not as clearly widespread as it became through Christ. However, the cross of Christ and His resurrection marked the dawning of a new era. God is now openly and authoritatively "declaring" to "all mankind, everywhere," that they "should repent." This is a command, not an option, because the full truth has now been revealed. Repentance (metanoia) is not just a change of intellectual assent, but a fundamental turning: a moral transformation away from sin and self-centered living, idolatry, and ignorance of God, towards allegiance to Him. This command is presented as urgent because, as the following verse states (Acts 17:31), a day of judgment has been appointed through the resurrected man, Jesus. Paul's Athenian audience, steeped in intellectual pride and polytheism, were being told their philosophical wisdom was ultimately ignorance, and a moral, spiritual revolution was demanded of them by the one true God.