Acts 17 31

Acts 17:31 kjv

Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

Acts 17:31 nkjv

because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead."

Acts 17:31 niv

For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead."

Acts 17:31 esv

because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead."

Acts 17:31 nlt

For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead."

Acts 17 verses

Acts 17 31 Meaning

Acts 17:31 articulates a profound declaration of God's sovereignty, justice, and the definitive role of Jesus Christ. It proclaims that God has irrevocably set a specific day for the righteous judgment of all humanity across the entire world. This judgment will be administered by a unique Man, Jesus Christ, whom God Himself has designated for this solemn task. The irrefutable proof and universal guarantee of this future judgment, and of Christ's appointment, is His bodily resurrection from the dead, an event that provides certain assurance to everyone.

Acts 17 31 Context

Acts 17:31 concludes Paul's sermon on Mars Hill (the Areopagus) in Athens, a vibrant intellectual and cultural center steeped in philosophical discourse. Paul began by observing their altar to "An Unknown God," using it as a bridge to introduce the one true God who created all things and needs nothing from human hands. He countered prevailing Stoic (pantheism, cosmic reason, fate) and Epicurean (gods indifferent, no afterlife, pleasure as highest good) philosophies by describing a personal, sovereign, and imminent God. This God created humanity from one man, assigned boundaries, and expects repentance. The Athenians, known for their intellectual curiosity but also their scorn for new religious ideas (especially involving bodily resurrection), found Paul's teaching on creation and God's proximity intriguing initially. However, the concept of a universally accountable judgment by a risen Man was both revolutionary and confrontational to their polytheistic, philosophical, and anthropocentric worldview, culminating in this final, climactic statement which directly challenged their existing beliefs.

Acts 17 31 Word analysis

• because (ὅτι, hoti): Serves as a direct conjunction, introducing the definitive reason or foundation for the previous command to repent. It links God's command to the certainty of future judgment.
• he has fixed (ἔστησεν, estēsen): From histēmi, meaning "to stand," "to appoint," "to establish." It signifies a determined, resolute, and unchangeable act. God has made an unalterable decree; this is not a flexible date but a settled reality, emphasizing His sovereignty.
• a day (ἡμέραν, hēmeran): Denotes a specific, definite period, not a general concept or a vague era. This "day" implies a moment of revelation and decision, bringing the idea of judgment to a focused and imminent point.
• on which (ἐν ᾗ, en hēi): "in which," indicating the precise temporal frame of the established day.
• he will judge (μέλλει κρίνειν, mellei krinein): Mellei conveys a strong sense of inevitability and divine intention – "he is about to judge," or "he intends certainly to judge." Krinein refers to a legal, decisive act of evaluation, separation, and pronouncement, often involving a sentence, for justice.
• the world (τὴν οἰκουμένην, tēn oikoumenēn): Refers to the "inhabited earth," encompassing all peoples and nations without exception. It emphasizes the universal scope of God's judgment, transcending all cultural, ethnic, and philosophical boundaries.
• in righteousness (ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ, en dikaiosynē): Signifies that the judgment will be executed with perfect justice, integrity, fairness, and according to divine moral standards. It implies impartiality and truthfulness, challenging any notion of arbitrary or flawed judgment.
• by a man (ἐν ἀνδρὶ, en andri): En can denote agency here ("by means of a man"). This is a startling declaration. For the Athenians, to suggest judgment would be rendered by a man—not Zeus, nor a council of gods, but a human figure—was deeply counter-cultural. It highlights Jesus' genuine humanity, necessary for representing humanity, and contrasts sharply with their abstract philosophical deities.
• whom he has appointed (ᾧ ὥρισεν, hō horisen): From horizō, meaning "to set bounds," "to determine," "to define," "to appoint." This emphasizes divine selection and commissioning. This specific "man" is God's deliberate choice, not self-appointed, confirming His unique authority.
• and of this he has given assurance (πίστιν παρέχων, pistis parechōn): Pistis here means "proof," "guarantee," or "firm ground for belief." Parechōn means "to furnish," "to provide," "to offer." God has provided tangible, undeniable evidence to substantiate His claims regarding the day of judgment and the identity of the Judge.
• to all (πᾶσιν, pasin): Reinforces the universality of the offer of assurance. The proof is available and applicable to all humanity, making belief possible for everyone.
• by raising him from the dead (ἀναστήσας αὐτὸν ἐκ νεκρῶν, anastēsas auton ek nekrōn): Anastēsas (aorist participle of anistēmi) denotes a completed action: "having raised up." Ek nekrōn literally means "out of dead ones," confirming a physical, bodily resurrection. This specific act is the ultimate, supernatural, and public sign that God endorsed this "man" and confirmed His message and authority, thus guaranteeing the future judgment. For Greeks who often believed in the immortality of the soul but scoffed at bodily resurrection, this was the ultimate stumbling block and also the ultimate claim of divine power.

• "because he has fixed a day": This phrase establishes the immutable and preordained nature of God's plan for judgment, underscoring His sovereignty over time and human destiny. It leaves no room for doubt about the inevitability or specific timing from God's perspective.
• "he will judge the world in righteousness": This coupling emphasizes both the universal scope of the judgment and its perfect, unimpeachable fairness. God's judgment is not arbitrary or capricious but aligned with His holy character and moral law, applicable to every individual on the entire planet.
• "by a man whom he has appointed": This critical grouping reveals the Christocentric nature of divine judgment. God acts through a human agent, Jesus Christ, not by proxy but by direct appointment. It affirms Christ's unique mediatorial role and highlights His incarnation—His true humanity making Him a suitable, relatable, and divinely sanctioned Judge.
• "and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead": This constitutes the clinching argument, presenting the resurrection of Jesus as the irrefutable, public, and universally available evidence for all the preceding claims. It authenticates Christ's identity, confirms His divine mission, and seals the certainty of the future day of judgment and His role in it. It's the ultimate divine signature on these truths.

Acts 17 31 Bonus section

Paul's argument structure in Acts 17 is a masterclass in apologetics. He moves from common ground (the "unknown god") to revealed truth, addressing his audience's worldview directly. By establishing God as the creator and sustainer of all things (challenging polytheism and pantheism), he logically transitions to God as sovereign over humanity and history. The call to repentance in Acts 17:30 is intrinsically linked to the impending judgment described in verse 31; the existence of a fixed judgment day makes repentance both urgent and necessary. The resurrection is presented not as a mystical event only for believers, but as a historical, evidentiary act designed by God to give "assurance to all." This positions the resurrection as an objective, public proof of the identity and authority of Jesus as God's chosen judge for the world. The implications extend to a complete dismantling of Greek notions of random fate, indifferent deities, and the absolute self-sufficiency of man, replacing them with a personal, moral, and active God who demands accountability.

Acts 17 31 Commentary

Acts 17:31 serves as the dramatic culmination of Paul's intellectual and spiritual assault on Athenian syncretism and philosophical arrogance. Having set the stage by appealing to a God "unknown" to them, Paul introduces the concept of an immanent, personal, and judging God. The verse unequivocally asserts the certainty of a future divine reckoning, established by God Himself. This "day" is not figurative but a concrete event in God's timeline, guaranteeing that human actions will face divine scrutiny. Crucially, the judgment will be administered with absolute righteousness, removing any notion of injustice or arbitrary decree.

The identity of the Judge is revolutionary: "a man whom He has appointed," none other than Jesus Christ. This speaks to Christ's unique dual nature: truly man, yet divinely commissioned, bridging humanity and the divine. His humanity allows for sympathetic judgment, while His divine appointment ensures perfect authority and justice. The ultimate proof for this radical claim, and for the certainty of the judgment itself, is the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. This miracle serves as God's undeniable seal of approval on Jesus' claims and authority, demonstrating His power over life and death. For the Stoics, the idea of a physical resurrection was anathema; for the Epicureans, divine intervention was nonexistent. Paul's declaration therefore presented both an ultimate offense and an ultimate truth, demanding repentance and faith based on a verifiable historical event. The resurrection guarantees that God means what He says, and that Christ possesses the authority to execute that will. This challenges every individual to consider their life in light of inevitable divine justice.

For practical usage, this verse undergirds both evangelism and ethical living. It provides a foundational premise for sharing the Gospel, presenting both the universal problem of sin (which merits judgment) and the divine provision of salvation through the appointed Judge. It also calls believers to live righteously, reminding them that actions have eternal consequences and are measured by divine standards, aligning their lives with the Judge who already knows their hearts.