Acts 2 23

Acts 2:23 kjv

Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

Acts 2:23 nkjv

Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;

Acts 2:23 niv

This man was handed over to you by God's deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.

Acts 2:23 esv

this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.

Acts 2:23 nlt

But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him.

Acts 2 verses

(h2) MeaningThe crucifixion of Jesus Christ, though executed by human agents, occurred according to God's precise, pre-determined purpose and divine knowledge from eternity. This verse highlights both God's complete sovereignty over even the most horrific events and the full culpability of those who instigated and carried out His death.

(h2) Cross References

(h2) ContextThis verse is a pivotal statement within Peter's sermon at Pentecost in Acts chapter 2. Following the powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which led some onlookers to accuse the disciples of drunkenness, Peter stands up to explain the divine meaning behind these events. His sermon moves from Joel's prophecy (vv. 17-21), to testifying about Jesus Christ, whom God attested to with miracles (v. 22). Acts 2:23 is the very core of Peter's argument concerning the Messiah's death: that it was not an accidental or tragic end for Jesus, nor a sign of His rejection by God, but rather a divinely ordained event. This statement lays the foundation for understanding Jesus' subsequent resurrection and exaltation, as it transitions directly into a defense of the resurrection through the Davidic prophecies (vv. 24-36). Peter directly addresses a Jewish audience in Jerusalem, linking their culpability to the unfolding of God's redemptive plan, contrasting their action with God's ultimate purpose.

(h2) Word analysis

• "this Jesus" (τοῦτον τὸν Ἰησοῦν, touton ton Iēsoun): This emphatic demonstrative points directly to the recently crucified and now resurrected Christ, known by the audience. It stresses His particularity and identity as the subject of their actions.
• "delivered up" (ἔκδοτον, ekdoton): From ekdidōmi, meaning to give over, betray, or hand over. This word carries a double meaning here. On one hand, it refers to God's sovereign act of handing Jesus over for His redemptive mission (cf. Rom 8:32). On the other, it points to Judas's betrayal and the Jewish leadership's delivery of Jesus to Roman authorities. The passive voice implies a higher agent in the "delivering," God Himself.
• "according to" (κατὰ, kata): Indicates conformity or agreement. The following phrases define the framework within which Jesus was "delivered up."
• "the definite plan" (ὡρισμένῃ βουλῇ, hōrismenē boulē):
  • hōrismenē: "definite" or "determined" (from horizō, to fix limits, appoint, declare). It speaks to a pre-set, fixed, and unchangeable divine decree.
  • boulē: "plan," "will," or "counsel." This refers to God's deliberate, well-considered intention, His wise and sovereign resolve, not a whimsical or reactionary decision.
  • This phrase emphasizes that the crucifixion was not unforeseen or haphazard but purposefully established by God from eternity.
• "and foreknowledge" (καὶ προγνώσει, kai prognōsei):
  • prognōsei: "foreknowledge" (from proginōskō, to know beforehand). In biblical usage, this often signifies more than mere intellectual awareness of future events. It carries the connotation of God's prior choice, His pre-existent intention, or sovereign elective will, as seen in Rom 8:29 and 1 Pet 1:2.
  • Paired with "definite plan," it powerfully asserts God's absolute sovereignty and control over all events, especially the cross, ensuring it was not a mistake or a defeat for God, but precisely what He intended.
• "of God" (τοῦ θεοῦ, tou theou): Clearly identifies the ultimate author of this definite plan and foreknowledge as the one, true God.
• "you" (ὑμεῖς, humeis): This is a strong, accusatory second-person plural pronoun, directly indicting the Jewish listeners in Peter's audience. It signifies their active role and responsibility in the crucifixion, demanding their conviction.
• "crucified" (προσεπήξατε, prosepexate): From prospēgnumi, meaning "to nail to" or "to fasten on." This verb specifically denotes the act of crucifixion. Although Romans were the executioners, Peter attributes the action to the Jewish leaders and populace because they instigated it and pressured for Jesus' execution, effectively causing it.
• "and killed" (καὶ ἀνεῖλε, kai aneile): From anaireō, meaning "to take away," "destroy," or "kill." This emphasizes their ultimate responsibility for His death. It removes any ambiguity about the outcome they desired and ensured.
• "by the hands of lawless men" (διὰ χειρῶν ἀνόμων, dia cheirōn anomōn):
  • διὰ χειρῶν: "through the hands of." Indicates the instrumental agency through which the deed was performed.
  • ἀνόμων: "lawless," "without law," or "impious." This primarily refers to the Gentile Roman authorities (Pilate, soldiers) who were outside the Mosaic Law and did not govern by it. This detail clarifies that the immediate executioners were Gentiles, while Peter's "you" still holds the Jewish audience responsible for causing Jesus' death by handing Him over. This distinguishes the instruments from the instigators without absolving the latter.

(ul) Words-Group Analysis:

• "this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God": This opening phrase establishes the paradoxical truth of the cross: that the greatest human crime against God's Son was simultaneously God's pre-determined, intentional redemptive act. It asserts God's overarching sovereignty over human evil, demonstrating that nothing occurs outside His control and purpose, especially not the pivotal event of salvation history.
• "you crucified and killed": This is a direct, sharp accusation that assigns direct culpability to the Jewish populace and leadership who rejected Jesus and pushed for His death. It highlights human freedom and responsibility even within God's sovereign plan. This phrase prevents any idea that God's plan absolves human agents of their wicked choices.
• "by the hands of lawless men": This clause provides clarity regarding the instruments of the crucifixion. While the Jewish leaders sought Jesus' death, Jewish law did not permit crucifixion, so they delivered Him to Roman authorities. This acknowledges the Gentile involvement in the execution, demonstrating the fulfillment of prophecy concerning a Messiah put to death by nations, but it does not diminish the Jews' prior responsibility for initiating the action.

(h2) CommentaryActs 2:23 is a profoundly significant verse, a cornerstone of apostolic preaching. Peter, empowered by the Spirit, reveals a complex yet fundamental theological truth: the crucifixion of Jesus, seemingly a triumph of evil, was actually the execution of God’s eternal, sovereign purpose. This truth disarms objections, as it affirms that Jesus' death was neither an accident nor a defeat for God. God did not react to human sin but intentionally "delivered up" His Son. This demonstrates God's unparalleled wisdom and power, transforming the greatest evil into the means of ultimate redemption.

Crucially, Peter pairs God's sovereignty with undeniable human culpability. The direct "you" confronts the audience with their active role in the death of their Messiah. This balanced declaration — "God's definite plan and foreknowledge" yet "you crucified and killed" — underscores that God's sovereignty does not negate human responsibility or free will. Humans remain accountable for their sinful choices, even when those choices unwittingly fulfill God's designs. The "lawless men" refer to the Gentile Roman authorities, acknowledging their instrumental role, but Peter places the primary burden of responsibility on the Jewish people who clamored for Jesus' death. This powerful exposition drives home the sinfulness of humanity and simultaneously glorifies God's magnificent plan of salvation through the very cross human hands devised.

(h2) Bonus sectionThe tension presented in Acts 2:23 between God's complete sovereignty and human responsibility is not a logical dilemma to be resolved but a divine mystery to be affirmed. It teaches that while God ensures His will comes to pass, He uses the free, albeit sinful, choices of humans to accomplish it without coercing them. This concept is vital for understanding divine providence in all of Scripture. Peter's sermon establishes that repentance is necessary because they actively participated in killing the Messiah, but forgiveness is possible because God turned that wicked act into the very foundation of salvation. This verse encapsulates the foundational message of the Gospel, showing the path to redemption lies precisely through the event the audience was responsible for, but which God had always intended for their good.