Acts 2 32

Acts 2:32 kjv

This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

Acts 2:32 nkjv

This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.

Acts 2:32 niv

God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.

Acts 2:32 esv

This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.

Acts 2:32 nlt

"God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this.

Acts 2 verses

Acts 2 32 meaning

This Jesus, whom God raised from the dead, is the subject of our declaration. The statement confirms the resurrection of Jesus as an act initiated by God Himself. Furthermore, it asserts that the apostles, and implicitly other followers, are direct, collective eyewitnesses to this profound event, thereby lending undeniable credence to the claim. This verse stands as a foundational assertion in Peter's Pentecost sermon, pivotal to the early Christian message of salvation.

Acts 2 32 Context

Acts 2:32 is found within Peter's pivotal sermon on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14-41), immediately following the miraculous outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Peter is addressing a diverse crowd of devout Jews and proselytes, who are astonished and perplexed by the apostles speaking in various languages. After explaining this phenomenon as the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy (Joel 2:28-32), Peter shifts his focus to Jesus of Nazareth. He highlights Jesus's attested life among them (Acts 2:22), their rejection and crucifixion of Him (Acts 2:23), and crucially, God's raising Him from the dead (Acts 2:24). Prior to verse 32, Peter extensively uses Psalm 16 (Acts 2:25-28) to demonstrate that David prophesied a resurrection that could not apply to himself, but to his descendant, the Christ. Verse 32, therefore, acts as a definitive statement, applying this prophetic fulfillment directly to Jesus and reinforcing it with apostolic testimony. Historically, this sermon takes place in Jerusalem, in a religiously charged atmosphere, where the Jewish authorities had only recently condemned Jesus, making the declaration of His resurrection a bold challenge to contemporary religious power and belief. This served as a polemic against those who asserted Jesus was a mere criminal whose story ended in death, directly refuting their claims by divine action.

Acts 2 32 Word analysis

• This (Grk: τούτον, touton): A demonstrative pronoun, emphasizing the specificity of this particular Jesus, the one they had known, seen, and witnessed. It anchors the proclamation in their recent history, linking the risen Christ directly to the man they had rejected and crucified.
• Jesus (Grk: Ἰησοῦν, Iēsou): The human name, commonly known. Peter uses His name rather than a title like "Christ" first, making it clear they are speaking of the man they delivered up to be killed, directly confronting the crowd with their actions concerning this specific individual.
• God has raised (Grk: ὁ Θεὸς ἀνέστησεν, ho Theos anestēsen):
  • God (ho Theos): Explicitly identifies the divine actor behind the resurrection. This is not a self-resurrection or an event initiated by human power, but a direct, powerful act of the Almighty, validating Jesus.
  • has raised (anestēsen): The aorist indicative verb (ἀνίστημι, anistēmi) signifies a completed historical event, a definitive act that has already occurred. The active voice unequivocally states God as the subject who performed this action. This stands in stark contrast to human actions mentioned earlier in the sermon (Acts 2:23), emphasizing God's reversal of human sin and judgment. The resurrection is presented as God's powerful endorsement and triumph over death, proving Jesus' identity and claims.
• to life: This phrase is implied by "raised" in the context of death. The Greek anistēmi means to stand up, and when applied to the dead, intrinsically means to rise back to life.
• we all (Grk: πάντες ἡμεῖς, pantes hēmeis): An emphatic declaration of corporate, unanimous testimony. "All of us" apostles and those present (Acts 1:22, referring to Matthias joining the twelve as a witness), emphasizing the collective and credible nature of their witness. This counters any suggestion of an isolated, individual claim.
• witnesses (Grk: μάρτυρες, martyres): From the root meaning to remember or to state a fact. These are not merely passive observers but active attestors, prepared to stake their lives on what they have seen and heard. The term carries legal connotations, denoting credible testifiers providing firsthand evidence. Their role is to bear solemn testimony to a fact they know directly. This term would later evolve to include those who sealed their testimony with their lives (martyrs), signifying the unwavering conviction inherent in their proclamation.
• of it (Grk: αὐτοῦ, autou): A genitive pronoun referring back directly to the resurrection of "this Jesus." It explicitly states that their testimony is specifically about that event, leaving no ambiguity as to the subject of their eyewitness account.

Words-Group Analysis:

• This Jesus God has raised: This phrase directly links Jesus' identity with the divine act of resurrection. It underscores that God intervened specifically for this man, countering the perception of Him as a mere criminal. It highlights divine sovereignty reversing human injustice.
• we all are witnesses of it: This collective assertion transforms the proclamation from a theological doctrine into a verifiable historical claim based on irrefutable, unified human testimony. The emphasis is on the quantity and reliability of the firsthand accounts, critical for the formation of the early church and conversion. It's a statement of factual observation, presented with conviction and authority.

Acts 2 32 Bonus section

• The Resurrection is not just a past event but the ongoing foundation for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:33), proving Jesus' current exaltation and active role.
• Peter’s declaration connects Jesus’ resurrection to David's words in Psalm 16:8-11, where David himself anticipated one who would not see decay. This makes Jesus the ultimate "Holy One" who perfectly fulfilled God’s plan, showing He transcended mere humanity and was not confined by death like David was.
• The emphasis on "witnesses" also subtly communicates a preparedness for suffering or death. In the first-century context, testifying to such a provocative event—challenging the Jewish leadership who instigated Jesus' death—carried immense personal risk. This adds a layer of solemn commitment to their testimony, further solidifying its credibility.

Acts 2 32 Commentary

Acts 2:32 is the climax of Peter's argument, offering direct, eyewitness proof for the truth that Jesus, the man crucified by their hands, was demonstrably raised by God. This is the cornerstone of the kerygma, the essential gospel proclamation. God's action in raising Jesus unequivocally validates Jesus' identity as the promised Messiah, fulfilling Old Testament prophecy and proving His triumph over sin and death. The declaration, "we all are witnesses of it," provides both authority and factual weight to the claim, asserting a unified and collective observation by those who personally knew Jesus. It implies that their lives are bound up in this truth, challenging the hearers to acknowledge an undeniable, divinely ordained event. The resurrection is not a symbolic or spiritual event but a tangible, physical one to which they bear personal testimony, compelling the listeners to confront their prior rejection of God's Messiah.