Acts 5 31

Acts 5:31 kjv

Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Acts 5:31 nkjv

Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

Acts 5:31 niv

God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins.

Acts 5:31 esv

God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

Acts 5:31 nlt

Then God put him in the place of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this so the people of Israel would repent of their sins and be forgiven.

Acts 5 verses

Acts 5 31 Meaning

Acts 5:31 declares God's divine vindication and exaltation of Jesus, whom human authorities rejected and crucified. God elevated Jesus to the highest position of authority at His right hand, commissioning Him as the unique "Prince" (or "Leader") and "Saviour." This exalted status enables Jesus to grant the gifts of repentance and the remission of sins, specifically offered first to Israel, highlighting His pivotal role in the path to reconciliation with God for humanity.

Acts 5 31 Context

Acts chapter 5 records the ongoing growth and supernatural power of the early church in Jerusalem, contrasting with the mounting opposition from the Jewish religious authorities, particularly the Sanhedrin. Following the judgment upon Ananias and Sapphira, and subsequent miracles performed by the apostles, the Sadducees, filled with indignation, arrested the apostles. Miraculously freed from prison by an angel, they continued to teach in the temple. When brought again before the high priest and the Sanhedrin, they were sternly questioned for disobeying the previous command not to teach in Jesus' name. Acts 5:31 is Peter's central defense, affirming the apostles' obedience to God rather than men (Acts 5:29) and declaring Jesus' true identity and God's vindication of Him, in stark contrast to the Sanhedrin's actions. The verse stands as a declaration of God's sovereign plan for salvation, offered through Christ.

Acts 5 31 Word analysis

• Him: Refers directly to Jesus Christ, whom the Jewish leaders crucified but God resurrected. It underscores His unique and singular identity.
• hath God exalted: Greek: ὕψωσεν (hypsōsen). To lift up, elevate to a high place, to honor greatly. This is a divine action, demonstrating God's vindication of Jesus and His supreme authority over all earthly powers and decisions, directly opposing the Sanhedrin's condemnation. It speaks of Jesus' resurrection and ascension.
• with his right hand: Greek: δεξιᾷ (dexia). Symbolizes supreme power, authority, honor, and approval. Sitting or standing at God's right hand denotes a position of unparalleled closeness and shared dominion, not a physical location in a human sense, but a position of ultimate authority and effective power in the divine administration of the cosmos.
• to be: Greek: γενέσθαι (genesthai). Implies "to become," indicating purpose and destiny. This exaltation was for the specific purpose of His appointed roles.
• a Prince: Greek: Ἀρχηγὸν (Archēgon). A multi-faceted and significant term meaning "originator," "leader," "pioneer," "captain," or "author." This word points to Jesus as the one who takes the lead, sets the pattern, or begins something. In the context of the Davidic covenant and Israel's hopes, He is the appointed Messiah, the true leader, contrasting with any human "prince" or leader, particularly those who rejected Him. It denotes Him as the originator of the new life and path for believers.
• and a Saviour: Greek: Σωτῆρα (Sōtēra). A deliverer, preserver, or rescuer. This title emphasizes Jesus' functional role in providing salvation and deliverance from sin and its consequences, aligning with Old Testament prophecy of God as Israel's deliverer.
• for to give: This indicates the direct purpose or consequence of Jesus' exaltation as Prince and Saviour. His elevated status empowers Him to grant these specific benefits.
• repentance: Greek: μετάνοιαν (metanoian). A change of mind or purpose, a transformation that leads to a change of behavior. It is not merely remorse but a turning from sin towards God. This is a gift because fallen humanity cannot genuinely repent on its own apart from God's enabling grace.
• to Israel: This highlights the immediate, specific, and covenantal audience. The offer of salvation was historically first extended to the Jewish people, rooted in God's promises to Abraham, even though many had rejected their Messiah. It implies a divine continuity with God's chosen nation.
• and forgiveness of sins: Greek: ἄφεσιν (aphesin). Remission, release, pardon, sending away. This is the divine act of pardoning and releasing from the guilt and penalty of sin. This is inseparable from repentance, as both are necessary components of salvation granted through Christ's work.

Words-group analysis:

• "Him hath God exalted with his right hand": This phrase emphatically declares God's reversal of humanity's judgment on Jesus. Crucified and rejected by men, He was highly honored and positioned in divine authority by God. This establishes Jesus' divine authority, surpassing all earthly powers.
• "to be a Prince and a Saviour": These two titles describe Jesus' authoritative and redemptive functions. As "Prince" (Archēgos), He is the pioneering leader establishing the way of salvation; as "Saviour," He actively delivers from sin. Both roles are essential for the fulfillment of God's salvific plan.
• "for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins": This defines the precise outcome and purpose of Jesus' exalted status. His authority enables Him to bestow these two interconnected spiritual gifts—repentance as the necessary human response facilitated by grace, and forgiveness as the divine provision, initially and specifically offered to the Jewish people, the first recipients of the gospel message before its broader dissemination.

Acts 5 31 Bonus section

The Greek word for "Prince," Ἀρχηγὸν (Archēgon), appears four times in the New Testament, three of which refer to Jesus (Acts 3:15, 5:31, Heb 12:2). In Acts 3:15, Jesus is the "Author of life," meaning He is the source and origin of spiritual life. In Hebrews 12:2, He is the "Author and Perfecter of faith," signifying He begins and completes our spiritual journey. This unique emphasis on Jesus as the "initiator" or "founder" of spiritual realities (life, salvation, faith) underscores His pioneering work and exclusive role in the divine plan, setting Him apart from any earthly leader. The term carried significant weight for a Jewish audience, potentially echoing prophetic leaders or national deliverers, now definitively fulfilled and transcended in Christ.

Acts 5 31 Commentary

Acts 5:31 presents a powerful summation of Christology and soteriology. It unequivocally asserts the sovereignty of God in orchestrating salvation through the resurrected and ascended Christ. God's act of "exalting Him with His right hand" underscores divine validation of Jesus, refuting the human verdict that led to His crucifixion. This divine elevation positions Jesus as the supreme authority, fulfilling prophetic roles as the ultimate "Prince" or leader, one who pioneers a new path to life and redemption. Concurrently, He is declared "Saviour," the sole deliverer from the bondage and penalty of sin.

The verse is a clear articulation of grace, stating that repentance and forgiveness are not merited human achievements but gifts graciously extended by Christ. This emphasizes humanity's inability to effect these changes independently. The initial focus "to Israel" affirms God's covenant faithfulness and the historical sequence of the gospel's proclamation, beginning with His chosen people, while implicitly laying the groundwork for its subsequent global expansion. It highlights that even those who rejected the Messiah are offered this pathway to reconciliation.