Acts 17:31

Translations

Modern

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.”

Traditional

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.

Literal

…because He set a day in which He is about to judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He appointed, having provided a guarantee to all, having raised Him out from the dead.”

Latin

…eo quod statuit diem in quo judicaturus est orbem in æquitate, in viro in quo statuit, fidem præbens omnibus, suscitans eum a mortuis.

Original

Greek

English

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.”

Notes

Acts 17:22–31

Paul’s sermon in Athens shows how well he could adapt his preaching of the good news (Romans 11:14; 1 Corinthians 9:19–23; 10:33; compare Acts 16:3; 17:2–3; 21:20–26). His Greek audience did not know the Scriptures or believe in one God like the Jews. However, they had a strong intellectual background. Paul connected with them using an Athenian inscription on an altar TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. He then explained God’s nature as the Creator (17:22–29), followed by God’s purpose as the Redeemer (17:30–31).
As he did in his letters (see 1 Corinthians 15:33; Titus 1:12), Paul also used lines from Greek poets. His sermon has several ideas similar to the Hymn to Zeus by Cleanthes, who lived around 315 to 240 BC. Paul likely quoted Epimenides, who wrote, "In him we live and move and exist" (Epimenides, Cretica, about 600 BC). Paul also quoted Aratus, a Stoic (a follower of Stoicism, a Greek philosophy that valued reason and virtue) from Cilicia, who wrote, "We are his offspring" (Aratus, Phaenomena 5).
By using these familiar sayings, Paul connected with his audience. Then he moved to his main message. He taught that God is one and not like idols made by humans (Acts 17:29). He also warned that God will judge the world through Jesus Christ, whom he raised from the dead.
Even though Paul spoke in ways that related to Greek culture and thought, his message clearly pointed to Christ. He challenged an educated but idol-worshiping audience to respond to the truth.

Acts 17:16–34

In this chapter, we see Paul presented as a model witness for Christ, engaging the thinkers of his day and challenging them with the Christian message. Paul quoted writers his audience would be familiar with and showed the relevance of the gospel by dialoguing with them, critiquing their assumptions, and offering Jesus as a constructive alternative (see Colossians 1:28).

Paul reminded these proud intellectuals that there is a living God to whom all human beings are answerable; that they will be judged by him through Jesus, whom God raised from the dead; and that they should therefore repent and put their faith in Jesus.

Theme notes and profiles

Paul (Saul) God’s Justice Natural Revelation Returning to the Lord The Good News Message The Unknown God The World

Events

Second Missionary Journeyc. AD 46
Paul preaches in Athens

Related verses

Romans 2:16
…on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Christ Jesus, as proclaimed by my gospel.
Matthew 25:31–46
When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne.
2 Peter 3:7
And by that same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.
Psalm 98:9
…before the LORD, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity.
Psalm 9:8
He judges the world with justice; He governs the people with equity.
1 Corinthians 4:5
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
Romans 2:5
But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.
1 Corinthians 15:3–8
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
Acts 10:39–42
We are witnesses of all that He did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. And although they put Him to death by hanging Him on a tree,
John 5:22–23
Furthermore, the Father judges no one, but has assigned all judgment to the Son,
Acts 4:10
…then let this be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.

Glossary

Areopagus Athens Book of the Acts of the Apostles Chronology of the Bible (New Testament) Destiny First Letter to the Thessalonians God, Being and Attributes of Gospel Jude, Letter of Last Judgment Mars’ Hill Pagans Place of the Dead Second Coming of Christ Son of Man Stoicism, Stoics Travel

Topics

Athens: A City of Greece End of Time Floods God: Judge, and his Justice God: Righteousness of Jesus, the Christ: Humanity of Jesus, the Christ: Judge Jesus, the Christ: Resurrection of Judgment: The General Mars' Hill: A Hill in Athens Paul: Debates on Mars' Hill (At the Meeting of the Areopagus Council) with Greeks Religious Zeal: Exemplified by Paul Responsibility: According to Privilege Righteousness: Christ: Shall Judge With Select Readings: Paul on Mars' Hill The Judgment Day The Judgment: A Day Appointed For The Judgment: Shall be in Righteousness The Judgment: The Certainty of, a Motive to Repentance The Justice of God: Exhibited in The Final Judgment The Resurrection of Christ: An Assurance of the Judgment The Righteousness of God: Exhibited in The Final Judgment

Acts 17:31

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