New International VersionFor 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.”
New Living TranslationFor 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.”
English Standard Versionbecause 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.”
Berean Standard BibleFor 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.”
Berean Literal Biblebecause He set a day in which He is about to judge the world in righteousness by a man whom He appointed, having provided a guarantee to all, having raised Him out from the dead."
King James BibleBecause 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.
New King James Versionbecause 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.”
New American Standard Biblebecause He has set a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all people by raising Him from the dead.”
NASB 1995because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”
NASB 1977because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”
Legacy Standard Biblebecause He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He determined, having furnished proof to all by raising Him from the dead.”
Amplified Biblebecause He has set a day when He will judge the inhabited world in righteousness by a Man whom He has appointed and destined for that task, and He has provided credible proof to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”
Christian Standard Biblebecause he has set a day when he is going to judge the world in righteousness by the man he has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
Holman Christian Standard Biblebecause He has set a day when He is going to judge the world in righteousness by the Man He has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”
American Standard Versioninasmuch as he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
Contemporary English VersionHe has set a day when he will judge the world's people with fairness. And he has chosen the man Jesus to do the judging for him. God has given proof of this to all of us by raising Jesus from death.
English Revised Versioninasmuch as he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationHe has set a day when he is going to judge the world with justice, and he will use a man he has appointed to do this. God has given proof to everyone that he will do this by bringing that man back to life."
Good News TranslationFor he has fixed a day in which he will judge the whole world with justice by means of a man he has chosen. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising that man from death!"
International Standard Versionbecause he has set a day when he is going to judge the world with justice through a man whom he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead."
NET Biblebecause he has set a day on which he is going to judge the world in righteousness, by a man whom he designated, having provided proof to everyone by raising him from the dead."
New Heart English Biblebecause he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained; of which he has given assurance to everyone be raising him from the dead."
Webster's Bible TranslationBecause he hath appointed a day, in which he will judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom he hath ordained: of which he hath given assurance to all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
Weymouth New Testamentseeing that He has appointed a day on which, before long, He will judge the world in righteousness, through the instrumentality of a man whom He has pre-destined to this work, and has made the fact certain to every one by raising Him from the dead." Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleFor 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.”
World English Biblebecause he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained; of which he has given assurance to all men, in that he has raised him from the dead.” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionbecause He set a day in which He is about to judge the world in righteousness, by a Man whom He ordained, having given assurance to all, having raised Him out of the dead.”
Berean Literal Biblebecause He set a day in which He is about to judge the world in righteousness by a man whom He appointed, having provided a guarantee to all, having raised Him out from the dead."
Young's Literal Translation because He did set a day in which He is about to judge the world in righteousness, by a man whom He did ordain, having given assurance to all, having raised him out of the dead.'
Smith's Literal TranslationWherefore he set a day, in which he is about to judge the habitable globe in justice by the man whom he appointed; having offered faith to all, having raised him from the dead. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBecause he hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in equity, by the man whom he hath appointed; giving faith to all, by raising him up from the dead.
Catholic Public Domain VersionFor he has appointed a day on which he will judge the world in equity, through the man whom he has appointed, offering faith to all, by raising him from the dead.”
New American Biblebecause he has established a day on which he will ‘judge the world with justice’ through a man he has appointed, and he has provided confirmation for all by raising him from the dead.”
New Revised Standard Versionbecause he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleFor he has appointed a day in which he will judge all the earth with righteousness by the man whom he has chosen; he who has turned every man towards his faith; for that, he has raised him from the dead.
Aramaic Bible in Plain English“Because he has appointed the day in which he is going to judge the whole Earth in righteousness by the man whom he has designated and he has turned everyone to his faith in that he has raised him from among the dead.” NT Translations Anderson New Testamentbecause he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world, in righteousness, by the man whom he has chosen, giving to all assurance of this, by having raised him from the dead.
Godbey New Testament
as He has appointed a day, in which he is about to judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained; giving faith to all, having raised Him from the dead.
Haweis New Testament
because he hath fixed the day in which he will judge the whole world in righteousness by the man whom he hath appointed; affording evidence of this to all, by raising him from the dead.
Mace New Testament
because he has fix'd the day, when he will judge in equity, by that man, whom he has appointed thereto: of which he has given full proof to all the world, by having raised him from the dead."
Weymouth New Testament
seeing that He has appointed a day on which, before long, He will judge the world in righteousness, through the instrumentality of a man whom He has pre-destined to this work, and has made the fact certain to every one by raising Him from the dead."
Worrell New Testament
inasmuch as He appointed a day in which He intendeth to judge the inhabitedearth in righteousness, by a Man Whom He appointed, having given assurance to allby raising Him from the dead."
Worsley New Testament
Because He hath fixed a day, in which He will judge the world in righteousness, bythat man whom He hath appointedthereto; having given assuranceof it to allmen, by raising Him from the dead.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Paul Before the Areopagus… 30Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent. 31ForHe has seta daywhenHe willjudgetheworldwithjusticebythe ManHe has appointed.He has givenproof of thisto everyoneby raisingHimfromthe dead.”32When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some began to mock him, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this topic.”…
Cross References Romans 2:16on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Christ Jesus, as proclaimed by my gospel.
John 5:22-29Furthermore, the Father judges no one, but has assigned all judgment to the Son, / so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. / Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment. Indeed, he has crossed over from death to life. ...
1 Corinthians 15:20-28But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. / For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. / For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. ...
Matthew 25:31-46When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. / All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. / He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. ...
Revelation 20:11-15Then I saw a great white throne and the One seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them. / And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And books were opened, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books. / The sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and each one was judged according to his deeds. ...
2 Corinthians 5:10For 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.
John 12:48There is a judge for the one who rejects Me and does not receive My words: The word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.
Romans 14:10-12Why, then, do you judge your brother? Or why do you belittle your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. / It is written: “As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God.” / So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
1 Thessalonians 4:14-17For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him. / By the word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep. / For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. ...
Philippians 2:9-11Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, / that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, / and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Hebrews 9:27-28Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment, / so also Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him.
Daniel 12:2And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt.
Psalm 96:13before the LORD, for He is coming—He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His faithfulness.
Psalm 98:9before the LORD, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity.
Isaiah 2:4Then He will judge between the nations and arbitrate for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation, nor train anymore for war.
Treasury of Scripture Because he has appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he has ordained; whereof he has given assurance to all men, in that he has raised him from the dead. he hath appointed. Acts 10:42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of Godto be the Judge of quick and dead. Matthew 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: John 5:22,23 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: … given assurance. Acts 17:18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection. Acts 2:23,24,32 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: … Acts 3:15,16 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses… Jump to Previous AppointedAssuranceDeadFactFixedFurnishedGivenInasmuchInstrumentalityJudgeJudgedMarkedOrdainedPre-DestinedRaisedRaisingRighteousnessWhereofWorkWorldJump to Next AppointedAssuranceDeadFactFixedFurnishedGivenInasmuchInstrumentalityJudgeJudgedMarkedOrdainedPre-DestinedRaisedRaisingRighteousnessWhereofWorkWorldActs 17 1.Paul preaches at Thessalonica, where some believe,5.and others persecute him.10.He is sent to Berea, and preaches there.13.Being persecuted by Jews from Thessalonica,16.he comes to Athens, and disputes and preaches the living God, to them unknown;32.whereby, though some mock, many are converted unto Christ.For He has set a dayThis phrase indicates God's sovereign plan and timing. The concept of a divinely appointed day is consistent with biblical themes of God's control over history ( Acts 1:7). It reflects the eschatological expectation found throughout Scripture, such as in Daniel 12:1-2 and Revelation 20:11-15, where a future day of judgment is anticipated. when He will judge the world with justice
The judgment of the world is a central theme in both the Old and New Testaments. This judgment is characterized by divine justice, as seen inPsalm 9:8 andIsaiah 11:4. The idea of God as a just judge is foundational, ensuring that His judgments are righteous and fair (Romans 2:5-6). This reflects the biblical understanding of God's holiness and righteousness. by the Man He has appointed
This refers to Jesus Christ, whom God has designated as the judge. The appointment of Jesus is affirmed inJohn 5:22-27, where Jesus is given authority to execute judgment. This highlights the unique role of Christ in God's redemptive plan, fulfilling messianic prophecies such as those inIsaiah 53 andPsalm 2. He has given proof of this to everyone
The proof mentioned here is the resurrection of Jesus, which serves as a divine validation of His authority and mission. The resurrection is a cornerstone of Christian faith, as emphasized in1 Corinthians 15:14-17. It provides assurance of the future resurrection and judgment, as well as the truth of Jesus' claims. by raising Him from the dead.
The resurrection is the ultimate demonstration of God's power and the pivotal event in Christian theology. It confirms Jesus' victory over sin and death (Romans 6:9-10) and is a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, such asPsalm 16:10 andIsaiah 53:10-11. The resurrection is also a type of the believer's future resurrection, as described in1 Thessalonians 4:14 andPhilippians 3:20-21. Persons / Places / Events 1. GodThe sovereign Creator who has set a day for judgment. 2. The Man He has appointedRefers to Jesus Christ, whom God has chosen to execute judgment. 3. The WorldRepresents all of humanity that will be judged. 4. The ResurrectionThe event that serves as proof of Jesus' authority and divinity. 5. AthensThe city where Paul delivered this message, known for its philosophical and religious diversity. Teaching Points Divine JusticeGod's judgment is based on His perfect justice, ensuring that all will be judged fairly. The Role of JesusJesus is central to God's plan for judgment, emphasizing His authority and divinity. The Assurance of ResurrectionThe resurrection of Jesus is a foundational proof of His power and the hope of eternal life for believers. Urgency of RepentanceKnowing that a day of judgment is set should motivate individuals to repent and turn to Christ. Living with Eternity in MindBelievers are called to live in light of the coming judgment, focusing on eternal values rather than temporal concerns. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Acts 17:31?
2.How does Acts 17:31 affirm God's justice through Jesus' appointed judgment day?
3.What role does Jesus' resurrection play in confirming God's plan in Acts 17:31?
4.How can we prepare for the judgment described in Acts 17:31?
5.How does Acts 17:31 connect with other scriptures about Jesus' authority to judge?
6.How should Acts 17:31 influence our daily walk with Christ?
7.How does Acts 17:31 affirm the certainty of judgment by Jesus?
8.What evidence supports the resurrection mentioned in Acts 17:31?
9.Why is Jesus chosen as the judge in Acts 17:31?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Acts 17?
11.Acts 17:31 – What evidence supports the claim of a coming judgment by a resurrected man when such accounts defy scientific understanding of death?
12.Who was Athenagoras of Athens?
13.Did Jesus come to judge the world?
14.If God is just, why does He allow innocent people to suffer?What Does Acts 17:31 Mean For He has set a day• God’s calendar is fixed, not fluid. Just asHebrews 9:27 declares that “people are appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment,” so here we learn that the Judge already knows the date. • Nothing in history is random;Acts 1:7 says “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority.” The same settled certainty stands behind the promise of Christ’s return in2 Peter 3:7–10. • Because the day is set, our response cannot be procrastination.Proverbs 27:1 reminds us, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.”
when He will judge the world with justice• Judgment will be comprehensive—“the world.”Romans 14:10-12 echoes this: “We will all stand before God’s judgment seat…each of us will give an account of himself to God.” • God’s justice is perfectly fair.Psalm 96:13 rejoices that He “comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in faithfulness.” • Every wrong will be set right (Ecclesiastes 12:14), every hidden thought exposed (1 Corinthians 4:5). No bribes, no partiality (Deuteronomy 10:17).
by the Man He has appointed• The appointed Man is Jesus.John 5:22-23 states, “The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son.” • This appointment underscores Christ’s unique role: He is fully God yet fully man (1 Timothy 2:5). Only as the God-Man can He judge with both divine authority and human understanding (Hebrews 4:15). •Philippians 2:9-11 shows the result: “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow… and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”
He has given proof of this to everyone• God has not asked for blind faith; He supplied public evidence.Acts 2:32: “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses.” • The resurrection was never a private vision but a historical event corroborated by “over five hundred brothers at once” (1 Corinthians 15:6). •Romans 1:4 calls the resurrection the declaration that Jesus is “the Son of God in power.” That same proof guarantees His authority to judge.
by raising Him from the dead• The empty tomb is the hinge of history.Luke 24:6-7 announces, “He is not here; He has risen!” • Because Jesus lives, believers have assurance: “He has been raised… so we will also be raised” (1 Corinthians 6:14). • His resurrection also warns the unbelieving world.1 Thessalonians 1:10 speaks of “Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath,” linking resurrection with coming judgment.Revelation 1:17-18 confirms: the living Christ holds “the keys of Death and Hades.”
summaryActs 17:31 proclaims a fixed future event: God has set a specific day when He will judge every person with perfect justice. The Judge is Jesus Christ—the appointed, risen Man—whose resurrection is God’s public guarantee that this judgment is real and certain. For the believer, the risen Lord is Savior and refuge; for the unbeliever, He stands as the unavoidable Judge. Today is the time to trust and obey the living Christ, because the day already fixed on God’s calendar is drawing nearer with every heartbeat. (31) Because he hath appointed a day.--Here the speaker would seem, to both sets of hearers, to be falling back into popular superstition. Minos and Rhadamanthus, and Tartarus and the Elysian Fields,--these they had learnt to dismiss, as belonging to the childhood of the individual and of mankind,-- "Esse aliquid Manes et subterranea regna Vix pueri credunt.". . . . ["Talk of our souls and realms beyond the grave, The very boys will laugh and say you rave."] --Juvenal,Sat. ii. 149. The Epicurean rejected the idea of a divine government altogether. For the Stoic, to quote a line from Schiller,-- "Die Welt-geschichte ist das Welt-gericht," ["And the world's story is its judgment day, "] and he expected no other. The thought of a day of judgment as the consummation of that history, which was so prominent in St. Paul's teaching, was altogether strange to them. By that man whom he hath ordained.--Literally,by a man. Who the man was, and what proof there was that he had been raised from the dead, were questions either reserved for a later stage of teaching, or interrupted by the derision of the hearers. Up to this point they had listened attentively, but that the dead should be raised again seemed to them--as to the Sadducean, to the Greeks generally--absolutely incredible (Acts 26:8;1Corinthians 15:35). . . . Verse 31.- Inasmuch as for because, A.V. and T.R.; the man for that man, A.V. He hath appointed a day. Hitherto the Athenians seem to have listened with interest while St. Paul was, with consummate skill, leading them onwards from the doctrines of natural religion, and while he was laying down speculative truths. But now they are brought to a stand. They might no longer go on asking, Τι καινόν; A day fixed by God, they were told, was at hand, in which God would judge the world in righteousness, and in which they themselves would be judged also. And the certainty of this was made apparent by the fact that he who was ordained to be Judge was raised from the dead, and so ready to commence the judgment. The time for immediate action was come; God's revelation had reached them. The man ( ἀνδρί). So Acts 2:22, Ἰησοῦν τὸν Ναζωραῖον ἄνδρα ἀπὸ τοῦ Θεοῦἀποδεδειγμένον κ.τ.λ. And so in John 5:27 our Lord himself says of himself that the Father gave him authority to execute judgment "because he is the Son of man;" and in Matthew 26:24, "Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power." (For the connection of the judgment with Christ's resurrection, see especially Acts 10:40-42.) So too the Creeds.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek Forκαθότι(kathoti)Adverb
Strong's 2530:From kata; and hos and tis; according to which certain thing, i.e. As far as.He has setἔστησεν(estēsen)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2476:A prolonged form of a primary stao stah'-o; to stand, used in various applications.a dayἡμέραν(hēmeran)Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2250:A day, the period from sunrise to sunset.whenᾗ(hē)Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3739:Who, which, what, that.He willμέλλει(mellei)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3195:A strengthened form of melo; to intend, i.e. Be about to be, do, or suffer something.judgeκρίνειν(krinein)Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 2919:Properly, to distinguish, i.e. Decide; by implication, to try, condemn, punish.theτὴν(tēn)Article - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.worldοἰκουμένην(oikoumenēn)Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3625:Feminine participle present passive of oikeo; land, i.e. The globe; specially, the Roman empire.withἐν(en)Preposition
Strong's 1722:In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.justiceδικαιοσύνῃ(dikaiosynē)Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1343:From dikaios; equity; specially justification.byἐν(en)Preposition
Strong's 1722:In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.the Manἀνδρὶ(andri)Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 435:A male human being; a man, husband. A primary word; a man.He has appointed.ὥρισεν(hōrisen)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3724:From horion; to mark out or bound, i.e. to appoint, decree, specify.He has givenπαρασχὼν(paraschōn)Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3930:From para and echo; to hold near, i.e. Present, afford, exhibit, furnish occasion.proof [of this]πίστιν(pistin)Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4102:Faith, belief, trust, confidence; fidelity, faithfulness.to all menπᾶσιν(pasin)Adjective - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3956:All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.by raisingἀναστήσας(anastēsas)Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 450:To raise up, set up; I rise from among (the) dead; I arise, appear. From ana and histemi; to stand up.Himαὐτὸν(auton)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846:He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.fromἐκ(ek)Preposition
Strong's 1537:From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.[the] dead.”νεκρῶν(nekrōn)Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3498:(a) adj: dead, lifeless, subject to death, mortal, (b) noun: a dead body, a corpse. From an apparently primary nekus; dead.
Links Acts 17:31 NIVActs 17:31 NLTActs 17:31 ESVActs 17:31 NASBActs 17:31 KJV
Acts 17:31 BibleApps.comActs 17:31 Biblia ParalelaActs 17:31 Chinese BibleActs 17:31 French BibleActs 17:31 Catholic Bible
NT Apostles: Acts 17:31 Because he has appointed a day (Acts of the Apostles Ac) |
