Acts 10:41

KJV

Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, [even] to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.

KJV (with Strong's)

Not {G3756} to all {G3956} the people {G2992}, but {G235} unto witnesses {G3144} chosen before {G4401} of {G5259} God {G2316}, even to us {G2254}, who {G3748} did eat {G4906} and {G2532} drink with {G4844} him {G846} after {G3326} he {G846} rose {G450} from {G1537} the dead {G3498}.

Complete Jewish Bible

not by all the people, but by witnesses God had previously chosen, that is, by us, who ate and drank with him after he had risen again from the dead.

Berean Standard Bible

not by all the people, but by the witnesses God had chosen beforehand, by us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.

American Standard Version

not to all the people, but unto witnesses that were chosen before of God, even to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Acts 10:41, spoken by Peter to Cornelius's household, asserts the foundational truth of Jesus' bodily resurrection by emphasizing the exclusivity and divine appointment of His post-resurrection witnesses. Peter declares that Jesus appeared not to the general populace, but to a select group, including himself and the other apostles, who shared meals with the resurrected Christ, thereby providing irrefutable, tangible proof of His victory over death and establishing the credibility of their Gospel message.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a pivotal statement within Peter's sermon to Cornelius and his household in Caesarea, marking a dramatic turning point in the early church's mission. Following Peter's transformative vision of the sheet with unclean animals and the subsequent divine instruction to go with Cornelius's messengers, Peter arrives at the Gentile centurion's home. His sermon, beginning in [Acts 10:34](/acts/10-34 "Acts 10:34 - Peter's Realization of God's Impartiality"), systematically presents the core of the Gospel: Jesus' anointing by the Holy Spirit, His ministry of healing, His crucifixion, and crucially, His resurrection. Verse 41 specifically addresses the *proof* of this resurrection, immediately following the declaration that God "raised him up the third day, and shewed him openly" in [Acts 10:40](/acts/10-40 "Acts 10:40 - God Raised Jesus on the Third Day"). This verse sets the stage for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on these Gentiles, demonstrating God's acceptance of them into the new covenant community.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting in Caesarea, a Roman administrative capital, highlights the cultural tension between Jewish and Gentile communities. Jewish law and custom strictly forbade association and shared meals with Gentiles, making Peter's presence in Cornelius's home revolutionary. In the ancient world, eyewitness testimony was paramount for establishing truth and credibility, especially in legal and historical matters. The act of "eating and drinking" together was a deeply significant cultural practice, signifying fellowship, acceptance, and tangible presence. For Peter to emphasize that he and others ate with the resurrected Jesus was a powerful, culturally resonant affirmation of Jesus' physical reality, directly countering any notion that His appearance was merely spiritual, a hallucination, or a phantom.
* **Key Themes:** Acts 10:41 contributes significantly to several major themes in Acts and the broader biblical narrative. It underscores the **bodily resurrection of Christ**, presenting it as a physical, verifiable event rather than a spiritual apparition, a truth foundational to Christian faith as seen throughout [the apostolic preaching in Acts](/acts/2-24 "Acts 2:24 - God Raised Jesus from the Agony of Death"). The verse also highlights **divine sovereignty and election**, as the witnesses were "chosen before of God," indicating that God meticulously orchestrated the means by which the resurrection truth would be proclaimed. Furthermore, it reinforces the **authoritative nature of apostolic witness**, establishing that the apostles' message was not based on hearsay or speculation, but on direct, personal encounters with the risen Lord. This divinely appointed and physically verified testimony forms the bedrock of the Gospel's expansion, particularly its dramatic extension to the Gentiles, fulfilling the mandate to be witnesses to the ends of the earth as described in [Acts 1:8](/acts/1-8 "Acts 1:8 - Empowered to Be Witnesses").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **witnesses (Greek, _mártys'_):** This term (G3144) refers to those who give factual testimony based on firsthand knowledge. In this context, it emphasizes the apostles' role as direct observers of the resurrected Christ, providing irrefutable evidence. The English word "martyr" derives from this Greek root, signifying that these witnesses were prepared to suffer, even die, for the truth of their testimony.
* **chosen before (Greek, _procheirotonéō'_):** The Greek verb (G4401) signifies a pre-planned, deliberate selection by God. It emphasizes divine intentionality and sovereignty in appointing specific individuals to bear authoritative witness to the resurrection. This was not a random selection but a divinely ordained commission.
* **eat and drink with (Greek, _synesthíō'_ G4906 and _sympínō'_ G4844):** These compound verbs explicitly state that the witnesses shared meals and beverages with Jesus after His resurrection. This detail is crucial for demonstrating the physical, bodily nature of His resurrection. Eating and drinking are tangible, life-sustaining activities, proving that Jesus was not a ghost or a spiritual apparition, but truly alive in a physical body.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Not to all the people,"**: This clause clarifies that Jesus' post-resurrection appearances were not public spectacles for the entire population of Jerusalem or Judea. Instead, they were selective and purposeful, designed for a specific group.
* **"but unto witnesses chosen before of God,"**: This directly contrasts the previous phrase, identifying the specific recipients of Jesus' appearances. These individuals were not self-appointed but divinely selected and prepared by God for the crucial task of bearing authoritative testimony to the resurrection.
* **"to us,"**: Peter includes himself and the other apostles/disciples present, identifying them as the very individuals divinely chosen to be these witnesses. This lends personal authority and credibility to his sermon.
* **"who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead."**: This is the concrete evidence Peter offers for the physical reality of Jesus' resurrection. The act of sharing meals signifies tangible presence, proving that Jesus was truly alive, with a body that could interact physically, thereby refuting any claims of a spiritual apparition or hallucination.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several literary devices to convey its powerful message. **Contrast** is immediately evident in the opening phrase, "Not to all the people, but unto witnesses," which highlights the deliberate and exclusive nature of Jesus' post-resurrection appearances. This contrast underscores the divine intentionality behind the selection of witnesses. The phrase "chosen before of God" emphasizes **divine election** and **sovereignty**, framing the apostles' testimony as a divinely ordained mission rather than a human initiative. Furthermore, the detailed description of "who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead" serves as a powerful form of **empirical evidence** and **verification**. This specific, tangible action functions as a **synecdoche**, where the part (eating and drinking) represents the whole (the physical, bodily reality of Jesus' resurrected life). It is a concrete, undeniable proof that counters any abstract or spiritualized interpretation of the resurrection, grounding the Gospel message in historical reality.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Acts 10:41 is profoundly significant because it anchors the Christian faith in a verifiable historical event: the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. The emphasis on divinely chosen eyewitnesses who shared intimate, tangible experiences with the risen Lord establishes the absolute reliability of the Gospel message. This verse underscores that the apostles were not peddling philosophical ideas or spiritual myths, but proclaiming a historical fact witnessed by those specifically prepared by God. The physical reality of Jesus' resurrection, evidenced by His eating and drinking with them, is the cornerstone of Christian hope, validating His claims, confirming His victory over sin and death, and guaranteeing future resurrection for believers. This truth forms the very heart of the apostolic kerygma, providing the foundation for all subsequent Christian theology and mission.

* [Acts 2:32](/acts/2-32 "Peter's Witness to the Resurrection")
* [Luke 24:41-43](/luke/24-41-43 "Jesus Eats Fish and Honeycomb with Disciples")
* [1 Corinthians 15:3-8](/1_corinthians/15-3-8 "Paul's List of Resurrection Witnesses")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Acts 10:41 serves as a powerful reminder that our Christian faith is not founded on mere fables or wishful thinking, but on the solid, historical reality of Jesus' bodily resurrection. The meticulous detail about the chosen witnesses who ate and drank with the risen Christ provides an unshakeable foundation for our belief, assuring us that the Gospel message is true and trustworthy. For contemporary believers, this means our hope is grounded in a tangible victory over death, empowering us to live with confidence and purpose. While we are not eyewitnesses in the same way the apostles were, we are called to be witnesses of Christ's transforming power in our own lives and in the world. This verse compels us to consider the depth of the truth we proclaim and to share it with the same conviction and authority that Peter demonstrated, knowing that our message is rooted in God's verifiable acts in history.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the emphasis on eyewitness testimony and the physical reality of Jesus' resurrection strengthen your faith and assurance?**
* **In what ways are you, as a believer today, called to be a "witness" for Christ, even without having physically seen Him?**
* **How does the historical certainty of the resurrection impact your understanding of salvation, eternal life, and the future hope for humanity?**

### FAQ
**Why weren't Jesus' post-resurrection appearances made to "all the people"?**

Answer: Jesus' post-resurrection appearances were not made to "all the people" because God's sovereign plan was to establish a specific, authoritative group of witnesses who would then proclaim the Gospel message. A public spectacle might have been misinterpreted, dismissed as mass hysteria, or failed to provide the deep, personal conviction necessary for those tasked with founding the church. Instead, intimate, repeated encounters with chosen individuals provided undeniable, verifiable proof for those who would become the primary heralds of the resurrection. This ensured the message was faithfully transmitted by those who had personal, verifiable encounters, rather than relying on fleeting public perception. This divine strategy ensured the integrity and authority of the apostolic witness, which was crucial for the early spread of Christianity, as seen in passages like [Acts 1:8](/acts/1-8 "Acts 1:8 - Empowered to Be Witnesses").

**What is the significance of "eating and drinking" with the resurrected Jesus?**

Answer: The detail that the witnesses "did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead" is profoundly significant because it provides irrefutable proof of Jesus' physical, bodily resurrection. In the ancient world, sharing a meal was a deeply tangible act that signified presence, life, and fellowship. This detail counters any notion that Jesus' appearance was merely spiritual, ghostly, or a hallucination. It demonstrates that He was truly alive, with a physical body, albeit glorified, capable of interacting with the material world. This aligns with other New Testament accounts where [Jesus invites His disciples to touch Him](/luke/24-39 "Luke 24:39 - Jesus Invites Disciples to Touch Him") and [eats fish and honeycomb](/luke/24-42-43 "Luke 24:42-43 - Jesus Eats Fish and Honeycomb"), all of which served to confirm the physical reality of His triumph over death.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Acts 10:41, while focusing on the *witnesses* to Christ's resurrection, profoundly points to Christ Himself as the central figure of God's redemptive plan. The fact that He "rose from the dead" is the lynchpin of the Gospel, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies of a Messiah who would conquer death (e.g., [Psalm 16:10](/psalm/16-10 "Psalm 16:10 - You Will Not Abandon My Soul to Sheol")). His bodily resurrection is the guarantee of our own future resurrection and the ultimate victory over sin and death, as proclaimed in [1 Corinthians 15:20-22](/1_corinthians/15-20-22 "1 Corinthians 15:20-22 - Christ as the Firstfruits of Resurrection"). The chosen witnesses, having eaten and drunk with the resurrected Lord, became the living proof of the new covenant, where [Christ is the firstborn from the dead](/colossians/1-18 "Colossians 1:18 - Christ, the Firstborn from the Dead") and the source of eternal life for all who believe ([John 11:25-26](/john/11-25-26 "John 11:25-26 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life")). Their testimony, rooted in the tangible reality of His post-resurrection life, establishes the absolute certainty of [Jesus' triumph over the grave](/revelation/1-18 "Revelation 1:18 - Jesus Holds the Keys of Death and Hades") and His ongoing reign as Lord, through whom all humanity can find reconciliation with God ([2 Corinthians 5:18-19](/2_corinthians/5-18-19 "2 Corinthians 5:18-19 - God Reconciled Us to Himself Through Christ")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

John 14:22

Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?

John 14:17

[Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

John 21:13

Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.

Acts 10:39

And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

Acts 1:22

Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.

Acts 1:2

Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:

Acts 1:3

To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: