Acts 2:23

Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

Him {G5126}, being delivered {G1560} by the determinate {G3724} counsel {G1012} and {G2532} foreknowledge {G4268} of God {G2316}, ye have taken {G2983}, and by {G1223} wicked {G459} hands {G5495} have crucified {G4362} and slain {G337}:

This man was arrested in accordance with God’s predetermined plan and foreknowledge; and, through the agency of persons not bound by the Torah, you nailed him up on a stake and killed him!

He was delivered up by God’s set plan and foreknowledge, and you, by the hands of the lawless, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross.

him, being delivered up by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye by the hand of lawless men did crucify and slay:

Commentary

Acts 2:23 (KJV) is a pivotal verse from Peter's sermon on the Day of Pentecost, delivered to a diverse Jewish audience in Jerusalem. It directly addresses the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, presenting a profound theological truth about God's sovereignty and human responsibility.

Context

This verse is part of Peter's bold proclamation following the outpouring of the Holy Spirit described in Acts 2:1-4. Filled with the Spirit, Peter explains the miraculous events and then pivots to the core of the Gospel message: the death and resurrection of Jesus. He confronts his listeners, many of whom were present during the events leading to Jesus's crucifixion, with their culpability while simultaneously asserting God's overarching plan. This sermon is a powerful example of early apostolic preaching, calling people to repentance and faith.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty: The phrase "determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God" emphasizes that Jesus's death was not a random tragedy but was part of God's eternal, predetermined plan for salvation. God knew and ordained these events from eternity, highlighting His ultimate control over history and His redemptive purposes. This concept is foundational to understanding God's work, even in the face of human wickedness.
  • Human Responsibility: Despite God's sovereign plan, the verse unequivocally states, "ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain." This holds the human agents—those who orchestrated and carried out the crucifixion—fully accountable for their sinful actions. It illustrates the biblical tension where God's sovereign will coexists with genuine human freedom and moral responsibility. The crucifixion, though planned by God, was still a heinous crime committed by humans.
  • Fulfillment of Prophecy: Jesus's death was the ultimate fulfillment of numerous Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah's suffering and sacrifice. Peter's sermon often points to these prophetic fulfillments, such as those found in Psalm 16:10 and Isaiah 53:5, confirming that these events were not accidental but part of God's long-revealed plan.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Determinate counsel" (Greek: horizo boulē): This refers to God's fixed, established, or appointed plan. It signifies a divine decree or decision that is unchangeable and purposeful.
  • "Foreknowledge" (Greek: prognosis): This word means knowing beforehand. In this context, it speaks to God's perfect and comprehensive knowledge of all future events, including the specific actions of individuals. Combined with "determinate counsel," it underscores that God did not merely foresee the crucifixion but actively purposed it within His divine plan.
  • "Wicked hands": This phrase (Greek: anomon cheirōn) literally means "lawless hands." It refers to the Gentiles (specifically the Roman soldiers and authorities) who carried out the crucifixion, driven by the unjust demands of the Jewish leaders. This highlights the lawless and sinful nature of their actions.

Practical Application

Acts 2:23 offers profound comfort and a sobering challenge. It assures believers that even the most horrific acts, like the crucifixion of Jesus, are not outside of God's sovereign control. This means that God has a purpose even in suffering and evil, and His ultimate plans for redemption will prevail. For us, it reinforces the truth that while God is sovereign, we are still responsible for our choices. The verse also underscores the centrality of the cross as the divinely orchestrated means of salvation, inviting all to consider the sacrifice made by God's Son for the sins of humanity.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Luke 22:22 (12 votes)

    And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!

  • Acts 4:28 (11 votes)

    For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

  • Acts 3:18 (11 votes)

    But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.

  • Genesis 50:20 (10 votes)

    But as for you, ye thought evil against me; [but] God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as [it is] this day, to save much people alive.

  • Isaiah 46:10 (10 votes)

    Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times [the things] that are not [yet] done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

  • Isaiah 46:11 (10 votes)

    Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken [it], I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed [it], I will also do it.

  • 1 Peter 1:20 (9 votes)

    Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,