Acts 17:30
What does Acts 17:30 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 17:30 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 17:30 means
A decisive turn arrives. God previously overlooked times of ignorance—not approving them, but exercising patience. Now, with the fuller revelation proclaimed, He commands all people everywhere to repent. This is universal and urgent. Repentance means turning from false views of God and self to the truth, yielding allegiance to Him. The call follows from who God is: the Creator, Sustainer, and Lord near to each one. Ignorance is no longer an excuse. The age of gospel proclamation has dawned; response is required. Grace precedes command, but command clarifies responsibility. Paul prepares to ground this summons in the certainty of coming judgment and resurrection.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent:
KJV
King James Version · 1611And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Those times when men had no knowledge were overlooked by God; but now he gives orders to all men in every place to undergo a change of heart:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862the times, indeed, therefore, of the ignorance God having overlooked, doth now command all men everywhere to reform,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And God indeed having winked at the times of this ignorance, now declareth unto men that all should every where do penance.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890God therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, now enjoins men that they shall all everywhere repent,
Context
Having dismantled idolatry and explained God’s nature (verses 24–29), Paul now applies the truth. Verse 30 announces the universal command to repent, contrasting past forbearance with present obligation. The foundation and verification for this call come in verse 31: God has fixed a day of righteous judgment by the man He ordained and provided assurance to all by raising Him from the dead. This climactic claim elicits immediate reactions in verses 32–34, revealing the typical spectrum—mockery, postponement, and belief.
v.29Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and device of man.
v.30This passage
v.31inasmuch 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.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 4:17
From that time began Jesus to preach, and to say, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
- Ephesians 5:6
Let no man deceive you with empty words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience.
- Mark 6:12
And they went out, and preached that men should repent.
- Acts 26:17
delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom I send thee,
- Mark 1:15
and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe in the gospel.
- Luke 24:47
and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
Related questions readers ask
Keep reading
Want to dig deeper? Explore Acts 17
Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Acts 17.
Topics that quote it
Topic
Bible Verses About Bible Reading
The Bible encourages us to read, study, and meditate on God’s Word to grow in faith and wisdom.
Topic
Bible Verses About God's Omnipresence
God is everywhere at all times, a comforting and challenging truth for believers.
Topic
Bible Verses About Justice
God’s perfect character and righteous standards guide all justice, which we are called to pursue in our lives and communities.
What the Bible says about…