Acts 3:13

What does Acts 3:13 mean?

A plain-English look at Acts 3:13 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Acts 3:13 means

Peter declared that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the ancestral God of the Jewish people—had glorified His "Servant Jesus." He then starkly reminded them that they had delivered up this very Jesus to Pilate, denying Him even when Pilate had been inclined to release Him. This explanation directly links the miracle to the God of Israel and unequivocally places the responsibility for Jesus' crucifixion on the Jewish people, setting a confrontational yet redemptive tone.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Servant Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied before the face of Pilate, when he had determined to release him.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Servant Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied before the face of Pilate, when he had determined to release him.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

The God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has given glory to his servant Jesus; whom you gave up, turning your backs on him, when Pilate had made the decision to let him go free.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

`The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, did glorify His child Jesus, whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, he having given judgment to release <FI>him<Fi> ,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

The God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus, whom you indeed delivered up and denied before the face of Pilate, when he judged he should be released.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

TheGod of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, theGod of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus, whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he had judged that he should be let go.

Context

Following Peter's rhetorical question, this verse explicitly identifies the true agent behind the miracle. By appealing to their shared heritage in the God of Abraham and then immediately confronting them with their rejection of Jesus, Peter establishes a powerful theological and historical context. This sets the stage for a message of repentance by revealing the profound contrast between God's glorification of Jesus and the people's condemnation.

v.12And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this man? or why fasten ye your eyes on us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him to walk?

v.13This passage

v.14But ye denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted unto you,

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Acts 5:30

    The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew, hanging him on a tree.

  • John 16:14

    He shall glorify me: for he shall take of mine, and shall declare it unto you.

  • John 18:40

    They cried out therefore again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.

  • Hebrews 2:9

    But we behold him who hath been made a little lower than the angels, even Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for every man.

  • John 19:12

    Upon this Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou release this man, thou art not Cæsar’s friend: every one that maketh himself a king speaketh against Cæsar.

  • Luke 23:4

    And Pilate said unto the chief priests and the multitudes, I find no fault in this man.

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