Acts 2:32 Meaning and Explanation
“This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Peter declares that God has raised Jesus from the dead, and the apostles themselves are eyewitnesses to this fact.
The Context of Acts 2:32
Peter states the central claim of the Gospel: that God raised Jesus from the dead, backed by the apostles' eyewitness testimony.
What Does Acts 2:32 Mean?
The argument from Scripture has led to this naked claim: 'This Jesus hath God raised up.' The word 'This' points to the Jesus they all know, the Galilean who was crucified and buried. 'We all are witnesses' is astounding. Peter is not claiming a private vision or a theoretical doctrine. He is saying: we were there. We saw Him after His resurrection. We touched Him. We ate with Him. The verb for witnesses (martyres) is where 'martyr' comes from: those who testify, often at cost. Peter and the apostles will prove the truth of this testimony through their suffering.
This verse is the hinge of the entire New Testament. Everything that comes after depends on this eyewitness claim. The apostles did not preach a resurrected principle or a spiritual idea. They preached a person who had died and was now alive. If they were lying, they were dying for a lie. If they were deluded, their delusion was extraordinarily consistent across decades and geographies.
Acts 2:32 in the Original Language
martures (Gk), 'witnesses' -- those who testify to what they have seen or experienced firsthand
How to Apply Acts 2:32 Today
We, too, are witnesses now, though not eyewitnesses. We testify to the difference this resurrection has made in our lives and in the world. Our witness is credible only if it reflects the same costly, uncompromising honesty Peter models here.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 2:32
What does Acts 2:32 mean?
Peter declares that God has raised Jesus from the dead, and the apostles themselves are eyewitnesses to this fact.
What is the context of Acts 2:32?
Peter states the central claim of the Gospel: that God raised Jesus from the dead, backed by the apostles' eyewitness testimony.
How can I apply Acts 2:32 today?
We, too, are witnesses now, though not eyewitnesses. We testify to the difference this resurrection has made in our lives and in the world. Our witness is credible only if it reflects the same costly, uncompromising honesty Peter models here.