Acts 3:13 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has glorified his Son Jesus — the very one the crowd delivered up and denied before Pilate, though Pilate had determined to release him.
What Does Acts 3:13 Mean?
Peter names God the way the temple crowd knows him: the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of the burning bush (Exodus 3:6). No new deity is being announced — Israel's own covenant God has glorified Jesus. Then the hard truth: you handed him over and disowned him, even after Pilate judged that he should go free.
Heaven has overturned the city's verdict. The one denied in Pilate's court has been glorified in God's. The wording carries an old promise with it: Isaiah foretold a Servant who, after suffering, would be 'exalted and extolled' (Isaiah 52:13), and Peter declares that this glorified one is Jesus. The sermon will press the guilt further — but watch where it lands: not in despair, but at an open door.
Acts 3:13 in the Original Language
pais (παῖς), 'Son' -- a word meaning both child and servant, used in the Greek of Isaiah 52:13 for the Servant whom God glorifies.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 3:13
What does Acts 3:13 mean?
The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has glorified his Son Jesus — the very one the crowd delivered up and denied before Pilate, though Pilate had determined to release him.