Acts 5:30 Meaning and Explanation
“The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Peter declares that the God of their fathers raised up Jesus, the one the council had slain by hanging him on a tree.
What Does Acts 5:30 Mean?
Peter anchors the gospel in Israel's own story: 'the God of our fathers' is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 3:15). The same covenant God who led the fathers has now raised Jesus, answering the court's verdict with heaven's.
The phrase 'hanged on a tree' is deliberate, recalling the law's word that one hanged on a tree bears a curse (Deuteronomy 21:23). Paul would later draw out the wonder: Christ was 'made a curse for us' (Galatians 3:13). The worst that human hands could do became the very place where God carried our judgment, and resurrection had the last word.
Acts 5:30 in the Original Language
xylon (ξύλον), 'tree' -- wood or timber; the word recalls Deuteronomy 21:23, where one hanged on a tree bears a curse.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 5:30
What does Acts 5:30 mean?
Peter declares that the God of their fathers raised up Jesus, the one the council had slain by hanging him on a tree.