God
raised him up the third day, and gave him to be revealed, not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen before by God, to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
Acts 10:40-41
Acts 10 [34.] Peter opened his mouth and said, “Truly I perceive that God doesn’t show favoritism; but in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him. The word which he sent to the children of Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all— you yourselves know what happened, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; even Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses of everything he did both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they also killed, hanging him on a tree.
Acts 10 [40.] God raised him up the third day, and gave him to be revealed, not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen before by God, to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that this is he who is appointed by God as the Judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him, that through his name everyone who believes in him will receive remission of sins.”
Acts 10 [44.] While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word. They of the circumcision who believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in other languages and magnifying God. Then Peter answered,
Meaning:
Peter is speaking in the house of Cornelius, a Roman centurion in Caesarea (Acts 10:1-2). He has just learned that “God doesn’t show favoritism” (Acts 10:34), and he tells these Gentiles about Jesus of Nazareth, anointed with the Holy Spirit, who “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38) and was put to death. In these verses he comes to the heart of the message: the resurrection.
- “God raised him up the third day”
The resurrection is God’s act. Human beings killed Jesus, but God raised him. The “third day” matches the early summary of the gospel that Paul received: “he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:4).
- “Not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen before by God”
The risen Jesus did not appear to the crowds in Jerusalem or to Pilate. He showed himself to people God had chosen as witnesses. Jesus had told his disciples, “the world will see me no more; but you will see me” (John 14:19). Luke says that he “showed himself alive after he suffered, by many proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days” (Acts 1:3).
- “To us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead”
Peter speaks from personal experience. The risen Jesus was not a ghost or a vision; he shared meals with his disciples. Luke records that he ate a piece of broiled fish in front of them (Luke 24:42-43). By the Sea of Galilee he cooked breakfast and “took the bread, gave it to them, and the fish likewise” (John 21:13). Peter had been at that meal.
The Significance of Acts 10:40-41
- A message grounded in history
The Christian message is based on events that real people saw, heard and shared. The apostles did not preach an idea but a risen person they had eaten with.
- Witnesses for all nations
Peter preached this to Gentiles, and while he was still speaking the Holy Spirit fell on them (Acts 10:44). The witnesses chosen by God were sent so that people of every nation could believe.
Cross-References:
1 Corinthians 15:4: "that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures," The third day.
Acts 1:3: "To these he also showed himself alive after he suffered, by many proofs," The forty days of appearances.
John 21:13: "Then Jesus came and took the bread, gave it to them, and the fish likewise." A meal with the risen Lord.
Conclusion: Peter told Cornelius that God raised Jesus on the third day and showed him to chosen witnesses who ate and drank with him after his resurrection. His words rest on personal experience, including the breakfast by the Sea of Galilee. The resurrection is a historical event attested by eyewitnesses, proclaimed so that people of every nation may believe.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible