Bible Strands
Acts 10:41
not by all the people, but by the witnesses God had chosen beforehand, by us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Peter addresses Cornelius and his household in Caesarea, speaking immediately after noting that God raised Jesus on the third day and before commanding the audience to preach (Acts 10:40, 42).
The words — προκεχειροτονημένοις (prokecheirotonēmenois) literally means "chosen beforehand" or "handpicked in advance," indicating a deliberate divine selection of the resurrection witnesses.
The thread — The restriction of revelation to appointed witnesses rather than the general public mirrors the pattern in John 14:22 and John 14:17.
Why it lands — It requires the reader to acknowledge that the resurrection claim rests on specific, verifiable human contact rather than universal visibility, demanding reliance on the appointed witnesses for the gospel message.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
Cross-references
- John 14:22 Judas (not Iscariot) asked Him, “Lord, why are You going to reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?”
- Acts 10:39 We are witnesses of all that He did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. And although they put Him to death by hanging Him on a tree,
- John 14:17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you.
- John 21:13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and He did the same with the fish.
- Acts 1:2 until the day He was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen.
- Acts 13:31 and for many days He was seen by those who had accompanied Him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now His witnesses to our people.
- John 15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will remain—so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.
- Acts 1:22 beginning from John’s baptism until the day Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”
- Luke 24:30 While He was reclining at the table with them, He took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to them.
- Luke 24:41 While they were still in disbelief because of their joy and amazement, He asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”