Bible Strands
Acts 3:17
And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Peter speaks to the gathered Jerusalem crowd immediately after healing a lame man at the temple gate. He addresses the Jewish believers as "brothers" while directly confronting the populace and officials who orchestrated the crucifixion.
The words — The Greek ἄγνοιαν (agnoian) translates literally to ignorance, and ἐπράξατε (epraxate) means you acted. Peter prefixes this with οἶδα (oida), I know, to establish his factual awareness of their uncalculated conduct.
The thread — The motif of unknowing culpability recurs in Luke 23:34, John 16:3, and Acts 13:27. These passages consistently tie human lack of recognition to the outworking of prophetic fulfillment.
Why it lands — The verse requires readers to distinguish between human error and divine sovereignty without excusing the perpetrators. It demands a clear-eyed assessment that spiritual blindness often precedes violent opposition.
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
And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.
Cross-references
- Luke 23:34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots.
- Acts 13:27 The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning Him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath.
- John 16:3 They will do these things because they have not known the Father or Me.
- 1 Corinthians 2:8 None of the rulers of this age understood it. For if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
- 1 Timothy 1:13 I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy.
- John 7:26 Yet here He is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying anything to Him. Have the rulers truly recognized that this is the Christ?
- Acts 26:9 So then, I too was convinced that I ought to do all I could to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
- Romans 11:2 God did not reject His people, whom He foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says about Elijah, how he appealed to God against Israel:
- 2 Corinthians 3:14 But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed.
- Genesis 21:26 Abimelech replied, “I do not know who has done this. You did not tell me, so I have not heard about it until today.”