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Wednesday, August 20th, 2025
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
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Geneva Bible

Acts 3:17

And now brethren, I know that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your gouernours.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Blindness;   Courage;   Ignorance;   Minister, Christian;   Zeal, Religious;   Thompson Chain Reference - Error;   Ignorance;   Sin;   Sin-Saviour;   Sins;   Transgression;   The Topic Concordance - Jesus Christ;   Suffering;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Providence of God, the;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Gospel;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Ignorant, Ignorance;   Motives;   Time;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Joseph;   Paul;   Sin Offering;   Son of God;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Forgiveness;   Ignorance;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Mark, Gospel According to;   Thessalonians, Second Epistle to the;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Eschatology;   Foreknowledge;   Freedom of the Will;   Gospel (2);   Hindrance;   Ignorance;   People ;   Ruler;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Refuge, Cities of;   Wit, to, Wot, Wist;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Hour;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Ignorance;   Magistrate;   Ruler;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Simon Cephas;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“And now, brothers and sisters, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your leaders also did.
King James Version (1611)
And now brethren, I wote that through ignorance yee did it, as did also your rulers.
King James Version
And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.
English Standard Version
"And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers.
New American Standard Bible
"And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers also did.
New Century Version
"Brothers and sisters, I know you did those things to Jesus because neither you nor your leaders understood what you were doing.
Amplified Bible
"Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance [not fully aware of what you were doing], just as your rulers did also.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also.
Legacy Standard Bible
"And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also.
Berean Standard Bible
And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders.
Contemporary English Version
My friends, I am sure that you and your leaders didn't know what you were doing.
Complete Jewish Bible
"Now, brothers, I know that you did not understand the significance of what you were doing; neither did your leaders.
Darby Translation
And now, brethren, I know that ye did it in ignorance, as also your rulers;
Easy-to-Read Version
"My brothers, I know that what you did to Jesus was done because you did not understand what you were doing. And your leaders did not understand any more than you did.
George Lamsa Translation
But now, my brethren, I know that you did this through ignorance just as your leaders did it.
Good News Translation
"And now, my friends, I know that what you and your leaders did to Jesus was due to your ignorance.
Lexham English Bible
And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also.
Literal Translation
And now, brothers, I know that you acted according to ignorance, as also did your rulers.
American Standard Version
And now, brethren, I know that in ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.
Bible in Basic English
And now, my brothers, I am conscious that you did this, as did your rulers, without knowledge.
Hebrew Names Version
"Now, brothers, I know that you did this in ignorance, as did also your rulers.
International Standard Version
"And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance like your leaders.Luke 23:34; John 16:3; Acts 13:27; 1 Corinthians 2:8; 1 Timothy 1:13;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
Now, however, my brethren, I know that through delusion you did this, as also did your princes;
Murdock Translation
And now, my brethren, I know that through misapprehensions ye did this, as did also your chiefs:
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And nowe brethren, I wote that through ignoraunce ye dyd it, as dyd also your rulers.
English Revised Version
And now, brethren, I wot that in ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.
World English Bible
"Now, brothers, I know that you did this in ignorance, as did also your rulers.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And now, brethren, I know that thro' ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.
Weymouth's New Testament
"And now, brethren, I know that it was in ignorance that you did it, as was the case with your rulers also.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And now, britheren, Y woot that bi vnwityng ye diden, as also youre princis.
Update Bible Version
And now, brothers, I know that in ignorance you did it, as also did your rulers.
Webster's Bible Translation
And now, brethren, I know that through ignorance ye did [it], as [did] also your rulers.
New English Translation
And now, brothers, I know you acted in ignorance, as your rulers did too.
New King James Version
"Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers.
New Living Translation
"Friends, I realize that what you and your leaders did to Jesus was done in ignorance.
New Life Bible
"Brothers, I know you and your leaders did this without knowing what you were doing.
New Revised Standard
"And now, friends, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And now brethren, I know that by way of ignorance ye acted, - just as even your rulers.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And now, brethren, I know that you did it through ignorance: as did also your rulers.
Revised Standard Version
"And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And now brethre I wote well that thorow ignorauce ye did it as dyd also youre heddes.
Young's Literal Translation
`And now, brethren, I have known that through ignorance ye did [it], as also your rulers;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Now deare brethre, I knowe that ye haue done it thorow ignoraunce, as dyd also youre rulers.
Mace New Testament (1729)
and now, brethren, I know it was through ignorance, that both you and your rulers, have acted thus.
THE MESSAGE
"And now, friends, I know you had no idea what you were doing when you killed Jesus, and neither did your leaders. But God, who through the preaching of all the prophets had said all along that his Messiah would be killed, knew exactly what you were doing and used it to fulfill his plans.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Pete continued, "My fellow countrymen, I know you thought you were doing the right thing. I know your leaders thought the same thing.

Contextual Overview

12 So when Peter saw it, he answered vnto the people, Ye me of Israel, why marueile ye at this? or why looke ye so stedfastly on vs, as though by our owne power or godlines, we had made this ma go? 13 The God of Abraham, & Isaac, and Iacob, the God of our fathers hath glorified his Sonne Iesus, whom ye betrayed, & denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had iudged him to be deliuered. 14 But ye denied the Holy one and the Iust, and desired a murtherer to be giuen you, 15 And killed the Lorde of life, whome God hath raised fro the dead, whereof we are witnesses. 16 And his Name hath made this man sound, whom ye see, & know, through faith in his Name: and the faith which is by him, hath giuen to him this perfite health of his whole body in the presence of you all. 17 And now brethren, I know that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your gouernours. 18 But those thinges which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his Prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath thus fulfilled. 19 Amend your liues therefore, and turne, that your sinnes may be put away, whe the time of refreshing shal come from the presence of the Lord. 20 And he shall sende Iesus Christ, which before was preached vnto you, 21 Whome the heauen must containe vntill the time that all thinges be restored, which God had spoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets since the world began.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

wot: Acts 7:40, Genesis 21:26, Genesis 39:8, Genesis 44:15, Exodus 32:1, Numbers 22:6, Romans 11:2, Philippians 1:22

through: Acts 13:27, Numbers 15:24-31, Luke 23:34, John 7:26, John 7:27, John 7:52, John 16:3, 1 Corinthians 2:8, 2 Corinthians 3:14, 1 Timothy 1:13

Reciprocal: Numbers 15:27 - General 1 Kings 1:18 - thou knowest 1 Kings 12:15 - that he might

Cross-References

Genesis 3:2
And the woman said vnto the serpent, We eate of the fruite of the trees of the garden,
Genesis 3:3
But of the fruite of the tree which is in the middes of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eate of it, neither shall ye touche it, lest ye die.
Genesis 3:5
But God doeth knowe, that when ye shall eate thereof, your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and euill.
Genesis 3:6
So the woman (seeing that the tree was good for meate, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to get knowledge) tooke of the fruite thereof, and did eate, & gaue also to her husband with her, and he did eate.
Genesis 3:7
Then the eyes of them both were opened, and they knewe that they were naked, and they sewed figge tree leaues together, and made them selues breeches.
Genesis 3:9
But the Lord God called to the man, and said vnto him, Where art thou?
Genesis 3:11
And he saide, Who tolde thee, that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eate?
Genesis 3:13
And the Lorde God saide to the woman, Why hast thou done this? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eate.
Genesis 3:14
Then the Lord God said to the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed aboue all cattell, and aboue euery beast of the fielde: vpon thy belly shalt thou goe, and dust shalt thou eate all the dayes of thy life.
Genesis 3:16
Vnto the woman he said, I will greatly increase thy sorowes, and thy conceptions. In sorowe shalt thou bring foorth children, and thy desire shalbe subiect to thine husbande, and he shall rule ouer thee.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And now, brethren,.... He calls them brethren, because they were so according to the flesh; and to testify his cordial love and affection for them.

I wot, or "I know",

that through ignorance ye did it; delivered up Jesus into the hands of Pilate; denied him to be the Messiah before him; preferred a murderer to him, and put him to death.

As did also your rulers; the members of the sanhedrim, some of them; see 1 Corinthians 2:8 for others of them knew him to be the Messiah, to be sent of God, by the miracles he did, and yet blasphemously ascribed them to Satan; and so sinning against light and knowledge, in such a malicious manner, sinned the sin against the Holy Ghost, to which ignorance is here opposed; and which did not excuse from sin: nor was it itself without sin; nor is it opposed to any sin, but to this now mentioned.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And now, brethren - Though they had been guilty of a crime so enormous, yet Peter shows the tenderness of his heart in addressing them still as his brethren. He regarded them as of the same nation with himself; as having the same hopes, and as being entitled to the same privileges. The expression also shows that he was not disposed to exalt himself as being by nature more holy than they. This verse is a remarkable instance of tenderness in appealing to sinners. It would have been easy to have reproached them for their enormous crimes; but that was not the way to reach the heart. He had indeed stated and proved their wickedness. The object now was to bring them to repentance for it; and this was to be done by tenderness, kindness, and love. People are melted to contrition, not by reproaches, but by love.

I wot - I know; am well apprised of it. I know you will affirm it, and I admit that it was so. Still the enormous deed has been done. It cannot be recalled, and it cam not be innocent. It remains, therefore, that you should repent of it, and seek for pardon.

That through ignorance ... - Peter does not mean to affirm that they were innocent in having put him to death, for he had just proved the contrary, and he immediately proceeds to exhort them to repentance. But he means to say that their offence was mitigated by the fact that they were ignorant that he was the Messiah. The same thing the Saviour himself affirmed when dying, Luke 23:34; “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Compare Acts 13:27; 1 Corinthians 2:8. The same thing the apostle Paul affirmed in relation to himself, as one of the reasons why he obtained pardon from the enormous crime of persecution, 1 Timothy 1:13. In cases like these, though crime might be mitigated, yet it was not taken entirely away. They were guilty of demanding that a man should be put to death who was declared innocent; they were urged on with ungovernable fury; they did it from contempt and malice; and the crime of murder remained, though they were ignorant that he was the Messiah. It is plainly implied that if they had put him to death knowing that he was the Messiah, and as the Messiah, there would have been no forgiveness. Compare Hebrews 10:26-29. Ignorance, therefore, is a circumstance which must always be taken into view in an estimate of crime. It is at the same time true that they had opportunity to know that he was the Messiah, but the mere fact that they were ignorant of it was still a mitigating circumstance in the estimate of their crime. There can be no doubt that the mass of the people had no fixed belief that he was the Messiah.

As did also your rulers - Compare 1 Corinthians 2:8, where the apostle says that none of the princes of this world knew the wisdom of the gospel, for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. It is certain that the leading scribes and Pharisees were urged on by the most ungovernable fury and rage to put Jesus to death, even when they had abundant opportunity to know his true character. This was particularly the case with the high priest. But yet it was true that they did not believe that he was the Messiah. Their minds had been prejudiced. They had expected a prince and a conqueror. All their views of the Messiah were different from the character which Jesus manifested. And though they might have known that he was the Messiah; though he had given abundant proof of the fact, yet it is clear that they did not believe it. It is not credible that they would have put to death one whom they really believed to be the Christ. He was the hope, the only hope of their nation; and they would not have dared to imbrue their hands in the blood of him whom they really believed to be the illustrious personage so long promised and expected by their fathers. It was also probably true that no small part of the Sanhedrin was urged on by the zeal and fury of the chief priests. They had not courage to resist them; and yet they might not have entered heartily into this work of persecution and death. Compare John 7:50-53. The speech of Peter, however, is not intended to free them entirely from blame; nor should it be pressed to show that they were innocent. It is a mitigating circumstance thrown in to show them that there was still hope of mercy.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 3:17. I wot — οιδα, I know. Wot is from the Anglo-Saxon, [A.S.] to know; and hence wit, science or understanding.

Through ignorance ye did it — This is a very tender excuse for them; and one which seems to be necessary, in order to show them that their state was not utterly desperate; for if all that they did to Christ had been through absolute malice, (they well knowing who he was,) if any sin could be supposed to be unpardonable, it must have been theirs. Peter, foreseeing that they might be tempted thus to think, and consequently to despair of salvation, tells them that their offence was extenuated by their ignorance of the person they had tormented and crucified. And one must suppose that, had they been fully convinced that this Jesus was the only Messiah, they never would have crucified him; but they did not permit themselves to receive conviction on the subject.


 
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