Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

ACTS 2:23KJV
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Acts 2:23 (KJV)

What does Acts 2:23 mean?

Acts 2:23 says that Jesus was handed over and killed in keeping with God’s settled purpose and prior knowledge. Peter also holds the people he addresses responsible for Jesus’ death, saying they used “wicked hands” to crucify and kill him.

Peter is speaking to a crowd in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. His words move from Jesus’ public works in verse 22 to the shocking way Jesus was put to death. “Hands” points to the people who carried out the killing.

The Greek behind Acts 2:23

  • “determinate” — ὁρίζω (horizō): This word carries the sense of something set or decided. It presents God’s counsel as settled rather than uncertain.
  • “foreknowledge” — πρόγνωσις (prognōsis): This word means knowledge beforehand. Peter places Jesus’ being handed over within what God already knew.
  • “wicked” — ἄνομος (anomos): This word can describe people as lawless, or acting outside the law. In “wicked hands,” it describes those involved in carrying out the killing.

Why Acts 2:23 matters

  • Peter addresses the crowd directly, saying “ye have taken” Jesus and had him killed. His accusation reaches beyond the hands that physically carried out the execution.
  • Jesus’ death is part of Peter’s explanation of what happened to Jesus, not the end of his account. In the next verse, Peter says that God raised Jesus from death.

Where else these words appear

“foreknowledge” Greek G4268 · used in 2 verses

  • 1 Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

“wicked” Greek G459 · used in 7 verses

  • Mark 15:28 And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.
  • 1 Corinthians 9:21 To them that are without law, as without law,(being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
  • 1 Timothy 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

“determinate” Greek G3724 · used in 8 verses

  • Luke 22:22 And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!
  • Acts 11:29 Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:
  • Acts 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

“counsel” Greek G1012 · used in 12 verses

  • Luke 7:30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.
  • Acts 5:38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
  • Acts 27:42 And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.