Acts 3:13
in Acts 3The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus. You handed Him over and rejected Him before Pilate, even though he had decided to release Him.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Servant Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied before the face of Pilate, when he had determined to release him.
KJV
The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.
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This verse in Acts 3
Commentary
17 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
The God of Abraham - He is called the God of Abraham because Abraham acknowledged him as his God, and because God showed himself to be his friend. Compare Mat 22:32; Exo 3:6, Exo 3:15; Gen 28:13; Gen 26:24. It was important to show that it was the same God who had done this that had been acknowledged by their fathers, and that they were not about to introduce the worship of any other God.
This site's exposition
why are you surprised by this?
on Acts 3:12-13
The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God his hearers worship, has glorified His servant Jesus. The crowd had handed Him over and rejected Him before Pilate, even though he had decided to release Him.
This site's exposition
glorified His servant Jesus
Wesley notes that Peter names the God of the fathers so that no one could think the apostles taught a new religion. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown note that the word means servant, since a different word is used for Son. Oecumenius finds two crimes: handing Him over and denying Him.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
Peter remains still among the more humble, those around him and concerning Christ: concerning themselves, as if to say, not to perform miracles by their own private power; concerning Christ, to add the child; for it is not the self-glorified one who receives an addition …
Through the words, "whom you delivered up and denied," there are two crimes. For to Pilate they delivered him to be killed, saying, "It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death;" (Jn. 18:31) and they denied him, crying out, "We have no …
"The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers." See how assiduously he thrusts himself upon the fathers of old, lest he should appear to be introducing a new doctrine. In the former address he appealed to the patriarch David, here he appeals to Abraham and the rest. "Hath glorified His Servant Jesus." Again a lowly expression, like as in the opening address. But at this point he proceeds to enlarge upon the outrage, and exalts the heinousness of the deed, no longer, as before, throwing a veil over it. This he does, wishing to work upon them more powerfully. For the more he proved them accountable, the better his purpose were effected. "Hath glorified," he says, "His Servant Jesus, Whom ye delivered up, and denied Him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go." The charge is twofold: Pilate was desirous to let Him go; you would not, when he was willing.
Here he also subjoins something else; for he no more says, "of Nazareth," but what? "The God of our fathers hath glorified His Servant Jesus." Observe also the modesty. He reproached them not, neither did he say at once, "Believe then now: behold, a man that has been forty years lame, has been raised up through the name of Jesus Christ." This he did not say, for it would have excited opposition. On the contrary, he begins by commending them for admiring the deed, and again calls them after their ancestor: "Ye men of Israel." Moreover, he does not say, It was Jesus that healed him: but, "The God of our fathers hath glorified," etc. But then, lest they should say, How can this stand to reason-that God should glorify the transgressor? therefore he reminds them of the judgment before Pilate, showing that, would they but consider, He was no transgressor; else Pilate had not wished to release Him. And he does not say, "when Pilate was desirous," but, "was determined to let Him go."
Accordingly, all the synagogue of Israel did slay Him, saying to Pilate, when he was desirous to dismiss Him, "His blood be upon us, and upon our children; " and, "If thou dismiss him, thou art not a friend of Caesar; " in order that all things might be fulfilled which had been written of Him.
9 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church3 voices
The God of our fathers glorified His Son Jesus, whom you indeed delivered, etc. In Greek it is more appropriately stated: The God of our fathers glorified His servant Jesus. For it was fitting for a wise teacher, when addressing those who had killed Him, …
the God of our fathers: By mentioning the fathers he encourages belief, avoiding the appearance of introducing something new.
"The God of our fathers… glorified His Son Jesus." He still adheres in his speech to the aspects of Christ's humiliation, yet he brings the audacity of the Jews into full view and no longer obscures it as before. He does this more out of …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
The God of our fathers - This was wisely introduced in the beginning of his discourse, that it might appear they taught no new religion, inconsistent with that of Moses, and were far from having the least design to divert their regards from the God of Israel.
); for, (1.) He is Jesus the Son of God; though they had lately condemned Christ as a blasphemer for saying that he was the Son of God, yet Peter avows it: he is his Son Jesus; to him dear as a Son; to us, Jesus, a Saviour.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
When "Son" is intended a different word is used. whom ye delivered up, &c.--With what heroic courage does Peter here charge his auditors with the heaviest of all conceivable crimes, and with what terrific strength of language are these charges clothed!
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
why marvel at this?--For miracles are marvels only in relation to the limited powers of man. as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk--Neither the might nor the merit of the cure are due to us, mere agents of Him whom we preach.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
The God of Abraham, etc. - This was wisely introduced, to show them that He whom they called their God had acknowledged Jesus Christ for his Son, and wrought this miracle in his name; and, by thus honouring Jesus whom they slew, he had charged home the guilt of that murder upon them. Denied him in the presence of Pilate - Ηρνησασθε, Ye have renounced him as your king, and denounced him to death as a malefactor, when Pilate, convinced of his perfect innocence, was determined, κριναντος, judged it proper and just, to let him go. Pilate wished to act according to justice; you acted contrary to justice and equity in all their forms.
The words behind it
33 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὁ | ho | The | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεὸς | theos | God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| Ἀβραὰμ | abraam | of Abraham | G11 → | 73 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεὸς | theos | God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| Ἰσαὰκ | isaak | of Isaac | G2464 → | 20 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεὸς | theos | God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| Ἰακώβ, | iakob | of Jacob, | G2384 → | 27 times |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεὸς | theos | God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| τῶν | ton | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πατέρων | pateron | fathers | G3962 → | 410 times |
| ἡμῶν, | hemon | of us, | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ἐδόξασεν | edoxasen | has glorified | G1392 → | 61 times |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| παῖδα | paida | servant | G3816 → | 24 times |
| αὐτοῦ | autou | of Him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| Ἰησοῦν | iesoun | Jesus | G2424 → | 908 times |
| ὃν | hon | whom | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| ὑμεῖς | humeis | you yourselves | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| μὲν | men | indeed | G3303 → | 176 times |
| παρεδώκατε | paredokate | delivered up | G3860 → | 119 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἠρνήσασθε | ernesasthe | disowned | G720 → | 33 times |
| κατὰ | kata | in | G2596 → | 468 times |
| πρόσωπον | prosopon | [the] presence | G4383 → | 75 times |
| Πιλάτου | pilatou | of Pilate | G4091 → | 55 times |
| κρίναντος | krinantos | having adjudged | G2919 → | 114 times |
| ἐκείνου | ekeinou | that one | G1565 → | 260 times |
| ἀπολύειν· | apoluein | to release; | G630 → | 63 times |
ὁThe
hoG3588 →19766 times
θεὸςGod
theosG2316 →1312 times
Ἀβραὰμof Abraham
abraamG11 →73 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
θεὸςGod
theosG2316 →1312 times
Ἰσαὰκof Isaac
isaakG2464 →20 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
θεὸςGod
theosG2316 →1312 times
Ἰακώβ,of Jacob,
iakobG2384 →27 times
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
θεὸςGod
theosG2316 →1312 times
τῶνof the
tonG3588 →19766 times
πατέρωνfathers
pateronG3962 →410 times
ἡμῶν,of us,
hemonG3165 →1936 times
ἐδόξασενhas glorified
edoxasenG1392 →61 times
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
παῖδαservant
paidaG3816 →24 times
αὐτοῦof Him
autouG846 →5565 times
ἸησοῦνJesus
iesounG2424 →908 times
ὃνwhom
honG3739 →1405 times
ὑμεῖςyou yourselves
humeisG4771 →2973 times
μὲνindeed
menG3303 →176 times
παρεδώκατεdelivered up
paredokateG3860 →119 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἠρνήσασθεdisowned
ernesastheG720 →33 times
κατὰin
kataG2596 →468 times
πρόσωπον[the] presence
prosoponG4383 →75 times
Πιλάτουof Pilate
pilatouG4091 →55 times
κρίναντοςhaving adjudged
krinantosG2919 →114 times
ἐκείνουthat one
ekeinouG1565 →260 times
ἀπολύειν·to release;
apolueinG630 →63 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 22:32‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”
it leads to
- Exodus 3:6
Then He said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Mark 12:26–27
But concerning the dead rising, have you not read about the burning bush in the Book of Moses, how God told him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the…
- Acts 7:32
‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look.
- Luke 20:37–38
Even Moses demonstrates that the dead are raised, in the passage about the burning bush. For he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’
- Exodus 3:15–16
God also told Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ This is My…
- Exodus 3:6
Through
Acts 7:32‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look.
it leads to
- Matthew 22:32
‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”
- Matthew 22:32
Through
John 19:12From then on, Pilate tried to release Him, but the Jews kept shouting, “If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who declares himself a king is defying Caesar.”
it leads to
- Acts 17:6–7
But when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have now come here,
- John 18:33–36
Pilate went back into the Praetorium, summoned Jesus, and asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
- Acts 17:6–7
Where this verse is studied
About Acts

Who and where
3 names in this verse with a page on the site.
- PersonPatriarchsAbrahamCalled out of Ur, the father of all who believe, justified by faith, and the friend of God through whose seed all nations are bles…
- PersonPatriarchsIsaacThe son of promise and of laughter — bound on Moriah, the quiet inheritor of the covenant.
- PersonPatriarchsJacobThe heel-grasping supplanter reshaped at Peniel into 'Israel, he who strives with God' — father of the twelve tribes.
This page draws on 14 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Retractions on Acts; Glossa Ordinaria, Commentary (church-history corpus); J. A. Alexander, The Acts of the Apostles Explained; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentary upon the Acts of the Apostles; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 9; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts; Tertullian, An Answer to the Jews and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.
