Acts 17:30
New International Version
In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.

New Living Translation
“God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him.

English Standard Version
The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,

Berean Standard Bible
Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.

Berean Literal Bible
So indeed God, having overlooked the times of ignorance, now commands all men everywhere to repent,

King James Bible
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

New King James Version
Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,

New American Standard Bible
So having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now proclaiming to mankind that all people everywhere are to repent,

NASB 1995
“Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent,

NASB 1977
“Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent,

Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now commanding men that everyone everywhere should repent,

Amplified Bible
Therefore God overlooked and disregarded the former ages of ignorance; but now He commands all people everywhere to repent [that is, to change their old way of thinking, to regret their past sins, and to seek God’s purpose for their lives],

Christian Standard Bible
“Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent,

American Standard Version
The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent:

Contemporary English Version
In the past, God forgave all this because people did not know what they were doing. But now he says that everyone everywhere must turn to him.

English Revised Version
The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"God overlooked the times when people didn't know any better. But now he commands everyone everywhere to turn to him and change the way they think and act.

Good News Translation
God has overlooked the times when people did not know him, but now he commands all of them everywhere to turn away from their evil ways.

International Standard Version
Though God has overlooked those times of ignorance, he now commands everyone everywhere to repent,

Majority Standard Bible
Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.

NET Bible
Therefore, although God has overlooked such times of ignorance, he now commands all people everywhere to repent,

New Heart English Bible
The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent,

Webster's Bible Translation
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Weymouth New Testament
Those times of ignorance God viewed with indulgence. But now He commands all men everywhere to repent,

World English Bible
The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
therefore indeed God, having overlooked the times of ignorance, now commands all men everywhere to convert,

Berean Literal Bible
So indeed God, having overlooked the times of ignorance, now commands all men everywhere to repent,

Young's Literal Translation
the times, indeed, therefore, of the ignorance God having overlooked, doth now command all men everywhere to reform,

Smith's Literal Translation
Therefore truly, God having overlooked the times of ignorance, now announces to all men everywhere to repent:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And God indeed having winked at the times of this ignorance, now declareth unto men, that all should every where do penance.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And indeed, God, having looked down to see the ignorance of these times, has now announced to men that everyone everywhere should do penance.

New American Bible
God has overlooked the times of ignorance, but now he demands that all people everywhere repent

New Revised Standard Version
While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For the times of ignorance God has made to pass, and at this time he has commanded all men, everywhere, to repent.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“For God has banished the times of deception, and at this time he commands all the children of men: 'Everyone in every place shall return to God.'”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Yet the times of this ignorance God overlooked; but now, he commands all men everywhere to repent:

Godbey New Testament
Then indeed God winking at the times of ignorance, now commands all men everywhere to repent:

Haweis New Testament
These times indeed of ignorance God then overlooked; but he now commands all men in every place to repent:

Mace New Testament
God has been pleas'd to over-look this state of ignorance: but now he enjoins all men every where to repent:

Weymouth New Testament
Those times of ignorance God viewed with indulgence. But now He commands all men everywhere to repent,

Worrell New Testament
God, therefore, having overlooked the time of ignorance, now commands all men everywhere to repent;

Worsley New Testament
Wherefore though God overlooked the times of this ignorance, He now requireth all men every where to repent.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Paul Before the Areopagus
29Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination. 30 Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent. 31For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”…

Cross References
Romans 2:4
Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?

2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.

Luke 24:47
and in His name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.

Mark 1:15
“The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!”

Matthew 3:2
and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

Ezekiel 18:30
Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so that your iniquity will not become your downfall.

Isaiah 55:6-7
Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. / Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.

1 Timothy 2:4
who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

2 Corinthians 7:10
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

Romans 3:25
God presented Him as an atoning sacrifice in His blood through faith, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Jeremiah 18:7-8
At any time I might announce that a nation or kingdom will be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed. / But if that nation I warned turns from its evil, then I will relent of the disaster I had planned to bring.

Jonah 3:4-10
On the first day of his journey, Jonah set out into the city and proclaimed, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned!” / And the Ninevites believed God. They proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least. / When word reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. ...

Proverbs 28:13
He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.

Isaiah 1:18
“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool.


Treasury of Scripture

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men every where to repent:

the times.

Acts 14:16
Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.

Psalm 50:21
These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.

Romans 1:28
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

but.

Acts 3:19
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Acts 11:18
When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

Acts 20:21
Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Change Command Commandeth Commands Declaring Everywhere Gives Ignorance Indeed Indulgence Orders Overlooked Past Reform Repent Times Undergo Viewed
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Change Command Commandeth Commands Declaring Everywhere Gives Ignorance Indeed Indulgence Orders Overlooked Past Reform Repent Times Undergo Viewed
Acts 17
1. Paul preaches at Thessalonica, where some believe,
5. and others persecute him.
10. He is sent to Berea, and preaches there.
13. Being persecuted by Jews from Thessalonica,
16. he comes to Athens, and disputes and preaches the living God, to them unknown;
32. whereby, though some mock, many are converted unto Christ.














Although God overlooked
The phrase "God overlooked" comes from the Greek word "hyperidon," which implies a deliberate decision to not hold people accountable for their ignorance in the past. This reflects God's patience and mercy, as He chose not to immediately judge humanity for their lack of understanding. Historically, this period of "overlooking" can be seen as the time before the full revelation of God's plan through Jesus Christ. It highlights God's grace, allowing humanity time to come to a fuller knowledge of Him.

the ignorance of earlier times
"Ignorance" here is translated from the Greek word "agnoia," which refers to a lack of knowledge or awareness. In the context of Acts 17, Paul is addressing the Athenians, who were known for their philosophical pursuits yet were ignorant of the true God. "Earlier times" refers to the period before Christ's incarnation and the spread of the Gospel. This ignorance was not just a lack of information but a spiritual blindness that God, in His sovereignty, chose to overlook until the appointed time of revelation through Christ.

He now commands
The word "commands" is derived from the Greek "parangellō," which means to order or charge with authority. This is not a mere suggestion but a divine mandate. The shift from overlooking ignorance to issuing a command signifies a new era in God's redemptive history. With the coming of Christ, God has made His will clear and accessible, and He expects a response from humanity. This command is universal and authoritative, reflecting God's sovereign rule over all creation.

all people everywhere
This phrase emphasizes the universality of God's command. "All people" indicates that no one is exempt from this divine directive, regardless of their cultural, ethnic, or religious background. "Everywhere" underscores the global scope of the Gospel message. In the historical context of Acts, this was a radical concept, as the message of repentance and salvation was extended beyond the Jewish people to include Gentiles. It reflects the inclusive nature of God's kingdom and His desire for all to come to repentance.

to repent
"Repent" is translated from the Greek word "metanoeō," which means to change one's mind or to turn around. It involves a complete transformation of heart and mind, leading to a change in behavior. Repentance is not merely feeling sorry for past actions but is an active turning away from sin and turning towards God. In the scriptural context, repentance is the appropriate response to the revelation of God's truth in Christ. It is a call to abandon idolatry and self-reliance and to embrace the grace and lordship of Jesus. This command to repent is central to the Christian message and is essential for salvation.

(30) And the times of this ignorance God winked at.--Better, perhaps, overlooked, the English phrase, though vivid, being somewhat too familiar, and suggesting; strictly taken, not merely tolerance, but connivance and concurrence. The thought is one in which St. Paul manifestly found comfort. He sees in that ignorance a mitigation of the guilt, and therefore of the punishment due to the heathen world. The past history of the world had shown a praetermission of the sins, for which, on the condition of repentance, men were now offered a full remission. (See Note on Romans 3:25.) In thus teaching he was reproducing what our Lord had taught as to the servant who "knew not his Lord's will," and should therefore be beaten, but with "few stripes." (See Note on Luke 12:48.)

And now commandeth all men every where to repent.--At this point the feelings of both Stoics and Epicureans would almost inevitably undergo a change. The latter might regret the mistakes he had made in his search after the maximum of enjoyment, but a change such as the Greek for "repentance" implied--new aims and purposes, loathing of the past and efforts for the future--was altogether alien to his thoughts. From the Stoics, as measured by Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius, better things might perhaps have been expected, but the doctrine of Necessity, which entered largely into popular Stoicism, blunted their sense of responsibility. They accepted the consequences of their actions with a serene apathy; for the most part, they gave thanks, as the philosophic Emperor did, that they were not as other men, and that the events of their life had led them to an ethical completeness; but the idea of abhorring themselves, and repenting in dust and ashes, had not as yet dawned on the Stoic's thoughts. (Meditt. i. 1-16.)

Verse 30. - The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked for and the times of this ignorance God winked at, A.V.; he commandeth for commandeth, A.V.; men for all men, A.V.; that they should all everywhere repent for everywhere to repent, A.V. and T.R. The times of ignorance; perhaps with reference to ver. 23, and also implying that all the idolatry, of which he had spoken in ver. 29, arose from ignorance. God overlooked; or, as it is idiomatically expressed in the A.V., winked at; made as if he did not see it; "kept silence," as it is said in Psalm 50:21; made no move to punish it. That they should all everywhere. The gospel is for the whole world- "Their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world" (Romans 10:18); "Preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). Repent. The key-note of the gospel (Matthew 3:2; Matthew 4:17; Acts 20:21).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Although
μὲν (men)
Particle
Strong's 3303: A primary particle; properly, indicative of affirmation or concession; usually followed by a contrasted clause with de.

God
Θεὸς (Theos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

overlooked
ὑπεριδὼν (hyperidōn)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5237: To overlook, take no notice of, disregard. From huper and eido; to overlook, i.e. Not punish.

the
τῆς (tēs)
Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

ignorance
ἀγνοίας (agnoias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 52: Ignorance, inadvertence, sometimes with the idea of willful blindness. From agnoeo; ignorance.

of
Τοὺς (Tous)
Article - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

[earlier] times,
χρόνους (chronous)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 5550: A space of time or interval; by extension, an individual opportunity; by implication, delay.

He now commands
παραγγέλλει (parangellei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3853: To notify, command, charge, entreat solemnly. From para and the base of aggelos; to transmit a message, i.e. to enjoin.

all
πάντας (pantas)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

men
ἀνθρώποις (anthrōpois)
Noun - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 444: A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being.

everywhere
πανταχοῦ (pantachou)
Adverb
Strong's 3837: Everywhere, in all places. Genitive case of a presumed derivative of pas; universally.

to repent.
μετανοεῖν (metanoein)
Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 3340: From meta and noieo; to think differently or afterwards, i.e. Reconsider.


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