Acts 3:14
New International Version
You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.

New Living Translation
You rejected this holy, righteous one and instead demanded the release of a murderer.

English Standard Version
But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,

Berean Standard Bible
You rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.

Berean Literal Bible
But you denied the Holy and Righteous One and requested a murderer to be granted to you.

King James Bible
But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;

New King James Version
But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,

New American Standard Bible
But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,

NASB 1995
“But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,

NASB 1977
“But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,

Legacy Standard Bible
But you denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,

Amplified Bible
But you disowned and denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked for [the pardon of] a murderer to be granted to you.

Christian Standard Bible
You denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer released to you.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But you denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you.

American Standard Version
But ye denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted unto you,

Contemporary English Version
You rejected Jesus, who was holy and good. You asked for a murderer to be set free,

English Revised Version
But ye denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted unto you,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
You rejected the man who was holy and innocent. You asked to have a murderer given to you,

Good News Translation
He was holy and good, but you rejected him, and instead you asked Pilate to do you the favor of turning loose a murderer.

International Standard Version
You rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer released to you,

Majority Standard Bible
You rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.

NET Bible
But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a man who was a murderer be released to you.

New Heart English Bible
But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a man who was a murderer to be granted to you,

Webster's Bible Translation
But ye denied the Holy One, and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted to you,

Weymouth New Testament
Yes, you disowned the holy and righteous One, and asked as a favour the release of a murderer.

World English Bible
But you denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and desired a man—a murderer—to be granted to you,

Berean Literal Bible
But you denied the Holy and Righteous One and requested a murderer to be granted to you.

Young's Literal Translation
and ye the Holy and Righteous One did deny, and desired a man -- a murderer -- to be granted to you,

Smith's Literal Translation
And ye denied the Holy and Just, and demanded a man, a murderer, to be yielded to you.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then you denied the Holy and Just One, and petitioned for a murderous man to be given to you.

New American Bible
You denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.

New Revised Standard Version
But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But you denied the Holy One and the Righteous and asked a murderer to be given to you;

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“But you rejected The Holy One and The Righteous One and you demanded a man who was a murderer to be given to you.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
But you rejected the Holy and Just One, and demanded that a murderer should be given to you;

Godbey New Testament
And you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and ask that a man who was a murderer should be delivered unto you,

Haweis New Testament
But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and besought that a man, a murderer, might as a favour be given unto you;

Mace New Testament
but ye renounced him that was holy and just; you interceeded for the life of a murderer,

Weymouth New Testament
Yes, you disowned the holy and righteous One, and asked as a favour the release of a murderer.

Worrell New Testament
but ye denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked that a man—a murderer—be granted to you;

Worsley New Testament
But ye refused the holy and righteous One, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Peter Speaks in Solomon's Colonnade
13The 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. 14 You rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15You killed the Author of life, but God raised Him from the dead, and we are witnesses of the fact.…

Cross References
Isaiah 53:11
After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.

Matthew 27:20-23
But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus put to death. / “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they replied. / “What then should I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify Him!” ...

Mark 15:11-14
But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas to them instead. / So Pilate asked them again, “What then do you want me to do with the One you call the King of the Jews?” / And they shouted back, “Crucify Him!” ...

Luke 23:18-23
But they all cried out in unison: “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” / (Barabbas had been imprisoned for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.) / Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate addressed them again, ...

John 18:40
“Not this man,” they shouted, “but Barabbas!” (Now Barabbas was an insurrectionist.)

John 19:14-15
It was the day of Preparation for the Passover, about the sixth hour. And Pilate said to the Jews, “Here is your King!” / At this, they shouted, “Away with Him! Away with Him! Crucify Him!” “Shall I crucify your King?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” replied the chief priests.

Acts 7:52
Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers—

Acts 13:28
And though they found no ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have Him executed.

1 Peter 3:18
For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit,

1 John 2:1
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

1 John 3:5
But you know that Christ appeared to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin.

Matthew 27:4
“I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.”

Mark 15:7
And a man named Barabbas was imprisoned with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection.

Luke 23:14-15
and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined Him here in your presence and found Him not guilty of your charges against Him. / Neither has Herod, for he sent Him back to us. As you can see, He has done nothing deserving of death.

John 8:46
Which of you can prove Me guilty of sin? If I speak the truth, why do you not believe Me?


Treasury of Scripture

But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted to you;

the Holy One.

Acts 2:27
Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Acts 4:27
For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

Acts 7:52
Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:

desired.

Mark 15:7
And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.

Luke 23:19
(Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)

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Acts 3
1. Peter preaching to the people that came to see a lame man restored to his feet,
12. professes the cure to have been wrought by God, and his son Jesus;
13. withal reprehending them for crucifying Jesus;
17. which because they did it through ignorance,
18. and that thereby were fulfilled God's determinate counsel, and the Scriptures,
19. he exhorts them by repentance and faith to seek remission of their sins through Jesus.














But you rejected
The phrase "But you rejected" indicates a deliberate choice made by the people. The Greek word used here is "ἀρνήσασθε" (arnēsasthe), which means to deny or disown. This word choice emphasizes the conscious decision of the Jewish leaders and people to reject Jesus, despite the evidence of His messianic identity. Historically, this rejection is significant as it fulfills the prophetic words spoken about the Messiah being rejected by His own people (Isaiah 53:3). This rejection is not just a passive act but an active denial of the truth presented to them.

the Holy and Righteous One
The titles "the Holy and Righteous One" are deeply significant. "Holy" (Greek: Ὅσιος, hosios) refers to being set apart, pure, and sacred. Jesus is the embodiment of holiness, fulfilling the Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah who would be without sin. "Righteous" (Greek: Δίκαιος, dikaios) denotes justice and moral integrity. Jesus lived a life in perfect alignment with God's will, embodying divine justice and righteousness. These titles affirm Jesus' divine nature and His role as the perfect, sinless sacrifice for humanity's sins. The use of these titles underscores the gravity of the rejection by the people, as they turned away from the very embodiment of God's holiness and righteousness.

and asked for a murderer to be released to you
This phrase highlights the tragic irony of the people's choice. The Greek word for "murderer" is "φονέα" (phonea), referring to someone who takes life unlawfully. The historical context here is the choice between Jesus and Barabbas, a known insurrectionist and murderer, as recorded in the Gospels (Matthew 27:16-26, Mark 15:7-15, Luke 23:18-25, John 18:40). The people chose to release Barabbas, a man guilty of taking life, over Jesus, the giver of life. This choice symbolizes the rejection of life and truth in favor of sin and death. It serves as a powerful reminder of the human tendency to choose wrongly when influenced by sin and societal pressures. This decision also fulfills the prophetic narrative of the suffering servant who would be despised and rejected (Isaiah 53:3).

(14) Ye denied the Holy One and the Just.--The language, though startlingly new to the hearers, had been partially anticipated. It had been used of the Christ by the demoniacs (Mark 1:24). The best MSS. give St. Peter's confession in John 6:69 in the form, "Thou art the Holy One of God." Pilate's wife, and Pilate himself, had borne their witness to Jesus as emphatically "Just" (Matthew 27:19; Matthew 27:24). It is interesting to note the recurrence of the word as applied to Christ in the writings of each of the Apostles who were now proclaiming it (1Peter 3:18; 1John 2:1), yet more so to think of this as the result of their three years' converse with their Master. To them He was emphatically, above all the sons of men that they had known, the Holy and the Righteous One. . . . Verse 14. - Holy and righteous One for Holy One and the Just, A.V. ; asked for for desired, A.V.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
You
ὑμεῖς (hymeis)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

rejected
ἠρνήσασθε (ērnēsasthe)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 720: Perhaps from a and the middle voice of rheo; to contradict, i.e. Disavow, reject, abnegate.

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

Holy
Ἅγιον (Hagion)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 40: Set apart by (or for) God, holy, sacred. From hagos; sacred.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

Righteous One
Δίκαιον (Dikaion)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1342: From dike; equitable; by implication, innocent, holy.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

asked that
ᾐτήσασθε (ētēsasthe)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 154: To ask, request, petition, demand. Of uncertain derivation; to ask.

a murderer
φονέα (phonea)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5406: A murderer.

be released
χαρισθῆναι (charisthēnai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Passive
Strong's 5483: (a) To show favor to, (b) To pardon, forgive, (c) To show kindness.

to you.
ὑμῖν (hymin)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.


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NT Apostles: Acts 3:14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous (Acts of the Apostles Ac)
Acts 3:13
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