Lexical Summary hupereidon: To overlook, to disregard, to pass over Original Word: ὑπερεῖδον Strong's Exhaustive Concordance overlook, not punish, wink at. From huper and eido; to overlook, i.e. Not punish -- wink at. see GREEK huper see GREEK eido NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom huper and eidon Definition to overlook NASB Translation overlooked (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5237: ὑπερεῖδονὑπερεῖδον; (see εἰδῶ); from Herodotus and Thucydides down; to overlook, take no notice of, not attend to: τί, Acts 17:30. Topical Lexicon Context in ActsThe lone New Testament appearance of ὑπεριδών occurs in Paul’s Areopagus address (Acts 17:30). Coming after his survey of Athenian idolatry, the participle expresses that God has “overlooked the times of ignorance, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent”. The speech moves from common grace (God the Creator and Sustainer, Acts 17:24-29) to special grace (the call to repentance in light of the risen Judge, Acts 17:30-31). In this hinge verse “overlooking” does not imply indifference; rather, it highlights divine forbearance, setting the stage for the urgent summons to conversion. Divine Forbearance in Redemptive History 1. Patriarchal and Mosaic eras Genesis records God’s patience with early humanity despite corruption (Genesis 6:3). Under the Law, sacrifices symbolized a provisional covering (Leviticus 4:20), foreshadowing the ultimate satisfaction accomplished at Calvary. 2. Prophetic witness The prophets depict the LORD as One “who passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance” (Micah 7:18). This prophetic hope anticipates the fuller revelation that sins are not merely passed over but propitiated through Christ (Romans 3:25-26). 3. Apostolic clarification Paul in Romans 2:4 appeals to the “riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience” that should lead to repentance. Peter likewise affirms, “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise … but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Together with Acts 17:30, these passages portray a consistent, purposeful patience aimed at salvation. Relationship to Idolatry and Ignorance The Areopagus sermon shows that ignorance is not innocent. Athenians possessed general revelation—creation, providence, conscience—and yet fashioned idols (Acts 17:22-23). God previously “overlooked” such ignorance, yet He never approved it (Exodus 20:4-5; Isaiah 44:9-20). The arrival of the gospel intensifies accountability. Idolatry today—whether material, ideological, or self-exalting—still demands repentance beneath the same divine summons. Universal Call and Missionary Impetus Acts 17:30 underscores that the gospel transcends ethnicity, geography, and philosophy: “all people everywhere” must repent. Paul’s argument legitimizes cross-cultural evangelism, refutes religious relativism, and affirms Christ’s exclusive mediatorship (John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:5-6). The verse also models contextualization without compromise—Paul engages Greek thought, yet confronts it with biblical truth. Implications for Ministry • Preaching: The message must balance God’s patience with His righteous judgment (Acts 17:31). Comfort without warning misrepresents the Lord; warning without grace breeds despair. Harmonization with the Whole Counsel of Scripture “No contradiction exists between God’s overlooking and His justice.” The cross reveals that past sins were neither ignored nor excused but placed on Christ, vindicating God’s righteousness (Romans 3:25). Thus the mercy shown to former ignorance magnifies the glory of the gospel and reinforces Scripture’s unified narrative of creation, fall, redemption, and consummation. Summary ὑπεριδών in Acts 17:30 encapsulates the divine patience that temporarily refrained from immediate judgment, preparing the world for the definitive revelation in Jesus Christ. That patience now issues in a universal mandate to repent before the resurrected Judge. Understanding this term equips the church to proclaim a gospel that is both gracious and urgent, rooted in the consistent testimony of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. Forms and Transliterations υπερείδε υπερείδομεν υπερείδον υπερείδόν υπερείση υπεριδείν υπερίδης υπεριδούσα υπεριδων υπεριδών ὑπεριδὼν υπερίδωσιν υπήρεισε hyperidon hyperidōn hyperidṑn uperidon uperidōnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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