Acts 13:30
But God raised him from the dead:
Original Language Analysis
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
1 of 7
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
θεὸς
God
G2316
θεὸς
God
Strong's:
G2316
Word #:
3 of 7
a deity, especially (with g3588) the supreme divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by hebraism)
ἤγειρεν
raised
G1453
ἤγειρεν
raised
Strong's:
G1453
Word #:
4 of 7
to waken (transitively or intransitively), i.e., rouse (literally, from sleep, from sitting or lying, from disease, from death; or figuratively, from
αὐτὸν
him
G846
αὐτὸν
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
5 of 7
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
Cross References
Acts 2:24Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.Acts 17:31Because 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.Matthew 28:6He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
Historical Context
Paul's Antioch sermon parallels Peter's Pentecost message (Acts 2:24, 32) in centering on resurrection. Both apostles ground Christian faith in verifiable history, not philosophical speculation. First-century witnesses could investigate the tomb, question eyewitnesses, and test the claims—resurrection was public event, not private vision.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the historical reality of Christ's resurrection shape your confidence in eternal life?
- What does God's power to raise Jesus 'from the dead' reveal about His ability to bring life to your 'dead' situations?
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Analysis & Commentary
But God raised him from the dead (ὁ δὲ θεὸς ἤγειρεν αὐτὸν ἐκ νεκρῶν)—The emphatic 'But God' (ὁ δὲ θεὸς) contrasts human rejection with divine vindication. The verb raised (ἤγειρεν, aorist tense) marks a decisive historical act, not myth or metaphor. This is resurrection theology at its core: what men killed, God raised; what appeared as defeat became victory.
Paul's sermon repeatedly emphasizes resurrection (vv. 30, 33, 34, 37) as the centerpiece of Christian proclamation. The phrase from the dead (ἐκ νεκρῶν, literally 'out from among the dead ones') affirms bodily resurrection—Christ emerged from death's realm, not merely continued as a spirit. Resurrection proves Jesus' identity (Romans 1:4), validates His sacrifice, and guarantees believers' future resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20-23).