Acts 10:42

And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(42) And he commanded us to preach unto the people. No such command is found in terms in the Gospel narratives of the words of the risen Lord, but it is partly implied in Matthew 28:18-20, and is covered by the general teaching as to the things of the kingdom of God in Acts 1:3. It is interesting to note that St. Peter and St. Paul agree in thus connecting the Resurrection with the assurance that He who had risen was to be the future Judge of all men. (Comp. Acts 17:31.)

Which was ordained.—More accurately, which has been ordained.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

10:34-43 Acceptance cannot be obtained on any other ground than that of the covenant of mercy, through the atonement of Christ; but wherever true religion is found, God will accept it without regarding names or sects. The fear of God and works of righteousness are the substance of true religion, the effects of special grace. Though these are not the cause of a man's acceptance, yet they show it; and whatever may be wanting in knowledge or faith, will in due time be given by Him who has begun it. They knew in general the word, that is, the gospel, which God sent to the children of Israel. The purport of this word was, that God by it published the good tidings of peace by Jesus Christ. They knew the several matters of fact relating to the gospel. They knew the baptism of repentance which John preached. Let them know that this Jesus Christ, by whom peace is made between God and man, is Lord of all; not only as over all, God blessed for evermore, but as Mediator. All power, both in heaven and in earth, is put into his hand, and all judgment committed to him. God will go with those whom he anoints; he will be with those to whom he has given his Spirit. Peter then declares Christ's resurrection from the dead, and the proofs of it. Faith has reference to a testimony, and the Christian faith is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, on the testimony given by them. See what must be believed concerning him. That we are all accountable to Christ as our Judge; so every one must seek his favour, and to have him as our Friend. And if we believe in him, we shall all be justified by him as our Righteousness. The remission of sins lays a foundation for all other favours and blessings, by taking that out of the way which hinders the bestowing of them. If sin be pardoned, all is well, and shall end well for ever.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And he commanded us ... - ; Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16.

And to testify - To bear witness.

That it is he ... - See the notes on John 5:22-27. Compare the references in the margin.

Of quick - The living. The doctrine of the New Testament is, that those who are alive when the Lord Jesus shall return to judge the world, will be caught up in vast numbers like clouds, to meet him in the air, without seeing death, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. Yet before this they will experience such a change in their bodies as shall fit them for the judgment and for their eternal residence - a change which will liken them to those who have died, and have risen from the dead. What this change will be, speculation may fancy, but the Bible has not revealed. See 1 Corinthians 15:52, "The dead shall be raised, and we shall be changed."

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

40-41. showed him openly; Not to all the people—for it was not fitting that He should subject Himself, in His risen condition, to a second rejection in Person.

but unto witnesses chosen before of God … to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose, &c.—Not the less certain, therefore, was the fact of His resurrection, though withholding Himself from general gaze in His risen body.

he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead—He had before proclaimed Him "Lord of all," for the dispensing of "peace" to all alike; now he announces Him in the same supreme lordship, for the exercise of judgment upon all alike. On this divine ordination, see Joh 5:22, 23, 27; Ac 17:31. Thus we have here all Gospel truth in brief. But, forgiveness through this exalted One is the closing note of Peter's beautifully simple discourse.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Our Saviour gave this charge to his apostles before his ascension, Matthew 28:19 Mark 16:15 Luke 24:47; and foretold that they should execute this his charge, Acts 1:8.

Ordained of God to be the Judge: that God hath ordained to judge the world by Jesus Christ, Scripture abundantly testifies, John 5:26,27 2 Timothy 4:1 1 Peter 4:5. And this is here spoken of the apostle, and was given in charge by our Saviour to be principally preached of by them all, because the resurrection of Christ, and the glory of his kingdom in this world, is clouded by the blindness and hardness of men; as also, because it is of the greatest concernment unto all, that at any time hear the word of God, to be persuaded of this, that Christ, whose gospel and word they hear, will judge them according unto it.

Quick; such as shall be alive at the coming of our Lord to judgment, 1 Thessalonians 4:15.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And he commanded us, to preach unto the people,.... Not only of the Jews, but of the Gentiles; to all nations, to the whole world, and every creature; for the apostle seems to refer to the commission given to him, and the rest of the apostles, after Christ's resurrection, Matthew 28:19.

And to testify that it is he which was ordained of God, to be the Judge of quick and dead: the preaching of the Gospel is a testification of Christ, or a bearing a testimony for him; and among the rest to this truth, that he was from all eternity in the council and covenant of grace; appointed by God to have all power in heaven and in earth; and not only to judge and govern his church and people on earth, but to be the Judge of all men at the last day, of such who will be found alive at his coming, and of those that are dead; who will be raised again, and stand before his judgment seat, to receive their proper sentence; and though this is not expressed in the commission given the apostles, yet is implied therein; Matthew 28:18 That there will be a general judgment at the last day is certain, from the reason of things; from the relation of creatures to God as their Creator, to whom they are accountable for their conduct and actions; from the justice of God, which requires it, which does not take place in the present state of things; and it has a testimony in the consciences of men, which the most daring of infidels, at times, show by the fears they are possessed of about it; and it is abundantly clear from revelation, from the writings of the Old and New Testament; from whence it appears that it is future, it is yet to come; that it is certain, being appointed by God, though the time to men is uncertain; that it will be universal, and reach to all men, righteous and wicked, quick and dead, and to all actions, good and bad, open and secret; and that it will be a righteous one, and be administered according to the strictest rules of justice and equity; and that it is an eternal one; not that it will be ever carrying on, but will issue in the determination of the states of men to all eternity: now Christ he is appointed to do this work, he was ordained to unto it in the purposes of God from everlasting; this was settled in the covenant between them; and for the execution of which, he has all power and authority given him as Mediator: and for it he is every way qualified: he is of great and infinite majesty, being the mighty God; of great sagacity and wisdom, having, as Mediator, the spirit of wisdom and knowledge upon him, whereby he is of quick understanding and discernment; and he is of great faithfulness and integrity, and will judge not after the sight of his eyes, and the hearing of his ears, but with righteousness and equity, and will do the thing that is right; and especially, inasmuch as he is omniscient, and knows the secrets of all hearts, and so capable of bringing every work into judgment, with every secret thing; and also omnipotent, and so able to raise the dead, summon all nations before him, separate the wicked and the righteous, and not only denounce the proper sentences upon them, but execute them.

Geneva Study Bible

And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Meyer's NT Commentary

Acts 10:42. Τῷ λαῷ] can only denote the Jewish people, seeing that the context speaks of no other (Acts 10:41), and cannot include the Gentiles also (Kuinoel). But the contents of ὅτι … νεκρῶν is so different from Matthew 28:20 (also Acts 1:8), that there must be here assumed a reference to another expression of the Risen One (for He is the subject of παρήγγ.) unknown to us.

ὅτι αὐτός ἐστιν … νεκρῶν] that He (no other) is the Judge ordained by God (in His decree) over living (who are alive at the Parousia, 1 Thessalonians 4:17; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52) and dead (who shall then be already dead). Comp. 2 Timothy 4:1; 1 Peter 4:5. Incorrectly Olshausen (resting on Matthew 22:32!) understands by ζώντων κ. νεκρ. the spiritually living and dead. This meaning would require to be suggested by the context, but is here quite foreign to it. Comp. Romans 14:19-20; Acts 17:31.

Expositor's Greek Testament

Acts 10:42. παρήγγειλεν: charged us, see on Acts 1:4.—διαμαρτύρ., see above on Acts 2:40, Acts 8:25.—ὁ ὡρισμένος, see Acts 2:23, cf. Acts 17:31, in a strikingly similar statement by St. Paul at Athens. St. Peter and St. Paul are both at one in their witness to the Resurrection of the Christ on the third day, and also in their witness to His appointment as the future Judge of mankind. This startling claim made by St. Peter with reference to Jesus of Nazareth, with Whom he had lived on terms of closest human intimacy, and in Whose death he might well have seen the destruction of all his hopes, is a further evidence of the change which had passed over the Apostle, a change which could only be accounted for by the belief that this same Jesus was risen and declared to be the Son of God with power; cf. Enoch xli. 9, edition Charles; Witness of the Epistles, p. 403.—κριτὴς ζ. καὶ ν., cf. 1 Peter 4:5; the words point back to the universal lordship of Christ over Jew and Gentile alike, Acts 10:36, cf. Romans 14:9.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

42. And he commanded us to preach unto the people] This was among the commandments alluded to Acts 1:2. Compare the charge given by Christ, Matthew 28:19, where the wide commission “Go ye, teach all nations,” is one that anticipated the preaching of the Gospel not only to Cornelius, but to all other Gentiles.

that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead] Cp. Christ’s words to the Jews (John 5:22; John 5:27), “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son,” “and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.”

Bengel's Gnomen

Acts 10:42. Παρήγγειλεν ἡμῖν, He enjoined us) viz. God: ch. Acts 5:29, “We ought to obey God rather than men.”—τῷ λαῷ, unto the people) Answering to the beginning of Acts 10:41.—διαμερτύρασθαι, to testify) Understand, even to the Gentiles: ch. Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19.—αὐτὸς, it is He Himself).—ὡρισμένος, ordained) by an immoveable decree.—κριτὴς, judge) This name expresses by Synecdoche (a part for the whole) all the glory of Christ, and in relation to believers it denotes the crowning consummation of the benefits of Christ: 2 Timothy 4:8, with which comp. Hebrews 12:23. He will judge even the Jews, who condemned Him; even the Romans, who held the Cæsarean seat of the government of Judea; even the dead, from among whom He rose again, and who are about to rise again in their own proper time; 1 Peter 4:5. [Comp. ch. Acts 17:31. So the Lord Jesus also testified of Himself as the Judge, before that He made mention of His own ascension; John 5:22, “The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.”—V. g.]

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 42. - Charged for commanded, A.V.; this is he which is for it is he which was, A.V. To be the Judge, etc. This statement involves the resurrection of the dead (comp. John 5:21-29; Revelation 20:11, 12). It is easy to see how the creeds would be formed from the repetition of short doctrinal statements like this (see 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4). Acts 10:42

Vincent's Word Studies

Testify (διαμαρτύρασθαι)

See on Acts 2:40.

Remission

See on Luke 3:3; and James 5:15.