Acts 2 · Verse 22

Acts 2:22

Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:

Acts 2:22, King James Version

Acts 2:22 in other translations

BSB	Men of Israel, listen to this message: Jesus of Nazareth was a man certified by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know.
WEB	“Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God to you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him among you, even as you yourselves know,
ASV	Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God unto you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him in the midst of you, even as ye yourselves know;
YLT	‘Men, Israelites! hear these words, Jesus the Nazarene, a man approved of God among you by mighty works, and wonders, and signs, that God did through him in the midst of you, according as also ye yourselves have known;
DARBY	Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus the Nazaraean, a man borne witness to by God to you by works of power and wonders and signs, which God wrought by him in your midst, as yourselves know
BBE	Men of Israel, give ear to these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man who had the approval of God, as was made clear to you by the great works and signs and wonders which God did by him among you, as you yourselves have knowledge,
Webster	Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:

What does Acts 2:22 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 2:22-28

22-28. a man approved of God--rather, "authenticated," "proved," or "demonstrated to be from God." by miracles ... which God did by him--This is not a low view of our Lord's miracles, as has been alleged, nor inconsistent with Joh 2:11, but is in strict accordance with His progress from humiliation to glory, and with His own words in Joh 5:19. This view of Christ is here dwelt on to exhibit to the Jews the whole course of Jesus of Nazareth as the ordinance and doing of the God of Israel [Alford].

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 22. Ye men of Israel. Descendants of Israel, or Jacob, i.e. Jews. Peter proceeds now to the third part of his argument, to show that Jesus Christ had been raised up; and that the scene which had occurred was in accordance with his promise, was proof of his resurrection, and of his exaltation to be the Messiah; and that therefore they should repent for their great sin in having put their own Messiah to death.

A man approved of God. A man who was shown or demonstrated to have the approbation of God, or to have been sent by him.

By miracles and wonders and signs. The first of these words properly means the displays of power which Jesus made; the second, the unusual or remarkable events which attended him; the third, the signs or proofs that he was from God. Together, they denote the array or series of remarkable works--raising the dead, healing the sick, etc., which showed that Jesus was sent from God. The proof which they furnished that he was from God was this--that God would not confer such power on an impostor, and that therefore he was what he pretended to be.

Which God did by him. The Lord Jesus himself often traced his power to do these things to his commission from the Father; but he did it in such a way as to show that he was closely united to him, Jn 5:19,30. Peter here says that God did these works by Jesus Christ, to show that Jesus was truly sent by him, and that therefore he had the seal and attestation of God. The same thing Jesus himself said: Jn 5:36, "The works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me." The great works which God has wrought in creation, as well as in redemption, he is represented as having done by his Son. Heb 1:2, "By whom also he made the worlds." Jn 1:3, Col 1:15-19.

In the midst of you. In your own land. It is also probable that many of the persons present had been witnesses of his miracles.

As ye yourselves also know. They knew it either by having witnessed them, or by the evidence which everywhere abounded of the truth that he had wrought them. The Jews, even in the time of Christ, did not dare to call his miracles in question, Jn 15:24. While they admitted the miracle, they attempted to trace it to the influence of Beelzebub, Mt 9:34, Mk 3:22. So decided and numerous were the miracles of Jesus, that Peter here appeals to them as having been known by the Jews themselves to have been performed, and with a confidence that even they could not deny it. On this he proceeds to rear his argument for the truth of his Messiahship.

(*) "approved" "manifested" (a) "miracles and wonders and signs" Jn 14:10,11, Heb 2:4 (b) "ye yourselves know" Jn 15:24

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 22 A man approved of God - Αποδεδειγμενον, celebrated, famous. The sense of the verse seems to be this: Jesus of Nazareth, a man sent of God, and celebrated among you by miracles, wonders, and signs; and all these done in such profusion as had never been done by the best of your most accredited prophets. And these signs, etc., were such as demonstrated his Divine mission.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 2:22-36

From this gift of the Holy Ghost, Peter preaches unto them Jesus: and here is the history of Christ. Here is an account of his death and sufferings, which they witnessed but a few weeks before. His death is considered as God's act; and of wonderful grace and wisdom. Thus Divine justice must be satisfied, God and man brought together again, and Christ himself glorified, according to an eternal counsel, which could not be altered. And as the people's act; in them it was an act of awful sin and folly. Christ's resurrection did away the reproach of his death; Peter speaks largely upon this. Christ was God's Holy One, sanctified and set apart to his service in the work of redemption. His death and sufferings should be, not to him only, but to all his, the entrance to a blessed life for evermore. This event had taken place as foretold, and the apostles were witnesses. Nor did the resurrection rest upon this alone; Christ had poured upon his disciples the miraculous gifts and Divine influences, of which they witnessed the effects. Through the Saviour, the ways of life are made known; and we are encouraged to expect God's presence, and his favour for evermore. All this springs from assured belief that Jesus is the Lord, and the anointed Saviour.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Acts 2:22 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἌνδρεςAndresMenG435

Ἰσραηλῖται,IsraēlitaiIsraelites,G2475

ἀκούσατεakousatedo hearG191

τοὺςtous<the>G3588

λόγουςlogouswordsG3056

τούτους·toutousthese:G3778

ἸησοῦνIēsounJesusG2424

τὸνton<the>G3588

Ναζωραῖον,Nazōraionof Nazareth,G3480

ἄνδραandraa manG435

ἀποδεδειγμένονapodedeigmenonset forthG584

ἀπὸapobyG575

τοῦtou<the>G3588

θεοῦtheouGodG2316

εἰςeistoG1519

ὑμᾶςhumasyouG4771

δυνάμεσινdunamesinby miraclesG1411

καὶkaiandG2532

τέρασινterasinby wondersG5059

καὶkaiandG2532

σημείοιςsēmeioisby signsG4592

οἷςhoiswhichG3739

ἐποίησενepoiēsendidG4160

δι᾽di᾽throughG1223

αὐτοῦautouHimG846

ὁho<the>G3588

θεὸςtheosGodG2316

ἐνeninG1722

μέσῳmesō[the] midstG3319

ὑμῶν,humōnof you,G4771

καθὼςkathōseven asG2531

αὐτοὶautoiyou yourselvesG846

οἴδατε,oidateknow,

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 2:22

John 3:2
The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
John 14:10-11
Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
Acts 4:10
Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
Luke 11:20
But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.
Matthew 12:28
But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
Matthew 9:8
But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.
Hebrews 2:4
God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
John 15:24
If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
John 12:17
The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.
Acts 26:26
For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.
2 Corinthians 12:12
Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
John 11:47
Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

men.
3:12; 5:35; 13:16; 21:28; Isa 41:14
Jesus.
4:10; 6:14; 22:8; 24:5; 26:9; Mt 2:23; Joh 1:45; 19:19
a man.
10:37; 26:26; Mt 11:2-6; Lu 7:20-23; 24:18; Joh 3:2; 5:36; 6:14,27
Joh 7:31; 10:37; 11:47; 12:17; 14:10,11; 15:24; Heb 2:4
which.
14:27; Mt 9:8; 12:28; Lu 11:20; Joh 5:17-20; 9:33; 11:40-42; 14:10,11

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Acts 2:21
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Acts 2:22
Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
Acts 2:23
Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

Read all of Acts 2

Acts 2:22 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Varones Israelitas, oid estas palabras: Jesús Nazareno, varón aprobado de Dios entre vosotros en maravillas y prodigios y señales, que Dios hizo por él en medio de vosotros, como también vosotros sabéis;
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Hommes israélites, écoutez ces paroles: Jésus le Nazaréen, homme approuvé de Dieu auprès de vous par les miracles et les prodiges et les signes que Dieu a faits par lui au milieu de vous, comme vous-mêmes vous le savez,
German Elberfelder 1871	Männer von Israel, höret diese Worte: Jesum, den Nazaräer, einen Mann, von Gott an euch erwiesen durch mächtige Taten und Wunder und Zeichen, die Gott durch ihn in eurer Mitte tat, wie ihr selbst wisset-
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Viri Israëlitæ, audite verba hæc: Jesum Nazarenum, virum approbatum a Deo in vobis, virtutibus, et prodigiis, et signis, quæ fecit Deus per illum in medio vestri, sicut et vos scitis: