because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul intentionally calls Jesus "a man" here, not to diminish Him, but to make the resurrection—and the authority of the Judge it proves—more understandable to a skeptical audience. The resurrection isn't just proof of Jesus' divine status, but God's powerful "yes" to Jesus' own words about judgment.
because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul has just spoken about God, the Creator and Sustainer of all, which resonated with the Stoics and even some Epicureans. However, when he brings up the resurrection of the dead and a future judgment, his audience reacts with disbelief and mockery. This verse is Paul's bold conclusion, asserting that God has fixed a day for judgment, to be carried out by a man (Jesus) whose divine appointment is proven by his resurrection.
Paul is speaking to the Athenians, a culture steeped in philosophy and myth. He drops a bombshell: God has set a date to judge the entire world. This wasn't just some abstract philosophical concept; it was a divine appointment.
A Fixed Day
Paul declares that God has "fixed a day." This isn't a maybe or a someday; it's a definite appointment in God's eternal calendar. While the exact timing is hidden from us (Deuteronomy 29:29), its certainty is absolute.
Global and Righteous Judgment
This judgment isn't a small-scale event; it's for the "world"—the entire habitable earth. And it won't be arbitrary. It will be "in righteousness," meaning perfectly just, fair, and according to God's unblemished character. This stands in stark contrast to the flawed human justice the Athenians were accustomed to in their courts.
Who is this Judge? Paul doesn't point to a philosophical ideal or a mythical figure. He points to a specific 'man' whom God has ordained. This is Jesus, and His humanity is key to His role as Judge.
The Divine Appointee
God has "appointed a man" to carry out this judgment. This isn't just any person; it's a specific individual chosen and ordained by God Himself. For the Athenians, who were familiar with many gods and heroes, Paul's focus on one divinely appointed man is significant.
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Humanity and Deity in Judgment
Paul calls Jesus 'a man,' which was a crucial way to connect with his audience. However, this 'man' is no ordinary human. He is the Son of God, uniquely qualified to judge because He fully understands both divine justice and human experience. He is the bridge between God's holiness and our fallenness.
How can we possibly believe that a crucified man will judge the world? Paul answers this by pointing to the most powerful evidence imaginable: the resurrection. It's God's undeniable stamp of approval.
The Ultimate Proof
Paul states that God has given "assurance to all" by raising Jesus from the dead. This wasn't just a minor event; it was God's definitive act that validates Jesus' identity, His message, and His future role as Judge.
Why the Resurrection Matters for Judgment
The resurrection proves several things:
Understand the original words
krinein · Greek Verb
A judicial act or pronouncement by God that evaluates human actions, thoughts, and hearts, leading to the vindication of the righteous and the condemnation of the wicked. It is ultimately delegated to Jesus Christ, who serves as the final judge over all creation.
dikaiosyne · Greek Noun
Conforming to the moral standard and character of God, this describes God's holy and impartial justice. In the context of divine judgment, it signifies that God's assessment of humanity is perfectly fair and aligned with His holy nature.
horisen · Greek Verb
A person who has been officially chosen, designated, or authorized by God to perform a specific task or fulfill a role, particularly that of the Savior and Judge of the world.
pistin · Greek Noun
A firm conviction, proof, or guarantee that provides certainty regarding a truth claim. In the context of the gospel, the resurrection is the historical, undeniable evidence provided by God to validate Christ’s claims and authority.
Paul's declaration in Athens about a coming judgment by a resurrected man was radically counter-cultural. His audience, composed of Epicureans (who denied divine providence and an afterlife) and Stoics (who believed in a cosmic, impersonal reason and a cyclical judgment), found the idea of a personal, future judgment by a resurrected individual highly improbable, if not absurd.
c. 49 AD
Expulsion of Jews from Rome
Emperor Claudius expelled Jews from Rome due to disturbances related to 'Chrestus'. This event created a climate of suspicion and tension regarding Jewish presence and their beliefs.
c. 50-52 AD
Paul's Ministry in Corinth
Paul spent a significant time in Corinth, a major Roman city with a diverse population and a prominent court (the Areopagus). He established a church there.
c. 52 AD
Trial before Gallio in Corinth
Paul was brought before the proconsul Gallio in Corinth. Gallio dismissed the charges, stating that disputes about 'religion' were not within the Roman court's jurisdiction, highlighting the precarious legal standing of early Christianity.
c. 52 AD— this verse
Paul's Address in Athens
Paul, waiting for Silas and Timothy in Athens, debated with Epicurean and Stoic philosophers and spoke to the Areopagus (the city council). This is where he delivered the speech containing Acts 17:31, presenting the gospel to a philosophically sophisticated but spiritually skeptical audience.
c. 57 AD
Paul's Imprisonment in Rome
Paul's first Roman imprisonment, during which he wrote letters to churches, including those that would have been familiar with his earlier teachings in places like Athens and Corinth.
This passage directly links Jesus' resurrection to his divine appointment as Son of God, echoing Acts 17:31's emphasis on Jesus being the appointed Judge confirmed by his resurrection.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4This foundational summary of the gospel highlights Christ's death for sins and resurrection, the very core evidence Paul uses in Acts 17 to prove Jesus' authority as Judge.
John 5:22-27Jesus himself speaks of the Father giving him authority to judge, directly connecting the Father's appointment and the Son's role as Judge, which Paul expands on in Acts.
Acts 10:42Peter preaches a very similar message to Cornelius, stating Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of the living and the dead, and his resurrection is the proof.
Philippians 2:8-11This passage describes Jesus' humility in becoming human and God's subsequent exaltation of him, culminating in universal recognition of his lordship and his role in judgment, which is rooted in his obedience and resurrection.
ellicottActs 17:31: "Because 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."
(31) Because he hath appointed a day. —Here the speaker would seem, to both sets of hearers, to be falling back into popular superstition. Minos and Rhadamanthus, and Tartarus and the Elysian Fields,—these they had learnt to dismiss, as belonging to the childhood of the indi…
pooleActs 17:31: "Because 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."
He hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world: that God will judge the world his enemies have with trembling acknowledged, but when God will judge the world he hath concealed from his friends; yet the time is already set, Psalm 96:13 2 Corinthians 5:10 , and…
Paul intentionally calls Jesus "a man" here, not to diminish Him, but to make the resurrection—and the authority of the Judge it proves—more understandable to a skeptical audience. The resurrection isn't just proof of Jesus' divine status, but God's powerful "yes" to Jesus' own words about judgment.
Paul has just spoken about God, the Creator and Sustainer of all, which resonated with the Stoics and even some Epicureans. However, when he brings up the resurrection of the dead and a future judgment, his audience reacts with disbelief and mockery. This verse is Paul's bold conclusion, asserting that God has fixed a day for judgment, to be carried out by a man (Jesus) whose divine appointment is proven by his resurrection.
Paul has just spoken about God, the Creator and Sustainer of all, which resonated with the Stoics and even some Epicureans. However, when he brings up the resurrection of the dead and a future judgment, his audience reacts with disbelief and mockery. This verse is Paul's bold conclusion, asserting that God has fixed a day for judgment, to be carried out by a man (Jesus) whose divine appointment is proven by his resurrection.
"because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”" — Paul intentionally calls Jesus "a man" here, not to diminish Him, but to make the resurrection—and the authority of the Judge it proves—more understandable to a skeptical audience. The resurrection i…
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Last reviewed October 2026