this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse doesn't just say God planned Jesus' death; it highlights that you – the very people Peter is addressing – actively participated, handing him over to be killed by "lawless hands." This means even though God's plan was in motion, your own choices and actions were still the instruments of his crucifixion, not excuses for it.
this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Peter is preaching to the very people who, along with the Roman authorities, were responsible for Jesus' crucifixion. He's not letting them off the hook, directly accusing them of killing Jesus, while also asserting that this tragic event was part of God's sovereign plan and foreknowledge, meant for salvation. This powerful declaration serves to convict his audience and call them to repentance.
How can God's perfect plan include human cruelty? Peter confronts this tension head-on, showing Jesus' death was no accident.
Peter starts by declaring Jesus was "delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God." This isn't just a statement about what God knew would happen; it's about God's active purpose.
A Divine Decree
The phrase "definite plan" (or "determinate counsel") points to God's sovereign decision. It was His unchanging purpose that the Messiah would suffer and die for humanity's redemption. This plan was set from eternity.
Foreseen and Fixed
"Foreknowledge" goes beyond simply seeing the future. For God, who is outside of time, it means knowing events with certainty. This knowledge isn't passive; it's integrated into His purposeful plan. Jesus' death wasn't a surprise to God; it was the focal point of His redemptive strategy.
This doesn't mean God caused the evil actions of men, but rather that He sovereignly wove even those wicked acts into His perfect, overarching plan for salvation.
Peter doesn't let the listeners off the hook. He directly accuses them, showing how human agency and divine purpose intersect in the crucifixion.
While Peter affirms God's sovereign plan, he immediately turns to the active participants: "you crucified and killed."
Human Responsibility
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Peter doesn't excuse the people in his audience. He points out that they, by the hands of lawless men (referring to the Roman soldiers and Jewish leaders acting outside God's full intent), carried out the act of crucifixion. Their sin was real, intentional, and deserves condemnation.
The Cruelty of 'Lawless Men'
The phrase "lawless men" (or "wicked hands") highlights the perpetrators' rejection of divine law and justice. These were the people who acted out of malice, not righteousness. Yet, even their lawless actions were permitted by God to fulfill His plan.
This is a crucial paradox: God's ultimate purpose was being fulfilled through the sinful actions of individuals. Their guilt is not erased by God's plan, nor does God's plan rely on their innocence.
Understand the original words
horismenos boulē · Greek NounPhrase
Refers to the divine decree or settled purpose of God regarding human history and redemption. It emphasizes that God is sovereign over all events, including the betrayal and crucifixion of Christ, while remaining distinct from the responsibility of those who perpetrate evil.
prognōsis · Greek Noun
The attribute of God whereby He has comprehensive, perfect knowledge of all things before they come to pass. It underscores His omniscience and sovereign control over history.
anomos · Greek Adjective
A term describing those who operate outside the boundaries of divine law. It characterizes those who act in rebellion against God's standards of righteousness and justice.
This verse highlights the profound paradox of Jesus' death: a horrific act of human betrayal and violence, yet simultaneously the divinely ordained means for salvation, planned by God before time began.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Crucifixion of Jesus
Jesus is arrested, tried, and crucified in Jerusalem under the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, following a condemnation by the Jewish Sanhedrin.
c. 30-33 AD
Early Christian Preaching
Following Jesus' resurrection and ascension, his apostles begin preaching in Jerusalem, proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah and Lord.
c. 30-33 AD
Growth of the Jerusalem Church
Thousands of Jews are converted and form the early Christian community in Jerusalem, often facing opposition from religious leaders.
c. 33-35 AD
Stephen's Martyrdom
The first Christian martyr, Stephen, is stoned to death in Jerusalem, leading to increased persecution and the scattering of believers.
c. 33-36 AD
Saul's Persecution
Saul of Tarsus (later Paul) actively persecutes the early Christians, arresting believers and seeking to stamp out the movement.
c. 36-40 AD
Conversion of Saul
Saul encounters the resurrected Jesus on the road to Damascus, transforming him into a fervent apostle for Christianity.
This prophetic passage describes the suffering servant whose suffering was by God's will for the sins of others, echoing the idea in Acts that Jesus' death was according to God's plan.
Luke 22:22Jesus himself states that the Son of Man will go as 'has been determined,' directly correlating with the 'definite plan' mentioned in Acts, highlighting the foreordained nature of his suffering.
John 19:11Jesus tells Pilate that his authority would not have power unless it had been given from above, underscoring the divine sovereignty that allowed the crucifixion to happen, even through human wickedness.
Romans 8:28This verse assures believers that God works all things for good for those who love him, which is a broader theological reflection of how God's plan in Acts 2:23, though involving evil, ultimately led to salvation.
1 Peter 1:18-20Peter explains that believers were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, 'who was foreknown before the foundation of the world,' directly linking the foreknowledge of God to the sacrificial death of Jesus.
barnesActs 2:23: "Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:"
Him, being delivered - ἔκδοτον ekdoton. This word, delivered, is used commonly of those who are surrendered or delivered into the hands of enemies or adversaries. It means that Jesus was surrendered, or given up to his enemies by those who should have been his protectors. Thus, he was delivered to the chief priests, Mark 10:33 . Pilate released B…
vincentActs 2:23: "Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:"
Being delivered (ἔκδοτον)An adjective: given forth, betrayed.Ye have takenThe best texts omit.Wicked handsThe best texts read by the hand of lawlessCrucified (προσπήξαντες)Only here in New Testament. The verb simply means to affix to or on anything. The idea of the cross is left to be supplied.Have slain (ἀνείλετε)See on Luke 23:32. Rev., rende…
The verse doesn't just say God planned Jesus' death; it highlights that you – the very people Peter is addressing – actively participated, handing him over to be killed by "lawless hands." This means even though God's plan was in motion, your own choices and actions were still the instruments of his crucifixion, not excuses for it.
Peter is preaching to the very people who, along with the Roman authorities, were responsible for Jesus' crucifixion. He's not letting them off the hook, directly accusing them of killing Jesus, while also asserting that this tragic event was part of God's sovereign plan and foreknowledge, meant for salvation. This powerful declaration serves to convict his audience and call them to repentance.
Peter is preaching to the very people who, along with the Roman authorities, were responsible for Jesus' crucifixion. He's not letting them off the hook, directly accusing them of killing Jesus, while also asserting that this tragic event was part of God's sovereign plan and foreknowledge, meant for salvation. This powerful declaration serves to convict his audience and call them to repentance.
"this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men." — The verse doesn't just say God planned Jesus' death; it highlights that you – the very people Peter is addressing – actively participated, handing him over to be killed by "lawless hands." This mea…
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Last reviewed October 2026