Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
The times of ignorance (touv xronouv thv agnoiav). The times before full knowledge of God came in Jesus Christ. Paul uses the very word for their ignorance (agnoountev) employed in verse Acts 17:23.
Overlooked (uperidwn). Second aorist active participle of uperoraw or upereidw, old verb to see beyond, not to see, to overlook, not "to wink at" of the Authorized Version with the notion of condoning. Here only in the N.T. It occurs in the LXX in the sense of overlooking or neglecting ( 18:62; Psalms 55:1). But it has here only a negative force. God has all the time objected to the polytheism of the heathen, and now he has made it plain. In Wisdom 11:23 we have these words: "Thou overlookest the sins of men to the end they may repent."
But now (ta nun). Accusative of general reference, "as to the now things or situation." All is changed now that Christ has come with the full knowledge of God. See also Acts 27:22.
All everywhere (pantav pantaxou). No exceptions anywhere.
Repent (metanoein). Present active infinitive of metanoew in indirect command, a permanent command of perpetual force. See on metanoew Acts 2:38 and the Synoptic Gospels. This word was the message of the Baptist, of Jesus, of Peter, of Paul, this radical change of attitude and life.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Acts 17:30:
Acts 4:29
Acts 14:15
Acts 14:16
Romans 1:24
Romans 3:25
1 Peter 1:14
1 Peter 1:20
2 Peter 3:9
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