Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
Inasmuch as (kaqoti). According as (kata, oti). Old causal conjunction, but in N.T. only used in Luke's writings (Luke 1:7; Luke 19:9; Acts 2:45; Acts 4:35; Acts 17:31).
Hath appointed a day (esthsen hmeran) First aorist active indicative of isthmi, to place, set. God did set the day in his counsel and he will fulfil it in his own time.
Will judge (mellei krinein). Rather, is going to judge, mellw and the present active infinitive of krinw. Paul here quotes Psalms 9:8 where krinei occurs.
By the man whom he hath ordained (en andri w wrisen). Here he adds to the Psalm the place and function of Jesus Christ, a passage in harmony with Christ's own words in Mat. 25. w (whom) is attracted from the accusative, object of wrisen (first aorist active indicative of orizw) to the case of the antecedent andri. It has been said that Paul left the simple gospel in this address to the council of the Areopagus for philosophy. But did he? He skilfully caught their attention by reference to an altar to an Unknown God whom he interprets to be the Creator of all things and all men who overrules the whole world and who now commands repentance of all and has revealed his will about a day of reckoning when Jesus Christ will be Judge. He has preached the unity of God, the one and only God, has proclaimed repentance, a judgment day, Jesus as the Judge as shown by his Resurrection, great fundamental doctrines, and doubtless had much more to say when they interrupted his address. There is no room here for such a charge against Paul. He rose to a great occasion and made a masterful exposition of God's place and power in human history.
Whereof he hath given assurance (pistin parasxwn). Second aorist active participle of parexw, old verb to furnish, used regularly by Demosthenes for bringing forward evidence. Note this old use of pistiv as conviction or ground of confidence (Hebrews 11:1) like a note or title-deed, a conviction resting on solid basis of fact. All the other uses of pistiv grow out of this one from peiqw, to persuade.
In that he hath raised him from the dead (anasthsav auton ek nekrwn). First aorist active participle of anisthmi, causal participle, but literally, "having raised him from the dead." This Paul knew to be a fact because he himself had seen the Risen Christ. Paul has here come to the heart of his message and could now throw light on their misapprehension about "Jesus and the Resurrection" (verse Acts 17:18). Here Paul has given the proof of all his claims in the address that seemed new and strange to them.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Acts 17:31:
Acts 14:15
Acts 17:31
Acts 24:15
1 Thessalonians 1:10
Revelation 20:11
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