“And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:”
My Notes
What Does Acts 10:39 Mean?
Peter testifies before Cornelius's household: "We are witnesses of all things which he did." The apostolic testimony is based on eyewitness observation — they saw Jesus' ministry, death, and resurrection with their own eyes. The plural "we" establishes the corporate nature of the witness: it's not one person's account but a community of observers.
The geographic scope — "both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem" — covers Jesus' entire ministry territory. The apostles witnessed the Galilean ministry (land of the Jews) and the Jerusalem events (passion, crucifixion, resurrection). Their testimony covers the full range of Jesus' activity.
The phrase "whom they slew and hanged on a tree" compresses the crucifixion into the most brutal possible summary. The cross is called a tree (xulon), connecting it to Deuteronomy 21:23 ("cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree"). Peter is telling a Gentile audience that Jesus bore the curse of the law.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Why is eyewitness testimony ('we saw it') the foundation of the apostolic message rather than theological argument?
- 2.How does Peter's willingness to lead with the scandal (hanged on a tree) model honest gospel presentation?
- 3.What does the completeness of the witness (ministry AND death AND resurrection) teach about telling the full story?
- 4.Where does your faith rest on the testimony of eyewitnesses — and how does that differ from personal experience?
Devotional
We saw it. All of it. Everything he did in Galilee, everything that happened in Jerusalem — we were there. We are witnesses. Peter stands before a Roman household and offers the most foundational credential of the apostolic message: we saw it happen.
The power of eyewitness testimony is irreplaceable. Peter isn't offering a theological interpretation of events he heard about secondhand. He's saying: I was there when he healed. I was there when he taught. I was there when they killed him. I was there when he rose. The testimony carries the weight of physical presence — these eyes, these ears, this body stood in the room where it happened.
The phrase "hanged on a tree" is deliberately provocative. Peter uses the Deuteronomy language of curse — the same language Paul will develop in Galatians 3:13. Telling a Gentile audience that the Savior died on a cursed tree is a strange way to introduce someone. But it's honest. The gospel doesn't hide the scandal; it leads with it. The Messiah was killed under the curse. That's not the end of the story — it's the setup for the resurrection.
Peter's testimony covers both the ministry (what he did) and the death (they killed him). The apostolic witness doesn't skip the cross to get to the resurrection. It walks through both. The authority of the testimony depends on its completeness — you can't vouch for the resurrection if you didn't also witness the death.
The church's message has always rested on this foundation: people who were there. Not philosophers who reasoned. Not mystics who intuited. Witnesses who saw.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And we are witnesses of all things,.... That is, Peter, and the rest of the apostles, were witnesses, even eyewitnesses,…
And we are witnesses - We who are apostles. See the notes on Luk 24:48. In the land of the Jews - In the country of…
We are witnesses of all - In this speech St. Peter may refer, not only to the twelve apostles, but to the six brethren…
We have here Peter's sermon preached to Cornelius and his friends: that is, an abstract or summary of it; for we have…
And we are witnesses of all things Because they had been with Jesus from the beginning of His ministerial life (Luk…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture