“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:”
My Notes
What Does Acts 17:30 Mean?
Paul declares a turning point in divine history: the times of ignorance God winked at — overlooked, passed over, bore with patience. But now — the pivot — he commandeth all men every where to repent.
The times of ignorance refer to the pre-gospel era when Gentile nations worshipped idols without the full revelation of the true God. God's response during that era was forbearance — not approval but patience.
"But now commandeth" — the now changes everything. With the resurrection of Jesus and the preaching of the gospel, ignorance is no longer an excuse. The command is universal: all men. The scope is global: every where. The demand is singular: repent.
The verse establishes that the gospel creates accountability. Before the full revelation, God bore with ignorance. After it, repentance is commanded. The knowledge that has come removes the cover that ignorance provided.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What does God 'winking at' ignorance mean — and how is it different from approving it?
- 2.How does the resurrection ending the era of ignorance create new accountability?
- 3.What does 'commandeth all men every where' mean for the universality of the gospel demand?
- 4.Where are you treating the command to repent as optional rather than imperative?
Devotional
The times of this ignorance God winked at. There was an era — before the gospel reached the nations — when God looked at human ignorance and bore with it. Not approved it. Winked — overlooked it, carried it with patience, waited for the right moment.
But now. Two words that end one era and begin another. The patience has served its purpose. The time of overlooking is over. Something has changed: the gospel has been preached. The resurrection has happened. The truth is available.
Commandeth all men every where to repent. Not invites. Commands. Not some men in some places. All men every where. The command is universal in scope and imperative in tone. Repentance is not optional after the gospel has been proclaimed.
The ignorance that was previously winked at is no longer excusable. The revelation has come. The truth is accessible. The resurrection has been proclaimed. And the God who was patient now demands a response.
This verse speaks to every person who has heard the gospel: you are no longer in the times of ignorance. The winking is over. The command is active. Repentance is not a suggestion for the spiritually interested. It is the universal demand of a God who has revealed himself through the resurrection of his Son.
All men. Every where. Repent. The command has been issued. The question is whether you will obey.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And the times of this ignorance God winked at,.... Not that he approved of, or encouraged such blindness and folly, as…
And the times of this ignorance - The long period when people were ignorant of the true God, and when they worshipped…
The times of this ignorance God winked at - He who has an indisputable right to demand the worship of all his creatures…
We have here St. Paul's sermon at Athens. Divers sermons we have had, which the apostles preached to the Jews, or such…
And the times of this ignorance There is no pronoun in the original, and the conjunctions are feebly represented by…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture