Acts 5:31 teaches that God raised Jesus to the highest place of honor and authority, and that through him God offers Israel a changed heart and the forgiveness of sins. Peter says this to the Jewish council in Jerusalem that has just ordered the apostles to stop preaching about Jesus. The speaker is Peter, speaking with the other apostles, and the hearers are the high priest and the council that had Jesus put to death.
God exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins.
Acts 5:31 (WEB)
What Acts 5:31 Means
The verse begins with God “exalting” Jesus “with his right hand.” The right hand in the Bible stands for power and honor, so this phrase says that God placed Jesus in a position of supreme authority, the very place the council thought they had defeated. Peter is answering their attempt to silence him with a claim about who is really in charge.
Next, Peter calls Jesus “a Prince and a Savior.” “Prince” points to leadership and rule, and “Savior” points to rescue. Together they say that the man the council executed now reigns, and that his reign brings deliverance. The verse does not promise that every person will be spared hardship, but it does say the one who rules is the one who saves.
Finally, the verse names two gifts: repentance and forgiveness of sins. Repentance means turning around and changing direction, and forgiveness means having wrongs cleared away. Peter says these are offered to “Israel,” meaning the people as a whole, not only the council members who stand before him. The verse describes what God gives, not a guarantee about how any individual will respond.
The Context of Acts 5:31
The book of Acts was written by Luke, the same author who wrote the Gospel of Luke, and it follows the spread of the Christian message from Jerusalem outward. Luke writes for a readership that includes Gentile believers, and he shows the early church as a community that grew under opposition. Chapter 5 belongs to the early period in Jerusalem, when the apostles were arrested and then brought before the council.
The verses just before this one show the council angry that Peter and the apostles keep teaching in Jesus’ name, and Peter answers that they must obey God rather than men. Verse 31 is the center of his reply, explaining why obedience to God comes first. The verses just after show the council’s fury and Gamaliel’s advice to wait, so the verse reads as a bold public witness made under real threat.
Key Phrases in Acts 5:31
Romans 10:9
That if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
(WEB)
Paul links confessing Jesus as Lord with the resurrection, the same truth Peter proclaims here about God raising Jesus. Reading the two together shows that the exalted Christ is the center of the good news of salvation.
Acts 2:38
Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
(WEB)
In his earlier sermon at Pentecost, Peter also calls people to repent and speaks of forgiveness of sins. This verse shows the same message of repentance and forgiveness being offered to the crowd in Jerusalem.
A Short Prayer From Acts 5:31
Lord Jesus, you were raised to the highest place and given the name above every name, and I thank you that your authority is joined to your saving love. When I am tempted to bow to fear or to the opinions of others, help me remember that you rule, and give me the courage to obey you. Turn my heart toward you wherever it has drifted, and let your forgiveness wash over the wrongs I carry. I trust you with my days and my choices, because you are both Prince and Savior. Amen.
