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Acts 10 · a question people ask

"not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen before by God" (10:41). Why didn't the risen Jesus show himself to everyone?

In the text

Peter's words are these: "God raised him up the third day and gave him to be revealed, not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen before by God, to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead." (10:40-41). And, "He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that this is he who is appointed by God as the Judge of the living and the dead." (10:42). Acts 1 also says, "To these he also showed himself alive after he suffered, by many proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days" (1:3). Peter says no more about it than these words, and these notes add nothing.

The verses

“God raised him up the third day and gave him to be revealed, not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen before by God, to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that this is he who is appointed by God as the Judge of the living and the dead.”
Acts 10:40-42 · World English Bible
“To these he also showed himself alive after he suffered, by many proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking about God’s Kingdom.”
Acts 1:3 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Acts 10

Acts 10: What God has cleansed

Peter's common in his vision (10:14) and his unholy for "any man" in Cornelius's house (10:28) are the same Greek word. And "While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word" (10:44).

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Last reviewed October 7, 2026. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions