Past Forbearance and Present Duty
T. Manton, D. D. Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men every where to repent: I. THE EXHORTATION consists of two parts — 1. The censure of the past times. (1) They were times of ignorance, and that easily leadeth into error. But now the light of the gospel was brought to them, God did more peremptorily insist upon His right, and commanded them to repent; for the practices of ignorance will not become a time of knowledge (1 Peter 1:14). There was a time when we knew neither the terror, nor the sweetness of the Lord, but securely lived in sin; what we did then will misbecome us now (Romans 13:12). Sins are more aggravated in times of more full gospel light (John 3:19). (2) God winked at these times. (a) The meaning. Certainly it is not meant that God allowed their idolatries; that would entrench upon His honour, and hinder their repentance. First. Some think it speaketh indulgence. God looked not after them to punish them for their idolatries. Ignorance is sometimes made an excuse a tanto, though not a toto (Acts 3:17; 1 Timothy 1:13). Secondly. Others think it speaketh a judgment. God neglected those times, or regarded them not (Acts 6:1; Hebrews 8:9). To this sense I incline, partly because it is so explained in a parallel place (Acts 14:16, 17), because it agreeth with the thing itself (Psalm 147:19, 20), and because God did punish the ignorance and error of the Gentiles by giving them up to vile affections (Romans 1:24). But yet I do not exclude the former sense, because though the idolatry of the nations continued for many years, yet God continued many signal temporal mercies to them. (b) The necessity and use of this reflection. It is an answer to their cavil (ver. 18), and Paul, as much as in him lieth, taketh off the prejudice of the practice of former times by a prudent and soft censure (1 Corinthians 2:8), and insinuateth that ignorance doth not wholly excuse those that err, but rather commendeth the Lord's patience. 2. The duty of the present time. The duty pressed is repentance, which is here represented not as an indifferent and arbitrary thing, but as expressly and absolutely commanded, and that universally. II. THE ARGUMENT OR MOTIVE. 1. As propounded. (1) The circumstances. (a) The time appointed is put for a certain fixed space of time. The work cannot well be despatched in twenty-four hours. When this time will be we cannot tell, for God hath not revealed it (Matthew 24:36); and therefore it is curiosity to inquire, and rashness to determine (Acts 1:7). It is enough for us to believe the thing, which is not strange to reason, that God should call His creatures to account. (b) The manner — "In righteousness." But doth God ever judge the world otherwise than in righteousness? No; but (Genesis 18:25). He now judgeth the world in patience, but then in righteousness. (c) The person. Why doth he call Christ man, rather than God? First. With respect to the Gentiles' incapacity to apprehend the mystery of the Trinity or the Incarnation; and it concerneth us to dispense truths as people are able to bear them. Secondly. Christ is to discharge this office in the visible appearance of man. As the judgment was to be visible, so the judge (Titus 2:13; 2 Timothy 4:8; Matthew 24:30). Thirdly. This power is given to Christ as a recompense of His humiliation (Philippians 2:9, 10; cf. Romans 14:10, 11). (2) The subsequent proof: "Whereof He hath given assurance to all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead." That is a sufficient testimony to convince the whole world. The Resurrection is a certain proof and argument of the dignity of Christ's Person (Romans 1:4), and His office and doctrine (John 5:27-29). 2. What influence this hath upon repentance. (1) The very day appointed inferreth a necessity of change both of heart and life; for how else shall we stand in the judgment who have broken God's laws, and are obnoxious to His wrath and displeasure (Ecclesiastes 11:9)? (2) From the manner or strictness of that day's account; He will judge the world in righteousness (Ecclesiastes 12:14). What then is our duty but to exercise ourselves both in faith and repentance, that our Judge may be our Saviour, and it may go well with us when this search is made? (T. Manton, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: WEB: The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent,