Berean Standard Bible
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15You killed the Author of life, but God raised Him from the dead, and we are witnesses of this fact.
The Pioneer Translation RenderingRendered from the original Greek
Acts 3:15
Peter Declares the Resurrection
You killed the Pioneer of life, whom God raised from the dead — of this we are witnesses.
The key word here is *archēgon* (ἀρχηγὸν), rendered "Pioneer" — the Pioneer Translation's name for this title — carrying its primary meaning of one who goes first and leads the way, here specifically as Pioneer of life itself. The sentence also preserves the theological distinction: it is *God* (ὁ θεὸς) who raised Jesus from the dead, keeping the Father and Son clearly distinct as agent and recipient of the resurrection act.
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The same verse across the licensed translations and the Greek
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King James Version
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15And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
Goodspeed New Testament
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15and killed the very source of life. But God raised him from the dead, as we can testify.
Translation for Translators
T4T was designed as a tool for Bible translators, not as a devotional text. It makes implicit meaning explicit and flags figurative language with abbreviations. Gold [brackets] indicate translation notes. ◄Triangles► mark alternative renderings.Read more about how to read T4T →BSB and T4T shown with Greek annotations — · Why we show the Greek →
15God considers that you killed Jesus, the one who gives people eternal life. But God has greatly honored him ◄T4T alternative rendering — the text between these markers is an alternative translation or explanatory expansion. Translators choose the option that best fits their target language.by causing him to become alive again after he died/by raising him from the dead►T4T alternative rendering — the text between these markers is an alternative translation or explanatory expansion. Translators choose the option that best fits their target language.. Many of us saw him after that, and now we (exc) are telling you about it.
Berean Standard Bible
Goodspeed New Testament
BSB and T4T shown with Greek annotations — · Why we show the Greek →
15
You killed the Author of life, but God raised Him from the dead, and we are witnesses of this fact.
and killed the very source of life. But God raised him from the dead, as we can testify.
Berean Standard Bible
Goodspeed New Testament
King James Version
BSB and T4T shown with Greek annotations — · Why we show the Greek →
15
You killed the Author of life, but God raised Him from the dead, and we are witnesses of this fact.
and killed the very source of life. But God raised him from the dead, as we can testify.
And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
SBL
Greek, word by word
15
τὸν the ὁ ho the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom) the, this, that, one, he, she, δὲ and δέ dé a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc. also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in Eng ἀρχηγὸν originator ἀρχηγός archēgós from G746 (ἀρχή) and G71 (ἄγω); a chief leader author, captain, prince τῆς the ὁ ho the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom) the, this, that, one, he, she, ζωῆς life ζωή zōḗ from G2198 (ζάω); life (literally or figuratively) life(-time) ἀπεκτείνατε put to death ἀποκτείνω apokteínō from G575 (ἀπό) and (to slay); to kill outright; figuratively, to destroy put to death, kill, slay , ὃν who ὅς hós probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article G3588 (ὁ)); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, ὁ the ὁ ho the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom) the, this, that, one, he, she, θεὸς God θεός theós a deity, especially (with G3588 (ὁ)) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very X exceeding, Go ἤγειρεν wake ἐγείρω egeírō probably akin to the base of G58 (ἀγορά) (through the idea of collecting one's faculties); to waken (transitively or int ἐκ from out ἐκ ek a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause; νεκρῶν dead νεκρός nekrós from an apparently primary (a corpse); dead (literally or figuratively; also as noun) dead , οὗ not οὐ ou a primary word; the absolute negative (compare G3361 (μή)) adverb; no or not + long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), no ἡμεῖς I ἐγώ egṓ a primary pronoun of the first person I (only expressed when emphatic) I, me μάρτυρές witness μάρτυς mártys a witness (literally (judicially) or figuratively (genitive case)); by analogy, a martyr martyr, record, witness ἐσμεν are εἰμί eimí the first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist (used only when .
You killed the Author of life, but God raised Him from the dead, and we are witnesses of this fact.
Functional Faith Reading
The Greek word behind "Author" here is archegos — pioneer, trailblazer, one who cuts the path first. Peter is not calling Jesus a divine title-holder. He is naming him by function: the one who went first into life, who blazed the road that others would follow.
Most readings hear "Author of life" and immediately think creator-God — the eternal source of all existence. That reading imports assumptions the word does not carry. Archegos is a road word, not a throne word. It speaks of direction and movement, not infinite divine essence.
What Peter is actually proclaiming is stunning in a different way. The crowd killed the one the Father sent ahead of them — the firstborn of all creation, the Pioneer who had already walked the full length of the human road. And the Father, Jehovah himself, answered that killing with resurrection. The Pioneer's path did not end at the wooden pole. It opened there.
The practical weight of this is real. If the Pioneer genuinely walked the road before us, then his resurrection is not a divine escape hatch — it is a guarantee for everyone walking behind him. The path through death has already been broken open.
Sit with this
If the Pioneer truly went first, what is keeping you from following?
Sources
- Berean Standard BibleLicense
- King James VersionLicense
- Goodspeed New TestamentLicense
- Translation for TranslatorsLicense
SBL Greek New Testament (SBLGNT)License
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
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