Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 3:17
Verse 17. I wot] oida, I know. Wot is from the Anglo-Saxon, (Anglo-Saxon) to know; and hence wit, science or understanding. Through ignorance ye did it] This is a very tender excuse for them; and one which seems to be necessary, in order to show them that their state was not utterly desperate; for if all that they did to Christ had been through absolute malice, (they well knowing who he was,) if any sin could be supposed to be unpardonable, it must have been theirs. Peter, foreseeing that they might be tempted thus to think, and consequently to despair of salvation, tells them that their offense was extenuated by their ignorance of the person they had tormented and crucified. And one must suppose that, had they been fully convinced that this Jesus was the only Messiah, they never would have crucified him; but they did not permit themselves to receive conviction on the subject.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 17. And now, brethren , etc.] He calls them brethren, because they were so according to the flesh; and to testify his cordial love and affection for them. I wot , or I know, that through ignorance ye did it ; delivered up Jesus into the hands of Pilate; denied him to be the Messiah before him; preferred a murderer to him, and put him to death. As did also your rulers ; the members of the sanhedrim, some of them; (see 1 Corinthians 2:8) for others of them knew him to be the Messiah, to be sent of God, by the miracles he did, and yet blasphemously ascribed them to Satan; and so sinning against light and knowledge, in such a malicious manner, sinned the sin against the Holy Ghost, to which ignorance is here opposed; and which did not excuse from sin: nor was it itself without sin; nor is it opposed to any sin, but to this now mentioned.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 12-18 - Observe the difference in the manner of working the miracles. Our Lor always spoke as having Almighty power, never hesitated to receive the greatest honour that was given to him on account of his Divin miracles. But the apostles referred all to their Lord, and refused to receive any honour, except as his undeserving instruments. This show that Jesus was one with the Father, and co-equal with Him; while the apostles knew that they were weak, sinful men, and dependent for ever thing on Jesus, whose power effected the cure. Useful men must be very humble. Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to thy name, give glory Every crown must be cast at the feet of Christ. The apostle showed the Jews the greatness of their crime, but would not anger or drive them to despair. Assuredly, those who reject, refuse, or deny Christ, do it through ignorance; but this can in no case be an excuse.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ νυν 3568 ADV αδελφοι 80 N-VPM οιδα 1492 5758 V-RAI-1S οτι 3754 CONJ κατα 2596 PREP αγνοιαν 52 N-ASF επραξατε 4238 5656 V-AAI-2P ωσπερ 5618 ADV και 2532 CONJ οι 3588 T-NPM αρχοντες 758 N-NPM υμων 5216 P-2GP
Robertson's NT Word Studies
3:17 {And now} (kai nun). Luke is fond of these particles of transition (#7:34; 10:5; 20:25; 22:16) and also kai ta nun (#4:29; 5:38; 22:32; 27:22), and even kai nun idou (#13:11; 20:22). {I wot} (oida). Old English for "I know." {In ignorance} (kata agnoian). this use of kata occurs in the _Koin_. See also #Phm 1:14. One may see #Lu 23:34 for the words of the Savior on the Cross. "They had sinned, but their sin was not of so deep a dye that it could not have been still more heinous" (Hackett). If they had known what they were doing, they would not knowingly have crucified the Messiah (#1Co 2:8).
