What Does Acts 24:15 Mean in the King James?
And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Resurrection is a shared expectation that includes both the aligned and the unaligned.
THE MEANING
Hope toward God remains alive in the face of death. Resurrection embraces both the aligned and the unaligned, while the verse keeps their distinction in view. Death does not erase the difference in outcome.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
This undoes the belief that only the aligned are raised: the unaligned are within resurrection too.
THE ROOT
ἀνάστασις
anastasis
GROWS FROM
ἵστημι (histēmi), with ἀνά- (ana-, up)
To stand or set in place; with “up,” to stand up or rise.
Resurrection carries the image of standing up: the dead are the ones who rise. The word holds the act of rising together even as the verse distinguishes those who rise.
ALSO GROWS
anistēmi: To stand up, rise.
ἀνίστημι
This verb makes the movement inside resurrection visible.
stasis: Standing, stance, position.
στάσις
It shares the idea of standing and helps reveal the concrete image beneath “resurrection.”
δικαίων
dikaiōn
GROWS FROM
δικ- (dik-), the family of δίκη (dikē, right and justice)
Right order, justice, being aligned with what is right.
“the just and unjust” in this verse is dikaiōn. The pair shares the same word family: the aligned and those who are not aligned. Both are included in resurrection, so the distinction concerns their standing, not whether they rise.
ALSO GROWS
dikaios: Just; aligned with what is right.
δίκαιος
This is the singular form behind “the just.”
adikos: Unjust; not aligned with what is right.
ἄδικος
The prefix ἀ- (a-, not) marks the contrast while keeping both groups in the same word family.
dikaiosynē: Justice, righteousness; alignment.
δικαιοσύνη
This related noun shows the same family expressing the condition of being aligned.
προσδέχονται
prosdechontai
GROWS FROM
δέχομαι (dechomai, receive or accept), with πρός (pros, toward)
To receive or accept; with the prefix, to receive, welcome, or await.
The word rendered “allow” carries the sense of receiving or accepting, with an expectant shade. The resurrection is something they receive as hope; shared expectation can coexist with a difference between the aligned and unaligned.
ALSO GROWS
dechomai: To receive, accept, or welcome.
δέχομαι
This is the core action beneath the verse’s “allow.”
apodechomai: To accept or welcome.
ἀποδέχομαι
This related form keeps the sense of receiving at the center.
paradechomai: To accept or receive.
παραδέχομαι
This branch likewise shows acceptance as receiving something.
THE PATTERN
Resurrection reaches both the aligned and the unaligned, while scripture names distinct outcomes for them.
And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.THE THREAD
And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.The Greek noun ἀνάστασις (anastasis, a rising or standing up) appears in both verses. John names two outcomes after the shared rising, showing how Acts can include both groups in resurrection without erasing their difference.
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