Acts 17:31

“Because he hath appointed a day, etc.] The day of judgment is fixed by God in his eternal purposes, and is sure and certain, and will come, though it is not known by men or angels; and this is a reason why God will have the doctrine of repentance everywhere published, both to Jews and Gentiles, since all must come to judgment: and the day for it is appointed by him, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness; the whole world will be judged, and every individual in it, good and bad, righteous and wicked; and this judgment will be a righteous one; it will proceed according to the strict rules of justice and equity, and upon the foot of the righteousness of Christ, as that has been…”

“Because he hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world--Such language beyond doubt teaches that the judgment will, in its essence, be a solemn judicial assize held upon all mankind at once. "Aptly is this uttered on the Areopagus, the seat of judgment" [BENGEL]. by that man whom he hath ordained--compare Joh 5:22-23, Joh 5:27; Act 10:42. whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead--the most patent evidence to mankind at large of the judicial authority with which the Risen One is clothed.”

“Because he hath appointed a day - This is given as a reason why God commands people to repent. They must be judged; and if they are not penitent and pardoned, they must be condemned. See the notes on Romans 2:16. Judge the world - The whole world - Jews and Gentiles. In righteousness - According to the principles of strict justice. Whom he hath ordained - Or whom he has constituted or appointed as judge. See the Acts 10:42 notes; John 5:25 notes. Hath given assurance - Has afforded evidence of this. That evidence consists: (1) In the fact that Jesus declared that he would judge the nations John 5:25-26; Matthew 25:0; and, (2) God confirmed the truth of his declarations by raising him from…”

“He hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world - How fitly does he speak this, in their supreme court of justice? By the man - So he speaks, suiting himself to the capacity of his hearers. Whereof he hath given assurance to all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead - God raising Jesus demonstrated hereby, that he was to be the glorious Judge of all. We are by no means to imagine that this was all which the apostle intended to have said, but the indolence of some of his hearers and the petulancy of others cut him short. Acts 17:32”

“he hath appointed: Act 10:42; Matt. 25:31-46; Joh 5:22, Joh 5:23; Rom 2:5, Rom 2:16, Rom 14:9, Rom 14:10; Co1 4:5; Co2 5:10; Ti2 4:1; Pe2 3:7; Jde 1:14, Jde 1:15 given assurance: or, offered faith in that: Act 17:18, Act 2:23, Act 2:24, Act 2:32, Act 3:15, Act 3:16, Act 4:10, Act 5:30-32, Act 10:39-41, Act 13:30, Act 13:31; Luk 24:46-48; Co1 15:3-8 Acts 17:32”