Acts 3 19

Acts 3:19 kjv

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

Acts 3:19 nkjv

Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

Acts 3:19 niv

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,

Acts 3:19 esv

Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,

Acts 3:19 nlt

Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.

Acts 3 verses

Acts 3 19 Meaning

Acts 3:19 is a direct summons to spiritual transformation. It urges individuals to change their way of thinking (repentance) and to actively turn back towards God (conversion). The promised result of this twofold action is the complete cancellation and removal of their sins. Furthermore, it announces that this repentance will usher in and prepare them for a future period of spiritual renewal, relief, and restoration, which directly flows from the presence and sovereign plan of the Lord God.

Acts 3 19 Context

This verse is part of Peter's second sermon, delivered to a large Jewish crowd at the Temple's Beautiful Gate, immediately after he and John had miraculously healed a man who had been lame from birth. The awe-struck crowd had gathered around them. Peter seizes this moment to address the people of Israel directly, first explaining that the healing was by the power of Jesus Christ, whom they had crucified but God had raised. He acknowledges that they acted in ignorance (Acts 3:17) but then forcefully declares their responsibility for rejecting the Messiah, the Holy and Just One. Verse 19, therefore, is an urgent evangelistic appeal, offering a path to reconciliation and the promise of future blessings, connecting their repentance directly to God's continued redemptive plan for Israel and the world, centered on the return of Jesus Christ.

Acts 3 19 Word analysis

• Repent ye (Μετανοέω, metanoeō): This is a call to a change of mind, a fundamental shift in one's inner disposition. It's more than just sorrow for sin (which is lypē); it's an acknowledgment of one's wrong path and a decision to turn away from it. It implies a recognition of who Jesus is (the Messiah, as Peter just preached) and an acceptance of His authority.
• therefore: This connecting word ties the call to repentance directly to the preceding message. Because they crucified the Messiah in ignorance, yet He has been glorified by God, their response is logically and urgently a turnabout.
• and be converted (Ἐπιστρέφω, epistrephō): While metanoeō (repent) focuses on the internal change of mind, epistrephō (convert/turn) describes the active, external expression and consequence of that change. It is turning from sin and dead works to God. This conversion is a positive, deliberate action of aligning one's life with God's will. For the Jewish audience, it meant turning from their national rejection of Jesus to embracing Him as their long-awaited Messiah.
• that (ὅπως, hopōs): This conjunction indicates purpose or result. The blotting out of sins is the direct intended outcome or consequence of genuine repentance and conversion.
• your sins (ὑμῶν τὰς ἁμαρτίας, hymōn tas hamartias): Refers to their personal transgressions and, in this specific context, their collective national sin of rejecting and crucifying Jesus Christ.
• may be blotted out (ἐξαλειφθῆναι, exaleiphō): The verb exaleiphō literally means to wipe clean, wipe out, or erase. In ancient times, this might refer to wiping away ink from a parchment or chalk from a tablet, signifying a complete removal without trace, or cancelling a debt recorded. This paints a vivid picture of the total removal of guilt and the record of wrongdoing by God.
• when (ὅπως ἂν ἔλθωσιν, hopōs an elthōsin): The exact timing mechanism of "when" ties the receipt of the "times of refreshing" directly to their act of repentance.
• the times of refreshing (καιροὶ ἀναψύξεως, kairoi anapsyxeos):
  • Times (καιροί, kairoi): Denotes opportune, appointed, or significant periods, not merely chronological seconds (chronoi).
  • Refreshing (ἀνάψυξις, anapsyxis): Means a cooling, recovery, or revival. It suggests relief from heat or oppression, a breathing space, spiritual rest, and renewal. This points to a Messianic era of peace and blessedness, both for individuals spiritually and, prophetically, for Israel nationally. It signifies a profound divine blessing that would mark the inaugurated Messianic Age.
• shall come (ἔλθωσιν, elthōsin): Denotes an active arrival or inauguration of these "times."
• from the presence of the Lord (ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ Κυρίου, apo prosōpou tou Kyriou): This emphasizes that the "times of refreshing" originate directly from God Himself. It underscores God's sovereignty and active involvement in initiating this period of blessedness. It is His restorative action, initiated and granted by Him.

Acts 3 19 Bonus section

• The connection between "times of refreshing" and "times of restitution of all things" (Acts 3:21) is critical. Peter implies that the repentance of Israel could hasten or certainly participate in the glorious consummation of God's redemptive plan for all creation.
• This verse underscores the conditional nature of divine promises – salvation and spiritual benefits are offered to those who respond with faith and obedience, particularly repentance and turning to God.
• Peter's appeal also represents an ongoing invitation to the nation of Israel for reconciliation and restoration through Christ, fulfilling the Old Testament prophetic anticipation of Israel's repentance preceding her full blessing and global witness.
• The "presence of the Lord" from which these refreshing times come highlights the direct, personal source of this blessing – it's not a mere spiritual phenomenon but a gift directly from the God of the universe.

Acts 3 19 Commentary

Acts 3:19 stands as a pivotal verse, encapsulating the core message of the Gospel. Peter, filled with the Spirit, calls the Jewish people to an immediate and radical spiritual turning. Repentance is not a superficial sorrow but a profound intellectual and moral realignment, leading to a changed life. This leads to conversion, a deliberate act of turning away from sin and self and actively embracing God through Jesus Christ. The incredible promise attached is the complete obliteration of their sins, a divine act of wiping the slate clean, signifying full forgiveness.

Crucially, this forgiveness and turning of heart open the door to "times of refreshing." This phrase is pregnant with Messianic significance. While it offers immediate spiritual renewal and solace in the believer's life, in its primary context, it points forward to the glorious return of Jesus Christ (implied by the subsequent mention of "times of restitution of all things" in verse 21). This refreshing refers to the anticipated era of peace, joy, and restoration under Messiah's rule, a period of global relief from suffering, marked by divine blessings and the fullness of God's Spirit. Peter thus presents a profound choice to the Jews: embrace their rejected Messiah through repentance and conversion, and participate in the ushering in of the prophesied kingdom blessings originating directly from God's presence.