Acts 3 26

Acts 3:26 kjv

Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

Acts 3:26 nkjv

To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities."

Acts 3:26 niv

When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways."

Acts 3:26 esv

God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness."

Acts 3:26 nlt

When God raised up his servant, Jesus, he sent him first to you people of Israel, to bless you by turning each of you back from your sinful ways."

Acts 3 verses

Acts 3 26 Meaning

Acts 3:26 declares God's deliberate and purposeful action: having divinely commissioned and resurrected Jesus, His Servant, God sent Him first to the Jewish people. The central aim of this sending was to confer upon them the true blessing, which fundamentally involves each individual turning away from their evil deeds and sins. It highlights both God's redemptive initiative and the essential requirement of repentance for receiving His blessing.

Acts 3 26 Context

This verse is part of Peter's second major sermon recorded in Acts, delivered in Solomon's Portico following the miraculous healing of a lame man (Acts 3:1-10). Having addressed the astonished crowd, Peter directly attributes the miracle to the power of Jesus of Nazareth, whom they had rejected and crucified, but whom God had raised from the dead (Acts 3:12-15). Peter then clarifies that the crowd acted in ignorance (Acts 3:17) and that God fulfilled His prophetic word concerning the suffering of His Messiah (Acts 3:18). He strongly calls them to repentance, urging them to "turn back" (Acts 3:19) so that times of refreshing may come. Acts 3:26, then, serves as a culminating statement on God's ongoing benevolent purpose for Israel, reinforcing that Jesus, the fulfillment of their prophecies (Moses and the prophets in Acts 3:22-24), was sent precisely to bless them by leading them away from their wickedness. It is an offer of grace and an invitation to personal and national repentance, rooted in God's covenant faithfulness to His chosen people.

Acts 3 26 Word analysis

• Unto you first (ὑμῖν πρῶτον - hymin prōton): This phrase emphasizes the initial and primary recipients of God's redemptive action. It signifies divine precedence and God's faithfulness to His covenant people, Israel. While the Gospel is for all nations, its inauguration was specifically directed to the Jews, aligning with ancient promises and Israel's historical role.
• God (ὁ Θεὸς - ho Theos): Refers to the singular, true God of Israel, the sovereign agent orchestrating salvation history. He is the ultimate initiator and empowerer of all redemptive activity.
• having raised up (ἀναστήσας - anastasas): This participle can mean either "raised from the dead" or "raised up/appointed" in the sense of commissioning or sending. In this context, given Acts 3:15 and the emphasis throughout Acts on Jesus' resurrection, it powerfully conveys both. God brought Jesus forth from death and established Him in His unique, authoritative role as Messiah and Savior. This act validates Jesus' claims and authority.
• his Servant (τὸν Παῖδα αὐτοῦ - ton Paida autou): The Greek word pais (παις) means "child," "boy," or "servant." In the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament), "Pais tou Theou" frequently translates the Hebrew "Ebed Yahweh" (Servant of the Lord), particularly from the Suffering Servant passages in Isaiah (e.g., Isa 42:1, 52:13-53:12). This title explicitly connects Jesus to the prophesied Messiah who would accomplish salvation through humility, suffering, and atonement, directly linking Old Testament prophecy to New Testament fulfillment.
• Jesus (Ἰησοῦν - Iēsoun): The human name of the Son of God, highlighting His concrete identity and historical reality. The very name means "Yahweh saves," reflecting His mission.
• sent him (ἀπέστειλεν αὐτὸν - apesteilen auton): Emphasizes divine commissioning and agency. Jesus was not merely a good man; He was God's messenger, specifically appointed and dispatched for a holy purpose. This concept underpins Jesus' authority as the Sent One.
• to bless you (εὐλογοῦντα ὑμᾶς - eulogounta hymas): "To bless" in the biblical sense is not merely a verbal act but signifies God bestowing true good, favor, and spiritual benefits. This echoes the Abrahamic covenant (Gen 12:3) where blessing meant the promise of God's presence, protection, and provision, culminating in spiritual salvation. Here, the blessing is intrinsically linked to salvation from sin.
• in turning away (ἐν τῷ ἀποστρέφειν - en tō apostrephein): This denotes the means by which the blessing is effected. "Turning away" is active and transformative, synonymous with repentance (μετάνοια - metanoia). It signifies a decisive change in direction, a moral and spiritual redirection away from sin and towards God. It is the active participation required for receiving God's saving grace.
• every one of you (ἕκαστον - hekaston): This highlights the personal and individual nature of repentance. While the address is to the collective Jewish people, the call for transformation applies to each person within the community, emphasizing individual accountability and choice.
• from his iniquities (ἀπὸ τῶν πονηριῶν ὑμῶν - apo tōn ponēriōn hymōn): "Iniquities" (poneria) refers to wickedness, malice, evil deeds, or moral depravity. The blessing is fundamentally liberation from the dominion and practice of sin. It's not a superficial change but a deep, ethical transformation that impacts one's character and actions, reflecting true discipleship.

Acts 3 26 Bonus section

• The term "Servant" (Pais) used for Jesus is deeply significant, bridging the Old Testament prophetic tradition with the New Testament revelation of Christ. It evokes humility and suffering, yet also divine commissioning and triumph, providing a comprehensive understanding of Messiah's role that aligns with the Suffering Servant songs of Isaiah (e.g., Isaiah 53). The early church found immense christological depth in this title, highlighting Jesus' willing submission to God's plan even to the point of death.
• Peter's emphasis on "first to you" reflects a strategic pattern in the early church's evangelism, which consistently began with the Jewish synagogues and communities before extending fully to the Gentiles. This respects God's historical covenant with Israel and the divine order of salvation.
• The connection between "blessing" and "turning away from iniquities" is crucial. It directly refutes any notion of a passive or superficial salvation. God's blessing inherently includes moral purity and a life transformed from the practice of evil. This underscores the ethical demands of the Gospel and the reality that true repentance involves an active detachment from sin, aligning with the call to live a life worthy of the Gospel.

Acts 3 26 Commentary

Acts 3:26 powerfully encapsulates the core message of the early apostolic preaching, particularly to the Jewish people. Peter reveals God's continuous and profound commitment to Israel, presenting Jesus not just as their crucified Messiah, but as God's raised and appointed Servant (drawing heavily from Isaiah's prophecies) who embodies the very blessing promised through Abraham. This blessing, however, is not a detached, automatic benefit. It is deeply ethical and spiritual: the radical turning away from sin and wickedness. This verse underscores that the greatest blessing God offers is not material prosperity but deliverance from the power and consequence of sin, accomplished through a personal and transformative repentance facilitated by the Person and work of Jesus Christ. It is a divine invitation to participate in salvation by reorienting one's life towards God, illustrating that true faith necessarily leads to a departure from sinful practices.