The Refreshment of Repentance

Day 156: Acts 3:1-26

“Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago." - Acts 3:19-21 ESV

In Acts 2, we saw God perform a miracle with tongues of fire, enabling the disciples to speak in other languages. That sign opened up the opportunity for Peter to share a message that inaugurated the Church as we know it today.

In today's reading, we see another miraculous event that paves the way for a second sermon from Peter. A man who was “lame from birth” was given the instantaneous ability to walk and leap, which resulted in praise. Luke records that the crowd is utterly “astounded" and soon surrounds Peter, John, and this newly restored man. This was another moment where Peter could have shared anything, and again he doubles down on this idea of repentance.

These people didn't need to be entertained or impressed. They, instead, needed a change.

The Greek word for repent is μετανοέω metanoeō and is used 34 times in the New Testament. Louw and Nida's definition of the word is on point: "to change one’s way of life as the result of a complete change of thought and attitude with regard to sin and righteousness."

They needed a reset from what they had been thinking and living. I don't know about you, but this is something that I need every day. May we beg God each day for a greater desire for minds and lives that honor and glorify Him.

"The meaning of repent (2:38) is clarified by the addition of turn again (RSV) or rather ‘turn to (sc. God)’ (so other modern versions). This verb signifies the act of turning away from one’s former way of life, especially from the worship of idols, to a new way of life, based on faith and obedience to God (cf. Isa. 6:10; Joel 2:12–14). The immediate result will be the ‘blotting out of their sins’; the list of accusations against them will be obliterated (cf. Col. 2:14), which is another way of saying that their sins are forgiven (2:38)." - Marshall, I. H. (1980). Acts: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 5, p. 99)