English Standard Version
Acts 3:21
21whom 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 3:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
- New International Version (NIV)Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.
- New King James Version (NKJV)whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.
- New Living Translation (NLT)For he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets.
Context of Acts 3:21
19Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20that 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. 22Moses said, 'The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. 23And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.'
Read all of Acts 3Acts 3:21 word by word
ὃν δεῖ οὐρανὸν μὲν δέξασθαι ἄχρι χρόνων ἀποκαταστάσεως πάντων ὧν ἐλάλησεν ὁ θεὸς διὰ στόματος τῶν ἁγίων ἀπ᾽ αἰῶνος αὐτοῦ προφητῶν.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Whomὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- the heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772
- mustδεῖdei · be necessaryG1163
- ·μένmen · on the other handG3303
- receiveδέχομαιdechomai · to receiveG1209
- untilἄχριachri achris · untilG891
- the timesχρόνοςchronos · timeG5550
- of restitutionἀποκατάστασιςapokatastasis · restorationG605
- of all thingsπᾶςpas · allG3956
- Godὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- hath spokenλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
- byδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
- the mouthστόμαstoma · mouthG4750
- hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- holyἅγιοςhagios · holyG40
- prophetsπροφήτηςprophētēs · prophetG4396
- sinceἀπόapo · away fromG575
- the world beganαἰώνaiōn · an age: eternityG165
Cross-references for Acts 3:21
- Acts 1:11and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
- Acts 3:19Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,
- Isaiah 1:26And I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city."
- Malachi 3:3He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord.
- Malachi 4:5"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.
- Matthew 17:11He answered, "Elijah does come, and he will restore all things.
- Mark 9:11And they asked him, "Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?"
- Acts 10:43To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
- Luke 1:70as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
- 2 Peter 1:21For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
- 2 Peter 3:2that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles,
- Revelation 18:20Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, for God has given judgment for you against her!"
- Revelation 22:6And he said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place."
Commentaries on Acts 3:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Whom the heaven must receive - He has already appeared upon earth, and accomplished the end of his appearing; he has ascended unto heaven, to administer the concerns of his kingdom, and there he shall continue till he comes again to judge the quick and the dead. The times of restitution of all things - The word , from which signifies from, and , to establish or settle any thing, viz. in a good state; and, when is added to it, then this preposition implies…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21Whom the heavens must receive - The common belief of the Jews was, that the Messiah would reign on the earth forever, John 12:34. On this account they would object that Jesus could not be the Messiah, and hence, it became so important for the apostles to establish the fact that he had ascended to heaven. The evidence which they adduced was the fact that they saw him ascend, Acts 1:9. The meaning of the expression “whom the heavens must receive,” is that…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19-21Verses 19-21 The absolute necessity of repentance is to be solemnly charged upon the consciences of all who desire that their sins may be blotted out, and that they may share in the refreshment which nothing but a sense of Christ's pardoning love can afford. Blessed are those who have felt this. It was not needful for the Holy Spirit to make known the times and seasons of these dispensations. These subjects are still left obscure. But when sinners are…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19-21The message of the good news about Jesus (the gospel) brings comfort (see Matthew 11:28–29). The second coming of Jesus will bring times of refreshing from God. He will send Jesus to his people again.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 17-2117-21. And now, brethren--Our preacher, like his Master, "will not break the bruised reed." His heaviest charges are prompted by love, which now hastens to assuage the wounds it was necessary to inflict. I wot--"know." through ignorance ye did it--(See marginal references, Lu 23:34; Ac 13:27; 26:9).Read the comment
Topics related to Acts 3:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Acts 3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries