Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 3:21
Whom 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 it was “fit” or “proper” δεῖ dei that he... read more
The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 3:21
Restoration for restitution, A.V.; whereof for which, A.V.; spake for hath spoken, A.V.; his for all his, A.V. and T.R. Whom the heaven must receive . This is clearly right, not as some render it, who must occupy heaven. The aorist δέξασθαι seems to point to the moment when, at the Ascension, he was carried up into heaven ( Luke 24:51 ). The restoration of all things ( ἀποκαταστάσεως πάντων ). This must be the same operation as our Lord speaks of in Matthew... read more