Acts 3:20-21 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 3:12-26

We have here the sermon which Peter preached after he had cured the lame man. When Peter saw it. 1. When he saw the people got together in a crowd, he took that opportunity to preach Christ to them, especially the temple being the place of their concourse, and Solomon's porch there: let them come and hear a more excellent wisdom than Solomon?s, for, behold, a greater than Solomon is here preached. 2. When he saw the people affected with the miracle, and filed with admiration, then he sowed the... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 3:17-26

3:17-26 "Now, brothers, I know that it was through ignorance that you did it, just as your rulers did. But God has thus fulfilled those things which he foretold by the mouths of all the prophets that his anointed one should suffer. Repent, then, and turn so that your sins may be wiped out, so that times of refreshing may come to you from God, and so that he may send Jesus Christ who has already been preached to you. It is necessary that heaven should receive him until the times when all... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 3:20

And he shall send Jesus Christ ,.... Or "that he may send Jesus Christ", as the Syriac and Arabic versions render it: not in person, for this regards neither his first, nor his second coming, both which might be terrible to the awakened Jews; the former, because he had been sent, and was come, and was gone again; and therefore might fear there was no hope for them, who had denied him, and crucified him; the latter, because they might conclude he would be sent, and come to take vengeance on... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 3:21

Whom the heaven must receive ,.... Hold and retain in his human nature; and which does not at all hinder or confront his mission, and coming to his people, in the mean while, in a spiritual way and manner, to their joy and comfort: or, "who must receive heaven"; the kingdom, and glory, and reign there: until the times of the restitution of all things : not of all created beings to their original estate, which there is no reason to believe ever will be; or of the churches of Christ to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 3:20

Which before was preached unto you - Instead of προκεκηρυγμενον , before preached, ABCDE, fifty-three others, both the Syriac, all the Arabic, the Armenian, Chrysostom, and others, have προκεχειρισμενον , who was before designed, or appointed; and this is without doubt the true reading. Christ crucified was the person whom God had from the beginning appointed or designed for the Jewish people. It was not a triumphant Messiah which they were to expect; but one who was to suffer and die.... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 3:21

Whom 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 αποκαταστασις , from απο which signifies from, and καθιστανειν , to establish or settle any thing, viz. in a good state; and, when απο is added to it, then this... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 3:20

Verse 20 20.That when If we follow Erasmus and the old interpreter, this sentence shall be unperfect, (185) which may be made perfect, thus: When the time of refreshing shall come, you may also enjoy this refreshing; when Christ shall come to judge the world, you may find him a redeemer and not a Judge. But because Beza doth fitly translate it, After that they shall come, it is better to retain that which is not so racked; (186) so you resolve it thus: That sins are so forgiven against the day... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 3:21

Verse 21 21.Whom the heaven must contain. Because men’s senses are always bent and inclined towards the gross and earthly beholding of God and Christ, the Jews might think with themselves that Christ was preached, indeed, to be raised up from the dead, yet could they not tell where he was; for no man did show them where he was. Therefore Peter preventeth them, when he saith that he is in heaven. Whereupon it followeth that they must lift up their minds on high, to the end they may seek Christ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 3:11-21

The human and the Divine. Human and Divine elements are here crowded together, as indeed they are in most if not all of the events of our life. We look at— I. THE HUMAN ELEMENT , 1. Excitement. The man who had been lame, in the excitement of joy and gratitude, "held Peter and John" (verse 11), and "all the people ran together … greatly wondering" (verse 11). In the region of the Divine is calmness, serenity, peace; in that of the human is agitation, disturbance, excitement.... read more