Acts 20 · Verse 21

Acts 20:21

Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 20:21, King James Version

Acts 20:21 in other translations

BSBtestifying to Jews and Greeks alike about repentance to God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
WEBtestifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus.
ASVtestifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
YLTtestifying fully both to Jews and Greeks, toward God reformation, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
DARBYtestifying to both Jews and Greeks repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ.
BBEPreaching to Jews and to Greeks the need for a turning of the heart to God, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
WebsterTestifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ.

What does Acts 20:21 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
21. Testifying both to Jews and ... Greeks--laboring under a common malady, and recoverable only by a common treatment. repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ--(See on Ac 5:31). Repentance, as distinguished from faith, is that state of the "honest and good heart" which arises from a discovery of one's contrariety to the righteous demands of the divine law. This is said to be "toward God," because seeing Him to be the party dishonored by sin, it feels all its acknowledgments and compunctions to be properly due to Him, as the great Lawgiver, and directs them to Him accordingly; condemning, humbling itself, and grieving before Him, looking also to Him as its only Hope of deliverance. Faith is said to be "toward our Lord Jesus Christ," because in that frame of mind just described it eagerly credits the testimony of relief divinely provided in Christ, gladly embraces the overtures of reconciliation in Him, and directs all its expectations of salvation, from its first stage to its last, to Him as the one appointed Medium of all grace from God to a sinful world. Thus we have here a brief summary of all Gospel preaching. And it is easy to see why repentance is here put before faith; for the former must of necessity precede the latter. There is a repentance subsequent to faith, the fruit of felt pardon and restoration. It was this which drew the tears with which the Saviour's feet were once so copiously moistened. (Lu 7:37, 38, 47; and compare Eze 16:63). But that is not the light in which it is here presented.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 21. Testifying. Bearing witness to the necessity of repentance towards God. Or teaching them the nature of repentance, etc., and exhorting them to repent and believe. Perhaps the word testifying includes both ideas of giving evidence, and of urging with great earnestness and affection that repentance and faith were necessary. See 1Timm 5:21; 2Ti 2:14; where the word here used, and here translated testify, is there translated correctly charge, in the sense of strongly urging, or entreating with great earnestness.

Also to the Greeks. To all who were not Jews. The Greeks, properly, denoted those who lived in Greece% and who spoke the Greek language. But the phrase "Jews and Greeks," among the Hebrews, denoted the whole human race. He urged the necessity of repentance and faith in all. Religion makes no distinction, but regards all as sinners, and as needing salvation by the blood of the Redeemer.

Repentance toward God. Mt 3:2. Repentance is to be exercised "toward God," because

(1.) sin has been committed against him, and it is proper that we express our sorrow to the Being whom we have offended; and,

(2.) because God only can pardon. Sincere repentance exists only where there is a willingness to make acknowledgment to the very being whom we have offended or injured.

And faith. Mk 16:6.

Toward. εις. In regard to; in; confidence in the work and merits of the Lord Jesus. This is required, because there is no other one who can save from sin. Acts 4:12.

(d) "repentance toward God" Mk 1:15

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 21 Testify both to - Jews and - Greeks - He always began with the Jews; and, in this case, he had preached to them alone for three months, Act 19:8-10, and only left their synagogues when he found, through their obstinacy, he could do them no good. Repentance toward God, etc. - As all had sinned against God, so all should humble themselves before him against whom they have sinned; but humiliation is no atonement for sin; therefore repentance is insufficient, unless faith in our Lord Jesus Christ accompany it. Repentance disposes and prepares the soul for pardoning mercy; but can never be considered as making compensation for past acts of transgression. This repentance and faith were necessary to the salvation both of Jews and Gentiles; for all had sinned, and come short of God's glory. The Jews must repent, who had sinned so much, and so long, against light and knowledge. The Gentiles must repent, whose scandalous lives were a reproach to man. Faith in Jesus Christ was also indispensably necessary; for a Jew might repent, be sorry for his sin, and suppose that, by a proper discharge of his religious duty, and bringing proper sacrifices, he could conciliate the favor of God: No, this will not do; nothing but faith in Jesus Christ, as the end of the law, and the great and only vicarious sacrifice, will do; hence he testified to them the necessity of faith in this Messiah. The Gentiles might repent of their profligate lives, turn to the true God, and renounce all idolatry: this is well, but it is not sufficient: they also have sinned, and their present amendment and faith can make no atonement for what is past; therefore, they also must believe on the Lord Jesus, who died for their sins, and rose again for their justification.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 20:17-27

The elders knew that Paul was no designing, self-seeking man. Those who would in any office serve the Lord acceptably, and profitably to others, must do it with humility. He was a plain preacher, one that spoke his message so as to be understood. He was a powerful preacher; he preached the gospel as a testimony to them if they received it; but as a testimony against them if they rejected it. He was a profitable…

Read the full comment on Acts 20:17-27 →

Acts 20:21 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

διαμαρτυρόμενοςdiamarturomenosearnestly testifyingG1263
ἸουδαίοιςIoudaioisto JewsG2453
τεtebothG5037
καὶkaiandG2532
ἝλλησινHellēsinto GreeksG1672
τὴνtēn<the>G3588
εἰςeisinG1519
θεὸνtheonGodG2316
μετάνοιανmetanoianrepentanceG3341
καὶkaiandG2532
πίστινpistinfaithG4102
εἰςeisinG1519
τὸνtontheG3588
κύριονkurionLordG2962
ἡμῶνhēmōnof usG3165
ἸησοῦνIēsounJesusG2424
Χριστόν.¶ChristonChrist.G5547

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 20:21

  • Acts 2:38

    Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

  • 1 John 5:11-13

    And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

  • Acts 11:18

    When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

  • Luke 13:3

    I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

  • Luke 24:47

    And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

  • 2 Timothy 2:25-26

    In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

  • 2 Corinthians 7:10

    For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

  • Acts 20:24

    But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

  • Romans 10:9

    That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

  • Acts 26:18

    To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

  • 1 John 5:5

    Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

  • Acts 26:20

    But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Testifying.
24; 2:40; 8:25; 18:5; 28:23; 1Jo 5:11-13
to the Jews.
18:4; 19:17; Ro 1:14; 1Co 1:22
repentance.
2:38; 3:19; 11:18; 17:30; 26:20; Eze 18:30-32; Mt 3:2; 4:17; 21:31,32
Mr 1:15; 6:12; Lu 13:3,5; 15:7,10; 24:47; Ro 2:4; 2Co 7:10
2Ti 2:25,26
faith.
10:43; 13:38,39; 16:31; Joh 3:15-18,36; 20:31; Ro 1:16; 3:22-26; 4:24
Ro 5:1; 10:9; Ga 2:16,20; 3:22; 1Jo 5:1,5,11-13

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 20:20

    And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,

  • Acts 20:21

    Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

  • Acts 20:22

    And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:

Read all of Acts 20

Acts 20:21 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Testificando á los Judíos y á los Gentiles arrepentimiento para con Dios, y la fe en nuestro Señor Jesucristo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		insistant et auprès des Juifs et auprès des Grecs sur la repentance envers Dieu et la foi en notre seigneur Jésus Christ.
German
Elberfelder 1871		indem ich sowohl Juden als Griechen bezeugte die Buße zu Gott und den Glauben an unseren Herrn Jesus Christus.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		testificans Judæis atque gentilibus in Deum pœnitentiam, et fidem in Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum.