Acts 8:22
Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
Acts 8:22 in other translations
| BSB | Repent, therefore, of your wickedness, and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for the intent of your heart. |
|---|---|
| WEB | Repent therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. |
| ASV | Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perhaps the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee. |
| YLT | reform, therefore, from this thy wickedness, and beseech God, if then the purpose of thy heart may be forgiven thee, |
| DARBY | Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and supplicate the Lord, if indeed the thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee; |
| BBE | Let your heart be changed, and make prayer to God that you may have forgiveness for your evil thoughts. |
| Webster | Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee. |
What does Acts 8:22 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 8:18-24
18-24. offered them money--Hence the term simony, to denote trafficking in sacred things, but chiefly the purchase of ecclesiastical offices.
Barnes' Notes
(1.) that Simon was at this time an unconverted sinner.
(2.) That the command was given to him as such.
(3.) That he was required to do the thing; not to wait or seek merely, but actually to repent.
(4.) That this was to be the first step in his conversion. He was not even directed to pray first; but his first indispensable work was to repent, that is, to exercise proper sorrow for this sin, and to abandon his plan or principle of action. And this shows,
(1.) that all sinners are to be exhorted to repent, as their first work. They are not to be told to wait, and read, and pray, in the expectation that repentance will be given them. With such helps they can obtain, they are to do the thing.
(2.) Prayer will not be acceptable, or heard, unless the sinner comes repenting, that is, unless he regrets his sin, and desires to forsake it. Then, and then only, will he be heard. When he comes loving his sins, and resolving still to practise them, God will not hear him. When he comes desirous of forsaking them, grieved that he is guilty, and feeling his need of help, God will hear his prayer. See Isa 1:15, Mic 3:4, Prov 1:28, Ps 66:18.
And pray God. Having a desire to forsake the sin, and to be pardoned, then pray to God to forgive. It would be absurd to ask forgiveness until a man felt his need of it. This shows that a sinner ought to pray, and how he ought to do it. It should be with a desire and purpose to forsake sin, and in that state of mind God will hear the prayer. Comp. Dan 4:27.
If perhaps. There was no certainty that God would forgive him; nor is there any evidence either that Simon prayed, or that he was forgiven. This direction of Peter presents another important principle in regard to the conduct of sinners. They are to be directed to repent, not because they have the promise of forgiveness, and not because they hope to be forgiven, but because sin is a great evil, and because it is right and proper that they should repent, whether they are forgiven or not. That is to be left to the sovereign mercy of God. They are to repent of sin; and then they are to feel, not that they have any claim on God, but that they are dependent on him, and must be saved or lost at his will. They are not to suppose that their tears will purchase forgiveness, but that they lie at the foot of mercy, and that there is hope--not certainty--that God will forgive. The language of the humbled sinner is--
"Perhaps he will admit my plea,The thought, etc. Your purpose, or wish. Thoughts may be, therefore, evil, and need forgiveness. It is not open sin only that needs to be pardoned; it is the secret purpose of the soul.
Perhaps will hear my prayer;
But if I perish I will pray,
And perish only there.
"I can but perish if I go;
I am resolved to try,
For if I stay away, I know
I shall for ever die."
(i) "if perhaps" Dan 4:27, 2Ti 2:25
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 8:14-25
The Holy Ghost was as yet fallen upon none of these coverts, in the extraordinary powers conveyed by the descent of the Spirit upon the day of Pentecost. We may take encouragement from this example, in praying to God to give the renewing graces of the Holy Ghost to all for whose spiritual welfare we are concerned; for that includes all blessings. No man can give the Holy Spirit by the laying on of his hands; but we…
Acts 8:22 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.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Acts 8:22
- 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.
- Daniel 4:27
Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
- Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
- Acts 9:11
And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
- Luke 11:9-13
And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? …
- Romans 2:4
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
- Matthew 7:7-8
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
- Acts 17:30
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
- Acts 3:19
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
- Isaiah 55:6-7
Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
- Revelation 2:21
And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
- Deuteronomy 4:29-30
But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the Lord thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2:38; 3:19; 17:30; Ro 2:4; 2Ti 2:25,26; Re 2:21
pray.
9:11; De 4:29,30; 1Ki 8:47,48; 2Ch 33:12,13; Isa 55:6,7; Am 5:6
Mt 7:7,8; Lu 11:9-13; Re 3:17,18
if.
Da 4:27; Joe 2:13,14; Am 5:15; Jon 1:6; 3:9; 2Ti 2:25
the thought.
20; Heb 4:12
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- Acts 8:21
Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
- Acts 8:22
Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
- Acts 8:23
For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
Acts 8:22 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Arrepiéntete pues de esta tu maldad, y ruega á Dios, si quizás te será perdonado el pensamiento de tu corazón. |
|---|---|
| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Repens-toi donc de cette méchanceté, et supplie le Seigneur, afin que, si faire se peut, la pensée de ton cœur te soit pardonnée; |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Tue nun Buße über diese deine Bosheit und bitte den Herrn, ob dir etwa der Anschlag deines Herzens vergeben werde; |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Pœnitentiam itaque age ab hac nequitia tua: et roga Deum, si forte remittatur tibi hæc cogitatio cordis tui. |