4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach this message: 1 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
11:20 Then Jesus began to criticize openly the cities 2 in which he had done many of his miracles, because they did not repent.
21:1 Now 15 when they approached Jerusalem 16 and came to Bethphage, 17 at the Mount of Olives, 18 Jesus sent two disciples,
8:1 After he came down from the mountain, large crowds followed him.
42:6 Therefore I despise myself, 19
and I repent in dust and ashes!
18:30 “Therefore I will judge each person according to his conduct, 20 O house of Israel, declares the sovereign Lord. Repent 21 and turn from all your wickedness; then it will not be an obstacle leading to iniquity. 22 18:31 Throw away all your sins you have committed and fashion yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! 23 Why should you die, O house of Israel? 18:32 For I take no delight in the death of anyone, 24 declares the sovereign Lord. Repent and live!
1:4 In the wilderness 27 John the baptizer 28 began preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 29
26:2 “Regarding all the things I have been accused of by the Jews, King Agrippa, 66 I consider myself fortunate that I am about to make my defense before you today,
2:1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you, 73 and for those in Laodicea, and for those who have not met me face to face. 74
6:1 Therefore we must progress beyond 75 the elementary 76 instructions about Christ 77 and move on 78 to maturity, not laying this foundation again: repentance from dead works and faith in God, 6:2 teaching about baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
3:9 “There your fathers tested me and tried me, 79 and they saw my works for forty years.
1 tn Grk “and to say.”
2 tn The Greek word here is πόλις (polis) which can be translated “city” or “town.” “Cities” was chosen here to emphasize the size of the places Jesus’ mentions in the following verses.
3 tn Grk “men”; the word here (ἀνήρ, anhr) usually indicates males or husbands, but occasionally is used in a generic sense of people in general, as here (cf. BDAG 79 s.v. 1.a, 2).
4 tn Grk “at the preaching of Jonah.”
5 tn Grk “behold.”
6 tn Grk “And answering, he said.” This is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation. Here the referent (“the boy”) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
7 tn The Greek text reads here μεταμέλομαι (metamelomai): “to change one’s mind about something, with the probable implication of regret” (L&N 31.59); cf. also BDAG 639 s.v. The idea in this context involves more than just a change of mind, for the son regrets his initial response. The same verb is used in v. 32.
8 tn “And he”; here δέ (de) has not been translated.
9 tn Grk “And answering, he said.” This is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation. Here δέ (de) has not been translated. Here the referent (“this boy”) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
10 tc Verses 29-31 involve a rather complex and difficult textual problem. The variants cluster into three different groups: (1) The first son says “no” and later has a change of heart, and the second son says “yes” but does not go. The second son is called the one who does his father’s will. This reading is found in the Western
11 tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”
12 sn See the note on tax collectors in 5:46.
13 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
14 sn The word translated change your minds is the same verb used in v. 29 (there translated had a change of heart). Jesus is making an obvious comparison here, in which the religious leaders are viewed as the disobedient son.
15 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.
16 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
17 sn The exact location of the village of Bethphage is not known. Most put it on the southeast side of the Mount of Olives and northwest of Bethany, about 1.5 miles (3 km) east of Jerusalem.
18 sn “Mountain” in English generally denotes a higher elevation than it often does in reference to places in Palestine. The Mount of Olives is really a ridge running north to south about 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) long, east of Jerusalem across the Kidron Valley. Its central elevation is about 30 meters (100 ft) higher than Jerusalem. It was named for the large number of olive trees which grew on it.
19 tn Or “despise what I said.” There is no object on the verb; Job could be despising himself or the things he said (see L. J. Kuyper, “Repentance of Job,” VT 9 [1959]: 91-94).
20 tn Heb “ways.”
21 tn The verbs and persons in this verse are plural whereas the individual has been the subject of the chapter.
22 tn Or “leading to punishment.”
23 sn In Ezek 11:19, 36:26 the new heart and new spirit are promised as future blessings.
24 tn Heb “the death of the one dying.”
25 tn Heb “turn from his way.”
26 tn Heb “ways.” This same word is translated “behavior” earlier in the verse.
27 tn Or “desert.”
28 tn While Matthew and Luke consistently use the noun βαπτίστης (baptisths, “[the] Baptist”) to refer to John, as a kind of a title, Mark prefers the substantival participle ὁ βαπτίζων (Jo baptizwn, “the one who baptizes, the baptizer”) to describe him (only twice does he use the noun [Mark 6:25; 8:28]).
29 sn A baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins was a call for preparation for the arrival of the Lord’s salvation. To participate in this baptism was a recognition of the need for God’s forgiveness with a sense that one needed to live differently as a response to it.
30 tn Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
31 sn The kingdom of God is a reference to the sovereign activity of God as he rules over his creation and brings his plans to realization.
32 tn Grk “And.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of previous action(s) in the narrative.
33 sn Jesus was stressing that all stand at risk of death, if they do not repent and receive life.
34 tn Or “you will all likewise perish,” but this could be misunderstood to mean that they would perish by the same means as the Galileans. Jesus’ point is that apart from repentance all will perish.
35 sn Jesus’ point repeats v. 3. The circumstances make no difference. All must deal with the reality of what death means.
36 tn Grk “similarly.”
37 sn There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents. The pursuit of the sinner is a priority in spite of the presence of others who are doing well (see also Luke 5:32; 19:10). The theme of repentance, a major Lukan theme, is again emphasized.
38 tn Here δικαίοις (dikaioi") is an adjective functioning substantivally and has been translated “righteous people.”
39 tn Or “who do not need to repent”; Grk “who do not have need of repentance.”
40 sn The whole of heaven is said to rejoice. Joy in the presence of God’s angels is a way of referring to God’s joy as well without having to name him explicitly. Contemporary Judaism tended to refer to God indirectly where possible out of reverence or respect for the divine name.
41 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
42 tn Grk “he”; the referent (the rich man, v. 19) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
43 sn If someone from the dead goes to them. The irony and joy of the story is that what is denied the rich man’s brothers, a word of warning from beyond the grave, is given to the reader of the Gospel in this exchange.
44 sn This repentance has its roots in declarations of the Old Testament. It is the Hebrew concept of a turning of direction.
45 tn Or “preached,” “announced.”
46 sn To all nations. The same Greek term (τὰ ἔθνη, ta eqnh) may be translated “the Gentiles” or “the nations.” The hope of God in Christ was for all the nations from the beginning.
47 sn Beginning from Jerusalem. See Acts 2, which is where it all starts.
48 tn The verb is a third person imperative, but the common translation “let each of you be baptized” obscures the imperative force in English, since it sounds more like a permissive (“each of you may be baptized”) to the average English reader.
49 tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”
50 tn There is debate over the meaning of εἰς in the prepositional phrase εἰς ἄφεσιν τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ὑμῶν (eis afesin twn Jamartiwn Jumwn, “for/because of/with reference to the forgiveness of your sins”). Although a causal sense has been argued, it is difficult to maintain here. ExSyn 369-71 discusses at least four other ways of dealing with the passage: (1) The baptism referred to here is physical only, and εἰς has the meaning of “for” or “unto.” Such a view suggests that salvation is based on works – an idea that runs counter to the theology of Acts, namely: (a) repentance often precedes baptism (cf. Acts 3:19; 26:20), and (b) salvation is entirely a gift of God, not procured via water baptism (Acts 10:43 [cf. v. 47]; 13:38-39, 48; 15:11; 16:30-31; 20:21; 26:18); (2) The baptism referred to here is spiritual only. Although such a view fits well with the theology of Acts, it does not fit well with the obvious meaning of “baptism” in Acts – especially in this text (cf. 2:41); (3) The text should be repunctuated in light of the shift from second person plural to third person singular back to second person plural again. The idea then would be, “Repent for/with reference to your sins, and let each one of you be baptized…” Such a view is an acceptable way of handling εἰς, but its subtlety and awkwardness count against it; (4) Finally, it is possible that to a first-century Jewish audience (as well as to Peter), the idea of baptism might incorporate both the spiritual reality and the physical symbol. That Peter connects both closely in his thinking is clear from other passages such as Acts 10:47 and 11:15-16. If this interpretation is correct, then Acts 2:38 is saying very little about the specific theological relationship between the symbol and the reality, only that historically they were viewed together. One must look in other places for a theological analysis. For further discussion see R. N. Longenecker, “Acts,” EBC 9:283-85; B. Witherington, Acts, 154-55; F. F. Bruce, The Acts of the Apostles: The Greek Text with Introduction and Commentary, 129-30; BDAG 290 s.v. εἰς 4.f.
51 tn Here the genitive τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος (tou Jagiou pneumato") is a genitive of apposition; the gift consists of the Holy Spirit.
52 tn Grk “these things.”
53 tn Or “became silent,” but this would create an apparent contradiction with the subsequent action of praising God. The point, in context, is that they ceased objecting to what Peter had done.
54 tn Or “glorified.”
55 sn Here the summary phrase for responding to the gospel is the repentance that leads to life. Note how the presence of life is tied to the presence of the Spirit (cf. John 4:7-42; 7:37-39).
56 sn In the Greek text the phrase even to the Gentiles is in an emphatic position.
57 tn Or “has deliberately paid no attention to.”
58 tn Or “times when people did not know.”
59 tn Here ἀνθρώποις (anqrwpoi") has been translated as a generic noun (“people”).
60 sn He now commands all people everywhere to repent. God was now asking all mankind to turn to him. No nation or race was excluded.
61 tn BDAG 233 s.v. διαμαρτύρομαι 1 has “testify of, bear witness to (orig. under oath)…of repentance to Judeans and Hellenes Ac 20:21.”
62 tc Several
63 tn BDAG 1093-94 s.v. χώρα 2.b states, “of the provincial name (1 Macc 8:3) ἡ χώρα τῆς ᾿Ιουδαίας Ac 26:20.”
64 sn That they should repent and turn to God. This is the shortest summary of Paul’s message that he preached.
65 tn BDAG 93 s.v. ἄξιος 1.b, “καρποὶ ἄ. τῆς μετανοίας fruits in keeping with your repentance…Lk 3:8; Mt 3:8. For this ἄ. τῆς μετανοίας ἔργα Ac 26:20.” Note how Paul preached the gospel offer and the issue of response together, side by side.
66 sn See the note on King Agrippa in 25:13.
67 tn The infinitive περιπατῆσαι (peripathsai, “to walk, to live, to live one’s life”) is best taken as an infinitive of purpose related to “praying” (προσευχόμενοι, proseucomenoi) and “asking” (αἰτούμενοι, aitoumenoi) in v. 9 and is thus translated as “that you may live.”
68 tn BDAG 129 s.v. ἀρεσκεία states that ἀρεσκείαν (areskeian) refers to a “desire to please εἰς πᾶσαν ἀ. to please (the Lord) in all respects Col 1:10.”
69 tn Grk “and faithful.” The construction in Greek (as well as Paul’s style) suggests that the saints are identical to the faithful; hence, the καί (kai) is best left untranslated (cf. Eph 1:1). See ExSyn 281-82.
70 tn Grk “brothers,” but the Greek word may be used for “brothers and sisters” or “fellow Christians” as here (cf. BDAG 18 s.v. ἀδελφός 1, where considerable nonbiblical evidence for the plural ἀδελφοί [adelfoi] meaning “brothers and sisters” is cited).
71 tn Or “Grace to you and peace.”
72 tc Most witnesses, including some important ones (א A C F G I [P] 075 Ï it bo), read “and the Lord Jesus Christ” at the end of this verse, no doubt to conform the wording to the typical Pauline salutation. However, excellent and early witnesses (B D K L Ψ 33 81 1175 1505 1739 1881 al sa) lack this phrase. Since the omission is inexplicable as arising from the longer reading (otherwise, these
73 tn Or “I want you to know how hard I am working for you…”
74 tn Grk “as many as have not seen my face in the flesh.”
75 tn Grk “Therefore leaving behind.” The implication is not of abandoning this elementary information, but of building on it.
76 tn Or “basic.”
77 tn Grk “the message of the beginning of Christ.”
78 tn Grk “leaving behind…let us move on.”
79 tn Grk “tested me by trial.”
80 tn Grk “from where,” but status is in view rather than physical position. On this term BDAG 838 s.v. πόθεν 1 states, “from what place? from where?…In imagery μνημόνευε πόθεν πέπτωκες remember from what (state) you have fallen Rv 2:5.”
81 tn Grk “and do” (a continuation of the previous sentence in the Greek text). For stylistic reasons in English a new sentence was started here in the translation. The repeated mention of repenting at the end of the verse suggests that the intervening material (“do the deeds you did at first”) specifies how the repentance is to be demonstrated.
82 tn Or “you did formerly.”
83 tn Although the final clause is somewhat awkward, it is typical of the style of Revelation.
84 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and contemporary English style.
85 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to bring out the contrast present in this woman’s obstinate refusal to repent.