Acts 8:22

8:22 Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord ¹  that he may perhaps forgive you for the intent of your heart. ² 

Acts 11:18

11:18 When they heard this, ³  they ceased their objections ⁴  and praised ⁵  God, saying, “So then, God has granted the repentance ⁶  that leads to life even to the Gentiles.” ⁷ 

Acts 17:27

17:27 so that they would search for God and perhaps grope around ⁸  for him and find him, ⁹  though he is ¹⁰  not far from each one of us.

[8:22]  ¹ tn Or “and implore the Lord.”

[8:22]  ² tn Grk “that if possible the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.” The passive construction is somewhat awkward in contemporary English and has thus been converted to an active construction in the translation.

[11:18]  ³ tn Grk “these things.”

[11:18]  ⁴ 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.

[11:18]  ⁵ tn Or “glorified.”

[11:18]  ⁶ 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).

[11:18]  ⁷ sn In the Greek text the phrase even to the Gentiles is in an emphatic position.

[17:27]  ⁵ tn See BDAG 1097-98 s.v. ψηλαφάω, which lists “touch, handle” and “to feel around for, grope for” as possible meanings.

[17:27]  ⁶ sn Perhaps grope around for him and find him. The pagans’ struggle to know God is the point here. Conscience alone is not good enough.

[17:27]  ⁷ tn The participle ὑπάρχοντα (Juparconta) has been translated as a concessive adverbial participle.