Acts 20:21

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

Testifying {G1263} both {G5037} to the Jews {G2453}, and also {G2532} to the Greeks {G1672}, repentance {G3341} toward {G1519} God {G2316}, and {G2532} faith {G4102} toward {G1519} our {G2257} Lord {G2962} Jesus {G2424} Christ {G5547}.

Complete Jewish Bible

declaring with utmost seriousness the same message to Jews and Greeks alike: turn from sin to God; and put your trust in our Lord, Yeshua the Messiah.

Berean Standard Bible

testifying to Jews and Greeks alike about repentance to God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

American Standard Version

testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Acts 20:21 encapsulates the essence of Paul's apostolic ministry, delivered during his poignant farewell to the Ephesian elders. It distills the universal message he proclaimed tirelessly: a call for all people, both Jews and Gentiles, to embrace a transformative repentance directed toward God and a saving faith centered on the Lord Jesus Christ. This verse serves as a concise summary of the unchanging requirements for salvation and a right relationship with the Divine.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Paul's address in [Acts 20](/acts/20 "Acts 20 - Paul's Farewell to the Ephesian Elders") is a deeply personal and prophetic farewell to the Ephesian elders, whom he had ministered to for three years. Delivered at Miletus, this speech ([Acts 20:17-35](/acts/20-17-35 "Acts 20:17-35 - Paul's Farewell Address")) serves as a poignant valedictory, as Paul senses that imprisonment and suffering await him in Jerusalem. He reviews his blameless conduct and unwavering commitment to the Gospel, reminding them of his tireless labor and the purity of his motives. Verse 21, therefore, stands as a concise summary of the consistent content of his preaching throughout his ministry, particularly among these very elders and their congregations.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The first-century Roman world was a melting pot of cultures, with a significant distinction between Jews and Gentiles (Greeks being the predominant Gentile group encountered by Paul). Jews, rooted in monotheism and the Mosaic Law, needed to recognize Jesus as their long-awaited Messiah. Greeks, steeped in polytheism, philosophical traditions, and often immoral practices, needed to turn from idolatry to the one true God. Paul's ministry was revolutionary in its insistence that the Gospel transcended these deep-seated ethnic and religious divides, offering salvation equally to both groups, thereby fulfilling prophecies of a universal covenant.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully encapsulates several overarching themes central to the book of Acts and Paul's theology. Firstly, it highlights the **Universal Scope of the Gospel**, demonstrating that salvation is offered equally to "both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks," breaking down the ancient barrier between them (cf. [Ephesians 2:14-16](/ephesians/2-14-16 "Ephesians 2:14-16 - Christ Our Peace")). Secondly, it articulates the **Two Pillars of Conversion**: "repentance toward God" and "faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." This dual requirement underscores that true conversion involves both a turning *from* sin and self-reliance and a turning *to* God through active trust in Christ. This aligns with Paul's consistent message that salvation is by grace through faith ([Ephesians 2:8-9](/ephesians/2-8-9 "Ephesians 2:8-9 - Salvation by Grace Through Faith")), which necessarily includes a turning away from former ways ([Acts 3:19](/acts/3-19 "Acts 3:19 - Repent and Be Converted")). Finally, it exemplifies Paul's unwavering **Apostolic Fidelity** to his commission to preach this complete message without partiality, regardless of the personal cost ([Acts 20:24](/acts/20-24 "Acts 20:24 - Paul's Determination")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Testifying (Greek, _diamartýromai'_):** From *dia* (through) and *martyreō* (to bear witness), this verb signifies to attest or protest earnestly, or (by implication) hortatively. It conveys a sense of solemn, urgent, and thorough declaration, indicating Paul's profound conviction and the critical importance of the message he delivered. It wasn't just a casual statement but a forceful, persistent proclamation of truth.
* **Repentance (Greek, _metánoia'_):** Derived from *meta* (after) and *noeo* (to perceive, to think), this term literally means "a change of mind" or "a change of purpose." It implies compunction for guilt and a subsequent reformation, representing a decisive reversal of one's previous direction and a turning away from sin toward God. It is not merely sorrow, but a fundamental reorientation of one's life and will.
* **Faith (Greek, _pístis'_):** This word denotes persuasion, credence, and moral conviction, especially reliance upon Christ for salvation. It encompasses not just intellectual assent to religious truth but also active trust, personal reliance, and steadfast constancy in that profession. It implies a complete surrender to and dependence upon the object of faith, in this case, the Lord Jesus Christ.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks":** This opening phrase immediately establishes the universal scope of Paul's ministry. "Testifying" (diamartýromai) indicates a solemn, earnest, and thorough declaration. By explicitly naming "Jews" (Ioudaîos) and "Greeks" (Héllēn, referring to Gentiles generally), Paul underscores that his message was indiscriminately offered to all humanity, transcending ethnic and cultural boundaries. This reflects the core of the Great Commission, which calls for the Gospel to be preached to all nations.
* **"repentance toward God":** This is the first of two essential requirements for salvation. "Repentance" (metánoia) signifies a fundamental change of mind, purpose, and direction—a turning away from sin, self-reliance, and idolatry, and a turning *toward* the one true God (theós). For Jews, this meant acknowledging their rejection of the Messiah; for Gentiles, it meant abandoning their pagan gods and practices to embrace the living God.
* **"and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ":** This is the second indispensable component. "Faith" (pístis) here is not mere intellectual assent but active trust, reliance, and commitment. It is directed *toward* (eis) "our Lord Jesus Christ" (kýrios Iēsoûs Christós), signifying a personal and salvific reliance on Jesus as the supreme Master, the anointed Messiah, and the Son of God. This faith involves believing in His person, His atoning work on the cross, and His resurrection as the sole means of reconciliation with God and eternal life.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs striking **Parallelism** by juxtaposing "Jews" and "Greeks," and "repentance toward God" and "faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." This structure emphasizes the universal reach of the Gospel and the dual, inseparable nature of the conversion experience. The **Conciseness** of the verse is also noteworthy; in just a few words, Paul distills the entire essence of his evangelistic message, demonstrating his mastery of communication and the clarity of the Gospel. Furthermore, the explicit mention of "Jews" and "Greeks" highlights the theme of **Inclusivity**, breaking down the traditional barriers and underscoring that God's salvation is for all humanity, without partiality.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Acts 20:21 stands as a theological bedrock, articulating the unchanging requirements for a right relationship with God, applicable throughout redemptive history. It underscores God's sovereignty in calling all humanity to Himself, recognizing the universal human condition of sin and the need for divine intervention. The dual emphasis on repentance and faith reveals God's gracious provision for salvation: repentance acknowledges human culpability and turns from sin, while faith embraces God's solution in Christ. This divine pattern of salvation, initiated by God's call and responded to by human turning and trust, is consistent across both Old and New Testaments, albeit fully revealed in Christ.

* [Mark 1:15](/mark/1-15 "Mark 1:15 - Repent and Believe the Gospel")
* [Luke 24:47](/luke/24-47 "Luke 24:47 - Repentance and Forgiveness Proclaimed")
* [Romans 1:16](/romans/1-16 "Romans 1:16 - The Power of the Gospel for All")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Paul's succinct summary in Acts 20:21 offers profound practical lessons for believers today. It serves as a timeless reminder of the unchanging core of the Gospel message. For individuals, it prompts a vital self-examination: Has there been a genuine turning away from sin and self-reliance (repentance) and a complete, active trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (faith)? This is not a one-time event but a continuous posture of the heart that shapes daily life, priorities, and actions. For the church, this verse is a powerful mandate for evangelism, urging us to proclaim this same universal message without partiality, recognizing that God desires all people, regardless of background, to come to saving knowledge of Him. It challenges us to embody the same earnestness and clarity that characterized Paul's ministry, ensuring that the essential components of the Gospel are never compromised or diluted.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does your daily life reflect a continuous posture of repentance and faith?**
* **In what ways can you, or your community, more effectively share the universal message of repentance and faith with those from diverse backgrounds?**
* **What specific idols or self-reliant attitudes might you need to repent of in your life, turning more fully toward God?**

### FAQ
**What is the relationship between "repentance" and "faith" in this verse?**

Answer: In Acts 20:21, "repentance toward God" and "faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" are presented not as sequential steps, but as two inseparable, complementary aspects of a single conversion experience. Repentance is the turning *from* sin and self-rule, acknowledging one's need for God and His righteousness. Faith is the turning *to* God, specifically through active trust and reliance on Jesus Christ as the sole means of salvation. One cannot genuinely turn to God without turning from what opposes Him, nor can one truly turn from sin without turning to the One who provides forgiveness and new life. They are two sides of the same coin, both essential for salvation, as seen in other passages like [Mark 1:15](/mark/1-15 "Mark 1:15 - Repent and Believe").

**Why does Paul emphasize "Jews" and "Greeks" specifically?**

Answer: Paul emphasizes "Jews" and "Greeks" (Héllēn, often used as a general term for Gentiles) to highlight the universal scope and radical inclusivity of the Gospel. Historically, there was a deep-seated division between these two groups, both culturally and religiously. For centuries, salvation was primarily associated with the Jewish people. Paul's ministry, however, was characterized by the groundbreaking revelation that Christ's salvation was for *all* humanity, breaking down "the dividing wall of hostility" ([Ephesians 2:14](/ephesians/2-14 "Ephesians 2:14 - Christ Broke Down the Wall")). By explicitly naming both, Paul affirms that the same message and the same requirements for salvation apply to everyone, regardless of ethnic or religious background.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Acts 20:21, though a summary of Paul's preaching, finds its ultimate fulfillment and meaning in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The call to "repentance toward God" is rendered possible and meaningful only because of Christ. He is the perfect revelation of God, making it clear *who* we are to repent toward. More profoundly, the "faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" is the very means by which humanity is reconciled to God. Jesus is not merely the object of our faith but the initiator and perfecter of it ([Hebrews 12:2](/hebrews/12-2 "Hebrews 12:2 - Jesus, the Author and Finisher of Our Faith")). His atoning death on the cross ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God Demonstrates His Love")) and victorious resurrection ([1 Corinthians 15:3-4](/1_corinthians/15-3-4 "1 Corinthians 15:3-4 - The Gospel of Christ's Death and Resurrection")) provide the basis for both repentance (as He exposes sin) and faith (as He offers forgiveness and new life). Without Christ, there is no true repentance that leads to life, nor is there a saving faith that connects us to God. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), making both repentance and faith the necessary responses to His gracious work, uniting all, both Jew and Gentile, in Him ([Galatians 3:28](/galatians/3-28 "Galatians 3:28 - No Jew or Gentile in Christ")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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.

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.

1 John 5:11

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

1 John 5:13

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.

2 Timothy 2:25

In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

2 Timothy 2:26

And [that] they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Luke 13:3

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