Acts 3:20

And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:

And {G2532} he shall send {G649} Jesus {G2424} Christ {G5547}, which before was preached {G4296} unto you {G5213}:

so that times of refreshing may come from the Lord’s presence; and he may send the Messiah appointed in advance for you, that is, Yeshua.

that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus, the Christ, who has been appointed for you.

and that he may send the Christ who hath been appointed for you, even Jesus:

Acts 3:20 is a pivotal verse in Peter's second recorded sermon in Jerusalem, delivered after the miraculous healing of a lame man. It speaks directly to the Jewish crowd, connecting their repentance with God's promise to send Jesus Christ back to them, emphasizing His pre-ordained role.

Context

This verse is part of Peter's powerful address in the Temple courts, urging the Jewish people to repent and turn to God. Following the healing miracle in Acts 3:6-8, Peter seized the opportunity to preach the Gospel. He explains that their actions in crucifying Jesus were done in ignorance (Acts 3:17), but now is the time for a change of heart. Verse 20 links directly to the call for repentance and the promise of 'times of refreshing', leading into the 'times of restitution of all things' in Acts 3:21.

Key Themes

  • The Return of Christ: The primary theme is the promise of Jesus' return. Peter assures his audience that the same Jesus who was crucified and resurrected will be sent again by God. This points directly to the Second Coming of Christ, a central tenet of Christian eschatology and a future event of immense significance.
  • Divine Appointment: The phrase 'which before was preached unto you' implies not just prior proclamation, but God's prior appointment or designation of Jesus for this ultimate role. He is the divinely chosen Messiah, both for His first coming and for His eventual return.
  • Repentance and Restoration: This verse is inextricably linked to the call for repentance and conversion (Acts 3:19). The 'sending' of Jesus is presented as a consequence or culmination of Israel's turning back to God, bringing about a full restoration of all things.

Linguistic Insight

The KJV phrase "which before was preached unto you" translates the Greek prokecheirismenon (προκεχειρισμένον). This word more accurately means 'chosen beforehand,' 'appointed,' or 'designated' by God. While it implies that this divinely appointed Messiah was indeed proclaimed or 'preached' to them, the primary emphasis is on God's sovereign act of pre-ordaining Jesus for this role, both in His first coming and in His promised return. This highlights that Jesus' identity and future mission were part of God's eternal plan, revealed through the prophets (as further discussed in Acts 3:22-24).

Practical Application

Acts 3:20 offers profound encouragement and a call to readiness for all who hear the Gospel today.

  • Hope in Christ's Return: For believers, this verse reinforces the blessed hope of Jesus' return. It reminds us that our faith is not in vain, and God's ultimate plan for redemption and restoration will be fulfilled, bringing a future free from sorrow and pain.
  • The Urgency of Repentance: Just as Peter urged his listeners, this verse underscores the importance of repentance as a prerequisite for experiencing God's refreshing and participating in His coming kingdom. It is a timeless call to turn from sin and embrace God's grace and forgiveness.
  • Continuity of God's Plan: The verse highlights that God's plan, revealed through Jesus, is consistent. The same Jesus who came the first time will return, fulfilling all prophetic promises. This continuity builds confidence in God's faithfulness and His sovereign control over history.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:2

    That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

  • Matthew 24:30

    And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

  • Matthew 24:36

    But of that day and hour knoweth no [man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

  • Revelation 1:7

    Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they [also] which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

  • Luke 19:11

    ¶ And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.

  • Revelation 19:11

    ¶ And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him [was] called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

  • Revelation 19:16

    And he hath on [his] vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

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