Acts 3:26

Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

Unto you {G5213} first {G4412} God {G2316}, having raised up {G450} his {G846} Son {G3816} Jesus {G2424}, sent {G649} him {G846} to bless {G2127} you {G5209}, in {G1722} turning away {G654} every one {G1538} of you {G5216} from {G575} his iniquities {G4189}.

So it is to you first that God has sent his servant whom he has raised up, so that he might bless you by turning each one of you from your evil ways.”

When God raised up His Servant, He sent Him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”

Unto you first God, having raised up his Servant, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.

Acts 3:26 is the concluding statement of Peter's second sermon in the book of Acts, delivered to the Jewish people in the temple courts following the miraculous healing of a lame man. This verse powerfully summarizes God's ongoing redemptive plan, emphasizing both His divine initiative and the transformative purpose of Jesus' mission.

Context

This verse follows Peter's bold proclamation to the "men of Israel" in Jerusalem, where he confronts them about their role in the crucifixion of Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. Peter urges them to repent and turn to God, reminding them of God's covenant with Abraham and the prophets who foretold these events. Acts 3:26 serves as a climactic appeal, presenting God's ultimate intention for His people after the resurrection of His Son.

Key Themes

  • God's Initiative and Priority: The phrase "Unto you first God" underscores that the gospel message, and the sending of Jesus, was initially directed to the Jewish people. This reflects God's faithfulness to His covenant promises made to Israel, even after their rejection of the Messiah. It highlights God's strategic plan for salvation history.
  • Jesus as the Risen Son and Servant: God "raised up his Son Jesus." The Greek word for "raised up" (anastasas) carries a dual meaning here: it refers both to Jesus' resurrection from the dead and His being raised up as a prophet or servant, fulfilling the prophecy of a prophet like Moses (Acts 3:22). This emphasizes Jesus' divine authority and His obedient role in God's redemptive plan.
  • The Nature of True Blessing: The purpose for which Jesus was sent was "to bless you." This blessing is not primarily material prosperity, but a profound spiritual transformation: "in turning away every one of you from his iniquities." God's greatest blessing is deliverance from sin and its consequences, leading to reconciliation with Him. This turning away from sin is a fundamental aspect of biblical repentance, a key theme in the early church's message.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "bless" (eulogeō) implies speaking well of, praising, or bestowing favor. Here, it signifies God's gracious act of bestowing spiritual favor and well-being upon humanity through Jesus. The "turning away" from "iniquities" (anomia, meaning lawlessness or wickedness) emphasizes a decisive change of heart and action, moving from a life of disobedience to one aligned with God's will. This spiritual blessing is the ultimate fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham that "in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed" (Acts 3:25, referencing Genesis 12:3).

Practical Application

Acts 3:26 reminds us that God's desire for humanity is not judgment, but blessing through transformation. The core of this blessing is liberation from the power and guilt of sin. For believers today, this verse underscores:

  • God's Persistent Love: He continually provides a way for people to return to Him, even when they have strayed, demonstrating His enduring faithfulness.
  • The Centrality of Jesus: Jesus is God's chosen means for delivering this blessing. His resurrection and mission are foundational to our salvation and spiritual well-being.
  • The Necessity of Repentance: True blessing involves a personal decision to turn from sin. This spiritual turning is not merely a change of mind, but a decisive change of direction in life, enabled by God's grace and leading to genuine peace with Him.

This verse serves as a powerful call to embrace the profound spiritual blessings offered through Jesus Christ by turning from our own iniquities, aligning our lives with God's righteous path.

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.

  • Matthew 1:21

    And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

  • Acts 3:22

    For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.

  • Jude 1:24

    Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present [you] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

  • Acts 3:25

    Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

  • Romans 1:16

    ¶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

  • 1 John 3:5

    And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

  • 1 John 3:8

    He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

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