Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse isn't just saying "turn from your sins and you'll be forgiven." It's more of an active "turn back to God," like someone returning home, which then opens the door for sins to be wiped clean. This isn't a passive cancellation, but an active erasing, like taking a debt off the books, so that "times of refreshing" can finally arrive.
Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Peter has just miraculously healed a man born lame and is boldly proclaiming Jesus as the source of this power. He's calling out the religious leaders and the crowd for their role in Jesus' crucifixion, but immediately softens this by saying it was done in ignorance, a point God has now fulfilled through Christ's suffering. This verse is Peter's urgent call to the people to turn from their sins and embrace Jesus, so they can experience the full blessings God has planned.
Peter calls for a 'repentance' and a 'turning.' Are these the same thing, or are they distinct actions that go hand-in-hand?
In Acts 3:19, Peter urges the crowd to 'repent' (metanoēsate) and 'turn back' (epistrepsate). While closely related, they describe two essential parts of coming back to God:
A Change of Mind (Repentance)
'Repent' comes from the Greek word metanoeo, which literally means 'to think differently afterward.' It signifies a profound shift in our thinking, a reorientation of our minds away from sin and self, and towards God's truth. It's not just feeling sorry; it's a fundamental change in perspective and judgment.
A Change of Direction (Turning)
'Turn back' or 'be converted' comes from epistrepho. This is the active response to that change of mind. It means to physically or metaphorically turn around and move in a new direction – away from sin and towards God. It's the outward action that demonstrates the inner transformation.
Together, they paint a complete picture: first, a reevaluation and change of heart and mind, and then, a decisive movement towards God.
The verse promises that sins will be 'blotted out.' What does this image mean, and how does it connect to our repentance?
The phrase 'blotted out' (exaleiphthēnai) is a powerful metaphor drawn from ancient record-keeping. Imagine sins as debts or wrongs written down in a ledger against us.
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The Image of Erasure
To 'blot out' is like erasing an entry from that record. It signifies complete removal, cancellation, and forgiveness. It means the sins are no longer held against us, remembered for condemnation, or standing as a barrier between us and God.
The Purpose of Repentance and Turning
Peter connects this blotting out directly to repentance and turning. While the ultimate sacrifice for sin is Christ's atoning death (mentioned in verse 18), our repentance and turning are the God-ordained means by which we personally access and receive that forgiveness. It's not that our actions earn forgiveness, but rather that they are the pathway God has established for us to step into the cleansing power of Jesus' blood.
The blotting out of sins leads to 'times of refreshing.' What are these times, and why are they linked to God's presence?
The ultimate aim Peter presents is not just the removal of sin, but the arrival of 'times of refreshing' (kairoi anapsyxeōs) from the 'presence of the Lord' (apo prosōpou kuriou).
A Foretaste of Restoration
These 'times of refreshing' represent a period of revival, restoration, and joyful rest that flows directly from being in God's presence. It's a foretaste of the complete restoration that will come when Christ returns. It's like a cool breeze on a hot day, bringing relief and renewed life.
Linked to God's Face
The phrase 'from the presence of the Lord' is crucial. True refreshment isn't found in temporary pleasures or worldly comforts, but in experiencing God Himself. It's when we are rightly related to Him, with our sins forgiven, that His presence brings life, peace, and joy.
This hope is offered to the Jews who had participated in Jesus' crucifixion. Peter's message is that national repentance and turning would usher in these blessed 'seasons of revival' for Israel, a promise that ultimately points to the greater work of God's kingdom initiated by Christ.
Understand the original words
metanoeō · Greek Verb
A radical change of mind and heart involving a turning away from sin and a turning toward God. It is a necessary response to the gospel, involving a complete change of direction in life.
exaleiphō · Greek Verb
The forgiveness of sins, metaphorically derived from erasing ink from a scroll. It signifies the complete removal of the record of debt or transgression, making one clean before God.
Peter's call to repent and turn back wasn't just about individual sin; it was a national plea to Israel. He linked their repentance directly to the 'times of refreshing' that would come with the promised restoration, a restoration delayed by their collective disbelief and rejection of Jesus.
c. AD 30
Crucifixion of Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth, whom his followers believed to be the Messiah, was crucified by Roman authorities in Jerusalem. This event was a pivotal moment, seen by his followers as a fulfillment of prophecy and a sacrifice for sins.
c. AD 30-33
Early Church Growth in Jerusalem
Following Jesus' resurrection and ascension, his disciples began preaching his message in Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit empowered them, leading to a rapid increase in believers.
c. AD 33— this verse
Healing of the Lame Man
Peter and John healed a man lame from birth at the temple gate, drawing a large crowd. This miracle led Peter to preach a powerful sermon to the gathered people.
c. AD 33
Peter's Sermon at the Temple
In his sermon, Peter directly addressed the crowd and their leaders about their role in Jesus' death, urging them to repent and believe. He pointed to the healing of the lame man as proof of Jesus' power.
c. AD 33
Imprisonment of Peter and John
Following the sermon and the subsequent healing, Peter and John were arrested by the Jewish authorities. They were later released after testifying boldly before the Sanhedrin.
c. AD 64-70
Siege and Destruction of Jerusalem
The Roman-Jewish War culminated in the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple. This event marked a significant turning point for Judaism and had profound implications for the early Christian movement.
This Old Testament prophecy speaks of God turning His people, and *then* their repentance, mirroring the call in Acts 3:19 for repentance and turning to God.
Psalm 51:1This psalm, a prayer for forgiveness, uses the imagery of God blotting out transgressions, directly aligning with the 'sins may be blotted out' phrase in Acts.
Isaiah 43:25Here, God declares, 'I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake; I will not remember your sins,' underscoring the divine initiative in forgiveness when people turn to Him.
Colossians 2:14This passage describes Christ canceling the record of debt against us by nailing it to the cross, which echoes the concept of sins being 'blotted out' as a result of Christ's work.
Acts 2:38Peter's earlier sermon also calls for repentance and baptism for the forgiveness of sins, showing a consistent message of turning to God for cleansing and renewal.
vincentActs 3:19: "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;"
Be converted (ἐπιστρέψατε)Not a good rendering, because the verb is in the active voice. Better as Rev., turn again. See on Luke 22:32.Blotted out (ἐξαλειφθῆναι)Forgiveness of sins under the figure of the erasure of hand-writing. The word is used thus in Psalm 51:1. (Sept. 50), Psalm 51:1; Isaiah 43:25. Also at Colossians 2:14. In clas…
calvinActs 3:17-21: "And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers."
- And now, brethren, I know that through ignorance you did it, as did also your rulers. 18. And God hath fulfilled all things which he had spoken by the mouth of his prophets, that Christ should suffer. 19. Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be forgiven, 20. When the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and he shall send him that was preached before…
The verse isn't just saying "turn from your sins and you'll be forgiven." It's more of an active "turn back to God," like someone returning home, which then opens the door for sins to be wiped clean. This isn't a passive cancellation, but an active erasing, like taking a debt off the books, so that "times of refreshing" can finally arrive.
Peter has just miraculously healed a man born lame and is boldly proclaiming Jesus as the source of this power. He's calling out the religious leaders and the crowd for their role in Jesus' crucifixion, but immediately softens this by saying it was done in ignorance, a point God has now fulfilled through Christ's suffering. This verse is Peter's urgent call to the people to turn from their sins and embrace Jesus, so they can experience the full blessings God has planned.
Peter has just miraculously healed a man born lame and is boldly proclaiming Jesus as the source of this power. He's calling out the religious leaders and the crowd for their role in Jesus' crucifixion, but immediately softens this by saying it was done in ignorance, a point God has now fulfilled through Christ's suffering. This verse is Peter's urgent call to the people to turn from their sins and embrace Jesus, so they can experience the full blessings God has planned.
"Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out," — The verse isn't just saying "turn from your sins and you'll be forgiven." It's more of an active "turn back to God," like someone returning home, which then opens the door for sins to be wiped clea…
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Last reviewed October 2026