and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The surprising emphasis here is that the message of repentance and forgiveness wasn't meant to start with the Gentiles, but with the very people who had rejected and crucified Jesus! This radical inclusion, beginning in Jerusalem, underscores that the offer of God's grace extends even to the deepest betrayals. It shows that no one is beyond the reach of His mercy.
and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus, having just shown himself alive to his disciples after his resurrection, is giving them their marching orders. This isn't just a suggestion; it's the core mission of his followers, outlining what needs to be proclaimed: a call to turn away from sin, with the promise of forgiveness offered in his name, and this message is to go to everyone, everywhere, starting right where they are in Jerusalem.
Why are repentance and forgiveness always linked? It's not just a suggestion; it's the core of the gospel message.
Jesus' command here lays out a crucial connection: repentance and the forgiveness of sins.
Turning Back, Being Freed
This isn't about earning God's favor by being 'good enough.' It's about recognizing our need and accepting the complete package of turning and being forgiven, offered solely through Christ.
What does it mean to preach 'in His name'? It's more than just mentioning Jesus; it's about His authority and His work.
The phrase 'in his name' is packed with meaning for the apostles and for us today.
Authority and Atonement
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When we share the gospel, we are proclaiming God's truth with the authority of Christ Himself, and offering the forgiveness made possible only through His finished work.
Why start the global mission in Jerusalem, the very place Jesus was rejected and killed? It reveals God's incredible heart.
This commission has two key geographical elements: 'beginning at Jerusalem' and extending 'to all nations.'
From Betrayal to Blessing
The mission begins with grace offered even to the most unlikely, then expands outward, proving that God's salvific plan is for all humanity.
Understand the original words
metanoia · Greek Noun
The act of changing one's mind, heart, and direction. It involves a turning away from sin and a turning toward God, acknowledging Him as Lord and Savior.
aphesis · Greek Noun
The act of releasing, canceling, or pardoning a debt or penalty. In the Bible, it signifies the removal of the legal and spiritual burden of sin through the sacrifice of Jesus.
hamartia · Greek Noun
Moral failure or transgression against God's law. Sin encompasses both acts of disobedience and the inherent fallen nature of humanity that separates it from a holy God.
This verse highlights the intentional strategy of the early church: to begin proclaiming God's offer of repentance and forgiveness in Jerusalem, the very place where Jesus was crucified, before expanding to the entire world.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
The central events of Christian faith occur in Jerusalem, leading to the Great Commission.
c. 30 AD
The Ascension of Jesus
Jesus ascends to heaven, commissioning his disciples to spread the gospel to all nations, starting in Jerusalem.
c. 30 AD
Pentecost and the First Converts
The Holy Spirit descends upon the disciples in Jerusalem, and Peter preaches the first sermon, leading to thousands of Jewish conversions.
c. 33 AD
Stephen's Martyrdom
Stephen, a Hellenistic Jew, becomes the first Christian martyr in Jerusalem, intensifying persecution against the early church.
c. 34-36 AD
Saul's Conversion and Early Ministry
Saul (later Paul), a persecutor of Christians, is converted and begins to preach the gospel, initially to Jews in Damascus.
c. 40s-50s AD
Paul's Missionary Journeys
Paul embarks on extensive journeys, taking the gospel of repentance and forgiveness to Gentile communities throughout the Roman Empire.
This prophetic passage speaks of the Messiah being a light to the nations and bringing salvation to the ends of the earth, directly paralleling the commission given in Luke 24:47 for this message to go to 'all nations'.
Acts 1:8Jesus echoes the instruction in Luke 24:47 by telling his disciples they will be witnesses 'in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth,' showing the geographical progression of the gospel.
Romans 1:16Paul declares that the gospel is the 'power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek,' highlighting the universality and the initial focus on the Jewish people, mirroring the 'beginning at Jerusalem' instruction.
Jeremiah 31:34This Old Testament prophecy foretells a new covenant where sins will be forgiven, stating 'I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more,' which is the very 'remission of sins' that the disciples were commanded to preach.
pooleLuke 24:47: "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."
Ver. 47,48. The few words in Luke 24:47 are comprehensive of the great duty of the apostles: 1. To preach repentance and remission of sins. 2. In Christ’s name. 3. To all nations. 4. Beginning at Jerusalem. They were to preach repentance, that is, a turning from sinful courses into a course of life consonant to the will of God; and remission of sins, that is, upon re…
vincentLuke 24:47: "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."
Should be preachedSee on preacher, 2 Peter 2:5.In his nameOn the foundation of (ἐπἵ) See on Matthew 24:5.RemissionSee on Luke 3:3; and on forgiven, James 5:15.Beginning from JerusalemSome editors place a period after nations, and join these words with the next sentence, omitting and: "beginning from Jerusalem ye are witnesses."
The surprising emphasis here is that the message of repentance and forgiveness wasn't meant to start with the Gentiles, but with the very people who had rejected and crucified Jesus! This radical inclusion, beginning in Jerusalem, underscores that the offer of God's grace extends even to the deepest betrayals. It shows that no one is beyond the reach of His mercy.
Jesus, having just shown himself alive to his disciples after his resurrection, is giving them their marching orders. This isn't just a suggestion; it's the core mission of his followers, outlining what needs to be proclaimed: a call to turn away from sin, with the promise of forgiveness offered in his name, and this message is to go to everyone, everywhere, starting right where they are in Jerusalem.
Jesus, having just shown himself alive to his disciples after his resurrection, is giving them their marching orders. This isn't just a suggestion; it's the core mission of his followers, outlining what needs to be proclaimed: a call to turn away from sin, with the promise of forgiveness offered in his name, and this message is to go to everyone, everywhere, starting right where they are in Jerusalem.
"and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem." — The surprising emphasis here is that the message of repentance and forgiveness wasn't meant to start with the Gentiles, but with the very people who had rejected and crucified Jesus! This radical i…
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Last reviewed October 2026