Bible Strands
Acts 20:21
testifying to Jews and Greeks alike about repentance to God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul addresses Ephesian church leaders at Miletus near the end of his third missionary journey. He summarizes his consistent ministry pattern as he prepares to travel to Jerusalem under spiritual compulsion.
The words — διαμαρτυρόμενος (diamarturomenos) means earnestly testifying or warning, and εἰς (eis) marks the directional object of faith, pointing toward Christ. The text explicitly couples repentance directed to God with faith directed to Jesus.
The thread — This dual focus on repentance and faith recurs in Acts 2:38 and aligns with the Johannine testimony that eternal life resides in the Son. The pattern mirrors Paul’s earlier report to the Jerusalem church in Acts 11:18.
Why it lands — The verse requires a reader to acknowledge both a turn from sin toward God and a reliance on Christ as Lord. It demands a concrete response rather than abstract agreement.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Cross-references
- Acts 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- Acts 11:18 When they heard this, they had no further objections, and they glorified God, saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.”
- 1 John 5:11 And this is that testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
- Luke 13:3 No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
- Luke 24:47 and in His name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.
- Acts 20:24 But I consider my life of no value to me, if only I may finish my course and complete the ministry I have received from the Lord Jesus—the ministry of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
- 2 Corinthians 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
- 2 Timothy 2:25 He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.
- Acts 26:18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’
- Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.