Bible Strands
Acts 3:19
Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Peter addresses the Jewish crowd in Jerusalem, immediately after explaining that Jesus' death was foretold by the prophets (Acts 3:18). The audience is the people who rejected and handed over the Christ.
The words — ἐξαλειφθῆναι (exaleiphthēnai) is a passive aorist infinitive meaning "to be wiped away," the same verb a scribe uses when erasing a wax tablet. It is not a general pardon but a deliberate, complete erasure.
The thread — The same verb appears in Isaiah 43:25 and 44:22, where God declares He blots out transgressions for His own sake. Acts 2:38 gives the parallel Pentecost call: repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins.
Why it lands — The verse ties the wiping away of sin to two human actions: repentance (a change of mind) and turning (a change of direction). It asks the reader to reorient, not merely to assent.
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
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;
Cross-references
- Isaiah 44:22 I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like a mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.
- 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.
- Isaiah 43:25 I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.
- Isaiah 1:16 Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil!
- Matthew 13:15 For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’
- Matthew 18:3 “Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
- Psalms 51:9 Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities.
- 2 Thessalonians 1:7 and to grant relief to you who are oppressed and to us as well. This will take place when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels
- Lamentations 3:40 Let us examine and test our ways, and turn back to the LORD.
- James 5:19 My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back,