Bible Strands
Matthew 4:17
From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus, in Galilee after John the Baptist's arrest, addresses the people there. No specific audience is named; it is a public proclamation.
The words — κηρὺσσειν (kērussein) means to proclaim as a herald, not merely to say; it carries the weight of an official announcement. μετανοεῖτε (metanoeite) is the imperative for repent — a change of mind and direction, not a feeling.
The thread — The identical phrase appears in Matthew 3:2 as John the Baptist's message, and Mark 1:15 pairs it with "believe the gospel." Acts 2:38 extends the call to repentance as the gateway to forgiveness.
Why it lands — The kingdom is near, not hypothetical, so the call is urgent. It asks for a change of direction, not a change of mood.
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
From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Cross-references
- Matthew 3:2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
- Mark 1:14 After the arrest of John, Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel of God.
- 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.
- Luke 5:32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
- Luke 24:47 and in His name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.
- Acts 17:30 Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.
- Matthew 9:13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
- Luke 15:7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent.
- Acts 26:20 First to those in Damascus and Jerusalem, then to everyone in the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I declared that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds worthy of their repentance.
- Luke 15:10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”