The Meaning of Acts 20:21 Explained

Acts 20:21

KJV: Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

YLT: testifying fully both to Jews and Greeks, toward God reformation, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Darby: testifying to both Jews and Greeks repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ.

ASV: testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Testifying  both  to the Jews,  and also  to the Greeks,  repentance  toward  God,  and  faith  toward  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

What does Acts 20:21 Mean?

Context Summary

Acts 20:13-27 - A Parting Message
The vessel had to stop at Miletus and Paul sent word to the Ephesian elders, urging them to come and see him. He spent the day in their company, and before parting delivered this pathetic and helpful address. There are many incidental touches revealing the nature of his work in the great city, of which there is little or no mention elsewhere in the Acts. For instance, we were not aware of his tears and trials through the opposition of the Jews, Acts 20:19, nor of the labors of his toil-worn hands, Acts 20:34. We hardly realized that his ministry was not simply the public proclamation of the gospel, but a visitation from house to house as well, Acts 20:20.
The Greek word in Acts 20:20; Acts 20:27 for kept back and shunned is a nautical word which literally means "reefed up." It was so natural for Paul to use a nautical word which he must have been hearing every day. But, notice how this heroic soul alludes to the lightness with which he held comfort and life, if only he might serve his Master perfectly, and fulfill in full measure his opportunities. How Paul loved that great word grace! It was his perpetual theme, and as we come to know ourselves better, and consider how little we have deserved of God, we also shall have but one theme. We are debtors to the sovereign grace of God, and have nothing to pay. [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 20

1  Paul goes to Macedonia, and thence to Troas
7  He celebrates the Lord's supper, and preaches
9  Eutychus having fallen down dead is raised to life
13  Paul continues his travels;
17  and at Miletum he calls the elders together, tells them what shall befall to himself,
28  commits God's flock to them,
29  warns them of false teachers,
32  commends them to God,
36  prays with them, and departs

Greek Commentary for Acts 20:21

Testifying [διαμαρτυρομενος]
As Peter did (Acts 2:40) where Luke uses this same word thoroughly Lucan and Pauline. So again in Acts 20:23, Acts 20:24. Paul here as in Romans 1:16 includes both Jews and Greeks, to the Jew first. [source]
Repentance toward God [την εις τεον μετανοιαν]
These two elements run through the Epistle to the Romans which Paul had recently written and sent from Corinth. These two elements appear in all Paul‘s preaching whether “to Jews or Gentiles, to philosophers at Athens or to peasants at Lystra, he preached repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus” (Knowling). [source]
and faith toward our Lord Jesus [και πιστιν εις τον κυριον ημων Ιησουν]
These two elements run through the Epistle to the Romans which Paul had recently written and sent from Corinth. These two elements appear in all Paul‘s preaching whether “to Jews or Gentiles, to philosophers at Athens or to peasants at Lystra, he preached repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus” (Knowling). [source]
Repentance toward God []
Repentance has the article: the repentance which is due to God. So, also, faith: the faith which is due toward Christ, as the advocate and mediator. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 20:21

2 Timothy 2:25 To the acknowledging of the truth [εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν ἀληθείας]
More correctly, the knowledge. The formula PastoSee 1 Timothy 2:4(note); 2 Timothy 3:7. For εἰς untoafter μετάνοια repentancesee Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3; Luke 24:47; Acts 11:18; Acts 20:21; 2 Corinthians 7:10. [source]
Hebrews 6:1 Wherefore [διο]
Because of the argument already made about the difficulty of the subject and the dulness of the readers. Let us cease to speak Second aorist active participle of απιημι — aphiēmi to leave off or behind. Of the first principles of Christ Objective genitive Χριστου — Christou (about Christ). “Leaving behind the discussion of the beginning about Christ,” another way of saying again τα στοιχεια της αρχης των λογιων του τεου — ta stoicheia tēs archēs tōn logiōn tou theou of Hebrews 5:12. And press on Volitive present subjunctive passive, “Let us be borne on” (both the writer and the readers). The Pythagorean Schools use περωμετα — pherōmetha in precisely this sense of being borne on to a higher stage of instruction. Bleek quotes several instances of Greek writers using together as here of απεντες περωμετα — aphentes pherōmetha (Eurip., Androm. 393, for instance). Unto perfection Old word from τελειος — teleios mature, adults as in Hebrews 5:14. Only twice in N.T. (here and Colossians 3:14). Let us go on to the stage of adults, not babes, able to masticate solid spiritual food. The writer will assume that the readers are adults in his discussion of the topic. Not laying again the foundation The regular idiom for laying down the foundation of a building The metaphor is common (1 Corinthians 3:11) and the foundation is important, but one cannot be laying the foundation always if he is to build the house. There are six items mentioned here as part of the “foundation,” though the accusative διδαχην — didachēn in apposition with τεμελιον — themelion may mean that there are only four included in the τεμελιον — themelion Two are qualitative genitives after τεμελιον — themelion What is meant by “dead works” There are frequent allusions to the deadening power of sin (James 2:17, James 2:26; John 7:25; Romans 6:1, Romans 6:11; Romans 7:8; Colossians 2:13; Ephesians 2:1, Ephesians 2:5). The use of repentance and faith together occurs also elsewhere (Mark 1:15; Acts 20:21; 1 Thessalonians 1:9). [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 20:21 mean?

earnestly testifying to the Jewish both and to Greeks - in God repentance faith the Lord of us Jesus Christ
διαμαρτυρόμενος Ἰουδαίοις τε καὶ Ἕλλησιν τὴν εἰς Θεὸν μετάνοιαν πίστιν τὸν Κύριον ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦν {Χριστόν}

διαμαρτυρόμενος  earnestly  testifying 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: διαμαρτύρομαι  
Sense: to testify.
Ἰουδαίοις  to  the  Jewish 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: Ἰουδαῖος  
Sense: Jewish, belonging to the Jewish race.
τε  both 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: τέ  
Sense: not only … but also.
Ἕλλησιν  to  Greeks 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: Ἕλλην  
Sense: a Greek either by nationality, whether a native of the main land or of the Greek islands or colonies.
τὴν  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Θεὸν  God 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
μετάνοιαν  repentance 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: μετάνοια  
Sense: a change of mind, as it appears to one who repents, of a purpose he has formed or of something he has done.
πίστιν  faith 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: πίστις  
Sense: conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it.
Κύριον  Lord 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: κύριος  
Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.
ἡμῶν  of  us 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Plural
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
Ἰησοῦν  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
{Χριστόν}  Christ 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: Χριστός  
Sense: Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God.