If you’re like me and have some familiarity with “Christian-nese,” you’ve probably heard various definitions seeking to explain what repentance is. Perhaps you’ve heard it means, “to change one’s mind” or “to do a 180 degree turn” or “being sorrowful about your sin” or “a change of heart that results in a change of action.” Now, I’m not here to refute any of those definitions. However, what I’d like to do is examine “repentance” based on a single but instructive verse that Luke records for us.
Acts 3:19 says, “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out” (emphasis mine).
This verse is in the middle of Peter’s address at Solomon’s Portico after healing a man who was lame from birth. While people were gathered and amazed at the supernatural act of God, Peter used this as an opportunity to point out the sin of the people and share the gospel. He called his listeners to the Lord Jesus (NOTE: There’s a good message here for Christians today regarding the goal of God-ordained physical healing and gospel proclamation, but I digress). He says for them to “repent” and “turn back” (as the ESV notes).
Observe, the above verse has two imperative verbs. One command is “to repent”, and the other is to “turn back.” At first glance, it might seem as though these are two distinct instructions since there are two distinct words used. The inflected word for “repent” here is μετανοήσατε (metanoesate), and the inflected word for “turn back” here is ἐπιστρέψατε (epistrepsate). I think most grasp the word for repent, but the other word similarly has the idea of changing a course of action or direction.
Peter first sharply tells his listeners to repent, and his second command clarifies or expounds on the first. It’s like telling a child, “Grow up and be responsible.” The aim there is maturity (“grow up”), and being responsible clarifies the actions required for growth. Similarly, repentance is the instruction and turning back (also “turning again,” “turning to God,” or “being converted”) clarifies the actions needed for repentance. With this and the latter part of Acts 3:19 addressing sin in mind, Peter’s message is especially clear: repentance demands a turning away from sin in order to turn to God.
I’m not suggesting that everyone must make this their new definition for repentance, but in my personal Bible reading I did find this observation helpful. What I am suggesting to you is that Peter’s message conveyed to us by Luke is just as instructive today as it was then. Repentance, without a marked change in one’s character–i.e., from sinfulness to godliness–is not repentance at all. Let us all make it our prayer and intention to have God-ordained repentance and transformation in our lives.