Acts 26:20

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

but I declared to those in Damascus first, and then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds consistent with repentance.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ἀλλὰ τοῖς ἐν Δαμασκῷ πρῶτον, καὶ Ἱεροσολύμοις, εἰς πᾶσάν τε τὴν χώραν τῆς Ἰουδαίας, καὶ τοῖς Ἔθνεσιν, ἀπήγγελλον μετανοεῖν καὶ ἐπιστρέφειν ἐπὶ τὸν Θεόν, ἄξια τῆς μετανοίας ἔργα πράσσοντας.

Transliteration

But to those in Damaskō prōton, and Hierosolymois, to all te the chōran of Ioudaias, and to the Ethnesin, I apēngellon to metanoein and to epistrephein to the Theon, worthy of the metanoias erga prassontas.

Grammar Details

• *Damaskō*: dative, feminine, singular - Damascus
• *prōton*: adverb - first
• *Hierosolymois*: dative, neuter, plural - Jerusalem
• *te*: conjunction - and/also
• *chōran*: accusative, feminine, singular - region/country
• *Ioudaias*: genitive, feminine, singular - Judea
• *Ethnesin*: dative, neuter, plural - Gentiles/nations
• *apēngellon*: imperfect active, 1st singular - I was proclaiming
• *metanoein*: present active infinitive - to repent
• *epistrephein*: present active infinitive - to turn
• *Theon*: accusative, masculine, singular - God
• *metanoias*: genitive, feminine, singular - repentance
• *erga*: accusative, neuter, plural - works/deeds
• *prassontas*: present active participle, accusative, masculine, plural - doing/practicing

Word Meanings

• *prōton*: first/firstly/at first
• *chōran*: region/country/land
• *Ethnesin*: Gentiles/nations/peoples
• *apēngellon*: I was proclaiming/declaring/announcing
• *metanoein*: to repent/to change one's mind
• *epistrephein*: to turn/to return/to convert
• *metanoias*: repentance/change of mind
• *erga*: works/deeds/actions
• *prassontas*: doing/practicing/performing

Referenced Verses

• Matt 3:8 : 8 Therefore produce fruit that proves your repentance,
• Acts 3:19 : 19 Therefore repent and turn back so that your sins may be wiped out,
• Acts 2:38 : 38 Peter said to them,“Repent, and each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
• Matt 9:13 : 13 Go and learn what this saying means:‘I want mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
• Acts 9:35 : 35 All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
• Acts 11:18 : 18 When they heard this, they ceased their objections and praised God, saying,“So then, God has granted the repentance that leads to life even to the Gentiles.”
• Acts 11:26-30 : 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught a significant number of people. Now it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians. 27 Famine Relief for Judea At that time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them, named Agabus, got up and predicted by the Spirit that a severe famine was about to come over the whole inhabited world.(This took place during the reign of Claudius.) 29 So the disciples, each in accordance with his financial ability, decided to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. 30 They did so, sending their financial aid to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
• Acts 13:46-48 : 46 Both Paul and Barnabas replied courageously,“It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us:‘I have appointed you to be a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” 48 When the Gentiles heard this, they began to rejoice and praise the word of the Lord, and all who had been appointed for eternal life believed.
• Acts 14:15-21 : 15 “Men, why are you doing these things? We too are men, with human natures just like you! We are proclaiming the good news to you, so that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them. 16 In past generations he allowed all the nations to go their own ways, 17 yet he did not leave himself without a witness by doing good, by giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying you with food and your hearts with joy.” 18 Even by saying these things, they scarcely persuaded the crowds not to offer sacrifice to them. 19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and after winning the crowds over, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, presuming him to be dead. 20 But after the disciples had surrounded him, he got up and went back into the city. On the next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe. 21 Paul and Barnabas Return to Antioch in Syria After they had proclaimed the good news in that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch.
• Acts 15:19 : 19 “Therefore I conclude that we should not cause extra difficulty for those among the Gentiles who are turning to God,
• Acts 17:30 : 30 Therefore, although God has overlooked such times of ignorance, he now commands all people everywhere to repent,
• Acts 20:21 : 21 testifying to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus.
• Acts 22:17-22 : 17 When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw the Lord saying to me,‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ 19 I replied,‘Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat those in the various synagogues who believed in you. 20 And when the blood of your witness Stephen was shed, I myself was standing nearby, approving, and guarding the cloaks of those who were killing him.’ 21 Then he said to me,‘Go, because I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’” 22 The Roman Commander Questions Paul The crowd was listening to him until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted,“Away with this man from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live!”
• Acts 26:17 : 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you
• Rom 2:4 : 4 Or do you have contempt for the wealth of his kindness, forbearance, and patience, and yet do not know that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?
• Rom 11:18-20 : 18 do not boast over the branches. But if you boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 Then you will say,“The branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20 Granted! They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but fear!
• 2 Cor 3:16 : 16 but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.
• 2 Cor 7:10 : 10 For sadness as intended by God produces a repentance that leads to salvation, leaving no regret, but worldly sadness brings about death.
• Eph 4:17-5:25 : 17 Live in Holiness So I say this, and insist in the Lord, that you no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts. 19 Because they are callous, they have given themselves over to indecency for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. 20 But you did not learn about Christ like this, 21 if indeed you heard about him and were taught in him, just as the truth is in Jesus. 22 You were taught with reference to your former way of life to lay aside the old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires, 23 to be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and to put on the new man who has been created in God’s image– in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth. 25 Therefore, having laid aside falsehood, each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, because we are members of one another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on the cause of your anger. 27 Do not give the devil an opportunity. 28 The one who steals must steal no longer; instead he must labor, doing good with his own hands, so that he will have something to share with the one who has need. 29 You must let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for the building up of the one in need, that it would give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 You must put away all bitterness, anger, wrath, quarreling, and slanderous talk– indeed all malice. 32 Instead, be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you. 1 Live in Love Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children 2 and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. 3 But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints. 4 Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting– all of which are out of character– but rather thanksgiving. 5 For you can be confident of this one thing: that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy(such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Live in the Light Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be sharers with them, 8 for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live like children of light– 9 for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth– 10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention. 13 But all things being exposed by the light are made visible. 14 For everything made visible is light, and for this reason it says:“Awake, O sleeper! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you!” 15 Live Wisely Therefore consider carefully how you live– not as unwise but as wise, 16 taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22 Exhortations to Households Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, 23 because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church(he himself being the savior of the body). 24 But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her
• Eph 6:1-9 : 1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment accompanied by a promise, namely, 3 “that it will go well with you and that you will live a long time on the earth.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but raise them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. 5 Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ, 6 not like those who do their work only when someone is watching– as people-pleasers– but as slaves of Christ doing the will of God from the heart. 7 Obey with enthusiasm, as though serving the Lord and not people, 8 because you know that each person, whether slave or free, if he does something good, this will be rewarded by the Lord. 9 Masters, treat your slaves the same way, giving up the use of threats, because you know that both you and they have the same master in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.
• 1 Thess 1:9 : 9 For people everywhere report how you welcomed us and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God
• 2 Tim 2:25-26 : 25 correcting opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance and then knowledge of the truth 26 and they will come to their senses and escape the devil’s trap where they are held captive to do his will.
• Titus 2:2-9 : 2 Older men are to be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in endurance. 3 Older women likewise are to exhibit behavior fitting for those who are holy, not slandering, not slaves to excessive drinking, but teaching what is good. 4 In this way they will train the younger women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, fulfilling their duties at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the message of God may not be discredited. 6 Encourage younger men likewise to be self-controlled, 7 showing yourself to be an example of good works in every way. In your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and a sound message that cannot be criticized, so that any opponent will be at a loss, because he has nothing evil to say about us. 9 Slaves are to be subject to their own masters in everything, to do what is wanted and not talk back, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, in order to bring credit to the teaching of God our Savior in everything. 11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people. 12 It trains us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 as we wait for the happy fulfillment of our hope in the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
• 1 Pet 1:14-16 : 14 Like obedient children, do not comply with the evil urges you used to follow in your ignorance, 15 but, like the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in all of your conduct, 16 for it is written,“You shall be holy, because I am holy.”
• 1 Pet 2:9-9 : 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 You once were not a people, but now you are God’s people. You were shown no mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to keep away from fleshly desires that do battle against the soul, 12 and maintain good conduct among the non-Christians, so that though they now malign you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God when he appears.
• 1 Pet 4:2-5 : 2 in that he spends the rest of his time on earth concerned about the will of God and not human desires. 3 For the time that has passed was sufficient for you to do what the non-Christians desire. You lived then in debauchery, evil desires, drunkenness, carousing, drinking bouts, and wanton idolatries. 4 So they are astonished when you do not rush with them into the same flood of wickedness, and they vilify you. 5 They will face a reckoning before Jesus Christ who stands ready to judge the living and the dead.
• 2 Pet 1:5-8 : 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith excellence, to excellence, knowledge; 6 to knowledge, self-control; to self-control, perseverance; to perseverance, godliness; 7 to godliness, brotherly affection; to brotherly affection, unselfish love. 8 For if these things are really yours and are continually increasing, they will keep you from becoming ineffective and unproductive in your pursuit of knowing our Lord Jesus Christ more intimately.
• Rev 2:5 : 5 Therefore, remember from what high state you have fallen and repent! Do the deeds you did at the first; if not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place– that is, if you do not repent.
• Rev 2:21 : 21 I have given her time to repent, but she is not willing to repent of her sexual immorality.
• Rev 3:3 : 3 Therefore, remember what you received and heard, and obey it, and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will never know at what hour I will come against you.
• Rev 16:11 : 11 They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their sufferings and because of their sores, but nevertheless they still refused to repent of their deeds.
• Matt 21:30-32 : 30 The father went to the other son and said the same thing. This boy answered,‘I will, sir,’ but did not go. 31 Which of the two did his father’s will?” They said,“The first.” Jesus said to them,“I tell you the truth, tax collectors and prostitutes will go ahead of you into the kingdom of God! 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe. Although you saw this, you did not later change your minds and believe him.
• Mark 6:12 : 12 So they went out and preached that all should repent.
• Luke 1:16 : 16 He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.
• Luke 3:8-9 : 8 Therefore produce fruit that proves your repentance, and don’t begin to say to yourselves,‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones! 9 Even now the ax is laid at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” 10 So the crowds were asking him,“What then should we do?” 11 John answered them,“The person who has two tunics must share with the person who has none, and the person who has food must do likewise.” 12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him,“Teacher, what should we do?” 13 He told them,“Collect no more than you are required to.” 14 Then some soldiers also asked him,“And as for us– what should we do?” He told them,“Take money from no one by violence or by false accusation, and be content with your pay.”
• Luke 13:3 : 3 No, I tell you! But unless you repent, you will all perish as well!
• Luke 13:5 : 5 No, I tell you! But unless you repent you will all perish as well!”
• Luke 15:7 : 7 I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent.
• Luke 15:10 : 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”
• Luke 19:8-9 : 8 But Zacchaeus stopped and said to the Lord,“Look, Lord, half of my possessions I now give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone of anything, I am paying back four times as much!” 9 Then Jesus said to him,“Today salvation has come to this household, because he too is a son of Abraham!
• Luke 24:46-47 : 46 and said to them,“Thus it stands written that the Christ would suffer and would rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
• Ps 22:27 : 27 Let all the people of the earth acknowledge the LORD and turn to him! Let all the nations worship you!
• Isa 55:7 : 7 The wicked need to abandon their lifestyle and sinful people their plans. They should return to the LORD, and he will show mercy to them, and to their God, for he will freely forgive them.
• Jer 31:19-20 : 19 For after we turned away from you we repented. After we came to our senses we struck our thigh in sorrow. We are ashamed and humiliated because of the disgraceful things we did previously.’ 20 Indeed, the people of Israel are my dear children. They are the children I take delight in. For even though I must often rebuke them, I still remember them with fondness. So I am deeply moved with pity for them and will surely have compassion on them. I, the LORD, affirm it!
• Lam 3:40 : 40 נ(Nun) Let us carefully examine our ways, and let us return to the LORD.
• Ezek 18:30-32 : 30 “Therefore I will judge each person according to his conduct, O house of Israel, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and turn from all your wickedness; then it will not be an obstacle leading to iniquity. 31 Throw away all your sins you have committed and fashion yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why should you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I take no delight in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!
• Hos 12:6 : 6 But you must return to your God, by maintaining love and justice, and by waiting for your God to return to you.
• Hos 14:2 : 2 Return to the LORD and repent! Say to him:“Completely forgive our iniquity; accept our penitential prayer, that we may offer the praise of our lips as sacrificial bulls.
• Matt 3:2 : 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
• Acts 9:15 : 15 But the Lord said to him,“Go, because this man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel.
• Acts 9:19-29 : 19 and after taking some food, his strength returned.For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, 20 and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying,“This man is the Son of God.” 21 All who heard him were amazed and were saying,“Is this not the man who in Jerusalem was ravaging those who call on this name, and who had come here to bring them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22 But Saul became more and more capable, and was causing consternation among the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ. 23 Saul’s Escape from Damascus Now after some days had passed, the Jews plotted together to kill him, 24 but Saul learned of their plot against him. They were also watching the city gates day and night so that they could kill him. 25 But his disciples took him at night and let him down through an opening in the wall by lowering him in a basket. 26 Saul Returns to Jerusalem When he arrived in Jerusalem, he attempted to associate with the disciples, and they were all afraid of him, because they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took Saul, brought him to the apostles, and related to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So he was staying with them, associating openly with them in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He was speaking and debating with the Greek-speaking Jews, but they were trying to kill him.
• Matt 4:17 : 17 From that time Jesus began to preach this message:“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near!”