Repent ye therefore
The Ethiopic version adds, "and be baptized", (See Gill on
Acts
2:38), and be converted.
The apostle's sense is, repent of the sin of crucifying Christ,
which is what he had been charging them with, and turn unto him,
and acknowledge him as the Messiah; receive his doctrines, and
submit to his ordinances; externally reform in life and
conversation, and bring forth fruits meet for repentance, such as
will show it to be true and genuine: that your sins may be
blotted out;
or forgiven, see ( Psalms 51:9 ) (
Isaiah
43:25 ) ( 44:22 ) . Not
that repentance and reformation procure the pardon of sin, or are
the causes of it, for forgiveness is entirely owing to the free
grace of God, and blood of Christ; but inasmuch as that is only
manifested and applied to repenting and converted sinners; and
who are encouraged to repent, and turn to the Lord from the
promise of pardon; it is incumbent on them, and is their interest
so to do, that they may have a discovery of the remission of
their sins by the blood of Christ. Though no other repentance and
conversion may be here meant than an external one; and the
blotting out of sin, and forgiveness of it, may intend no other
than the removing a present calamity, or the averting a
threatened judgment, or the deliverance of persons from national
ruin, ( Exodus 32:32
) ( 1
Kings 8:34-39 ) . These Jews had crucified the Lord of glory,
and for this sin were threatened with miserable destruction; the
apostle therefore exhorteth them to repentance for it, and to a
conversion to the Messiah, that so when ruin should come upon
their nation, they might be delivered from the general calamity;
when it would be terrible times to the unbelieving and impenitent
Jews, but times of refreshment, ease, peace, and rest from
persecution, to the believers, as is next expressed. When
the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of
the
Lord;
or "that the times of refreshing may come", as the Syriac
version; either seasons of spiritual refreshment, joy, and peace,
through the great and precious promises of the Gospel, and by the
application of the blood and righteousness of Christ, to such
penitent and converted sinners; which refreshment and comfort
come from the Lord, and are accompanied with his gracious
presence: or else seasons of rest, and deliverance from the
violent heat of persecution; which was the case of the saints at
the destruction of Jerusalem; they were not only saved from that
ruin, but delivered from the wrath of their most implacable
enemies. The Ethiopic version renders it, "and the day of mercy
shall come from the presence of the Lord", repenting sinners find
mercy; and a discovery of pardon is a time of mercy; and when God
grants this, he affords his presence. The Jews call the world to
come a time of refreshment; and say F2,
``better is one hour (xwr trwq lv) , "of refreshment", in the world to come, than the whole life of this world.''