jeremiah1five
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19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; Acts 3:19.
The word "repent"
Strong's [#3340] μετανοέω metanoeō [verb] from [#3326] (meta) and [#3539] (noieo); to think differently or afterwards, i.e. reconsider (moral feel compunction.)
The word "converted."
Strong's [#1994] ἐπιστρέφω epistrephō [verb] from [#1909] (epi) and [#4762] (strepho); to revert (literal, figurative or moral.)
The etymology of this word is: verb "a change or turn from one religion to another," especially to Christianity."
As a noun: "person whose faith has been changed from one religion to another."
The context is as follows.
11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering. 12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel,
Acts 3:11–12.
Peter and John are now in the Temple at the porch called "Solomon's" named after King Solomon. Moments later as people are attracted to what happened to this lame man that sat at the Gate Beautiful asking alms who can now walk, Peter opens his mouth and addresses "ye men of Israel" which could be where certain of the population may have gathered who were of the ten tribes of the northern kingdom. He proceeds to bring up when the world began (possible reference to the Abrahamic Covenant), and Moses, the holy prophets, the Prophet of prophets Jesus Christ, Samuel, the (Abrahamic) covenant, and the salvation that is of the Jews and the forgiveness of their sins (iniquities.)
Here are two Hebrew men, Peter, and John, both apostles to the Jews. The spoke Hebrew, Aramaic, and maybe some Greek. Their mindset is of two typical Jewish men who had a three-year encounter with Israel's prophesied and Promised Messiah. Their history is Jewish, their language is Jewish, and their religion is Judaism. Men who are steeped in Hebrew/Jewish history and culture. Peter has at least one Jewish son and they married Jewish women. But the astounding thing is what Peter said in 3:19 to their fellow Jews to "repent" and be "converted." Now, I can understand his urging them to "repent," that is, "think differently or afterwards, i.e. reconsider (moral feel compunction. Sure, some of these people were there at the cross and cried "Crucify!" "Crucify!" or they weren't and didn't. But they did know something about this person called Jesus and the things He taught and the miracles He performed. One would be hard pressed to find someone who didn't know about Jesus since His fame was spread abroad. Even a couple of Jewish men in the tombs knew about Jesus and recognized Him on the spot. But it is what Peter added when speaking to them in 3:19. He says, be "converted." The word is defined by Strong's as "revert." Well, "revert" to what? Taking Peter's thinking to a proper conclusion, it would be logical first in order to "revert" one would:
1. Have to have been with or a follower of Jesus prior to that.
2. For maybe reason of His death, they may have "left off" following Him - Peter may have recognized some of the Jews that were offended at Jesus' words about "eating His flesh and drinking His blood"? Some Jews walked no more with Him.
3. Then Peter called on them to repent (think differently or reconsider) and then to "re-vert" back to Jesus.
The other thing about "converted" is its usage and understanding. It says as its etymology to "change or turn from one religion to another, especially to Christianity." But the thing is that Christianity didn't exist when Peter said those words and Christianity is not a religion. If anything, the 3000 Jews that were born-again at Pentecost were water baptized into the "church" of Peter. It was his sermon. They responded to him. They were now his followers until this New Covenant could be figured out through searching of their Scriptures to understand what they were in the middle of with a Messiah and a Holy Spirit of Promise making their Presence felt.
But Jesus was Israel's Promised Messiah. He is the fulfillment of their covenants. The obvious step would be to just accept who Jesus was - and maybe these Jews did - and then you will have completed Judaism. And Christianity is Completed Judaism. It's not a [new] religion. It's the completion of all the covenants and prophecies and promises fulfilled in Jesus. Its Judaism fulfilled.
Maybe Peter should have said "turn" instead? And being born-again is not in the power of men. They cannot "convert" to Christ on their own without the Father's drawing them. Even then it's the Holy Spirit that converts a person. That's why there are millions of false conversions in the Gentile Church fellowships around the world. Pastors continually preach from the pulpit a similar message as given by Peter in Acts 3. But Peter didn't know. He may have understood terms like "election" and "foreknowledge" as a Jewish man as mentioned in his two letters to Jewish Christians, but it took time to understand Messiah's effect, and the Holy Spirit of Promises' effect upon their Judaism and covenants. Some 22 years later Saul wrote to Jewish Christians who were concerned about their standing in the Abrahamic Covenant while being Messiah-followers and it took Saul's letter to Jewish Christians in the Galatian region to comfort them that they were still "Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise."
But Christianity is not a religion and Jews don't have to be "re-verted" to their religion unless that religion has Christ as its central figure to follow, worship, and adore. I'm sure the people in the Temple Peter were speaking to were practicing Jews. If they weren't they wouldn't be in the Temple. Nor is there any need to repent. According to all three covenants there is no requirement of faith in their provision. The Abrahamic Covenant is mostly a God-sided covenant with Abraham required to do nothing. The Mosaic Covenant does have God requiring obedience with blessing and cursing attached to it, but no mention of faith. And the New Covenant neither has any requirement of faith God demands from the House of Israel and Judah. This makes sense when taken in context to Saul's statement in Romans "and ALL Israel shall be saved" (as per their covenants with God.) There is every indication and Peter, John, James, Saul neither converted to Christianity because there's nothing to convert back to if Jesus is the completion of their covenants and prophecies and promises. What could the eleven disciples do but continue in their Judaic religion but now have a Messiah, Redeemer-King to speak of. Yes, I'm sure of it. All these Jewish men who were disciples of Jesus Christ - Saul included - remained obedient to the Torah and the Jewish way of life. Peter and John went to the Temple to handle some religious duty. After all, Christianity is only Completed Judaism.
The word "repent"
Strong's [#3340] μετανοέω metanoeō [verb] from [#3326] (meta) and [#3539] (noieo); to think differently or afterwards, i.e. reconsider (moral feel compunction.)
The word "converted."
Strong's [#1994] ἐπιστρέφω epistrephō [verb] from [#1909] (epi) and [#4762] (strepho); to revert (literal, figurative or moral.)
The etymology of this word is: verb "a change or turn from one religion to another," especially to Christianity."
As a noun: "person whose faith has been changed from one religion to another."
The context is as follows.
11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering. 12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel,
Acts 3:11–12.
Peter and John are now in the Temple at the porch called "Solomon's" named after King Solomon. Moments later as people are attracted to what happened to this lame man that sat at the Gate Beautiful asking alms who can now walk, Peter opens his mouth and addresses "ye men of Israel" which could be where certain of the population may have gathered who were of the ten tribes of the northern kingdom. He proceeds to bring up when the world began (possible reference to the Abrahamic Covenant), and Moses, the holy prophets, the Prophet of prophets Jesus Christ, Samuel, the (Abrahamic) covenant, and the salvation that is of the Jews and the forgiveness of their sins (iniquities.)
Here are two Hebrew men, Peter, and John, both apostles to the Jews. The spoke Hebrew, Aramaic, and maybe some Greek. Their mindset is of two typical Jewish men who had a three-year encounter with Israel's prophesied and Promised Messiah. Their history is Jewish, their language is Jewish, and their religion is Judaism. Men who are steeped in Hebrew/Jewish history and culture. Peter has at least one Jewish son and they married Jewish women. But the astounding thing is what Peter said in 3:19 to their fellow Jews to "repent" and be "converted." Now, I can understand his urging them to "repent," that is, "think differently or afterwards, i.e. reconsider (moral feel compunction. Sure, some of these people were there at the cross and cried "Crucify!" "Crucify!" or they weren't and didn't. But they did know something about this person called Jesus and the things He taught and the miracles He performed. One would be hard pressed to find someone who didn't know about Jesus since His fame was spread abroad. Even a couple of Jewish men in the tombs knew about Jesus and recognized Him on the spot. But it is what Peter added when speaking to them in 3:19. He says, be "converted." The word is defined by Strong's as "revert." Well, "revert" to what? Taking Peter's thinking to a proper conclusion, it would be logical first in order to "revert" one would:
1. Have to have been with or a follower of Jesus prior to that.
2. For maybe reason of His death, they may have "left off" following Him - Peter may have recognized some of the Jews that were offended at Jesus' words about "eating His flesh and drinking His blood"? Some Jews walked no more with Him.
3. Then Peter called on them to repent (think differently or reconsider) and then to "re-vert" back to Jesus.
The other thing about "converted" is its usage and understanding. It says as its etymology to "change or turn from one religion to another, especially to Christianity." But the thing is that Christianity didn't exist when Peter said those words and Christianity is not a religion. If anything, the 3000 Jews that were born-again at Pentecost were water baptized into the "church" of Peter. It was his sermon. They responded to him. They were now his followers until this New Covenant could be figured out through searching of their Scriptures to understand what they were in the middle of with a Messiah and a Holy Spirit of Promise making their Presence felt.
But Jesus was Israel's Promised Messiah. He is the fulfillment of their covenants. The obvious step would be to just accept who Jesus was - and maybe these Jews did - and then you will have completed Judaism. And Christianity is Completed Judaism. It's not a [new] religion. It's the completion of all the covenants and prophecies and promises fulfilled in Jesus. Its Judaism fulfilled.
Maybe Peter should have said "turn" instead? And being born-again is not in the power of men. They cannot "convert" to Christ on their own without the Father's drawing them. Even then it's the Holy Spirit that converts a person. That's why there are millions of false conversions in the Gentile Church fellowships around the world. Pastors continually preach from the pulpit a similar message as given by Peter in Acts 3. But Peter didn't know. He may have understood terms like "election" and "foreknowledge" as a Jewish man as mentioned in his two letters to Jewish Christians, but it took time to understand Messiah's effect, and the Holy Spirit of Promises' effect upon their Judaism and covenants. Some 22 years later Saul wrote to Jewish Christians who were concerned about their standing in the Abrahamic Covenant while being Messiah-followers and it took Saul's letter to Jewish Christians in the Galatian region to comfort them that they were still "Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise."
But Christianity is not a religion and Jews don't have to be "re-verted" to their religion unless that religion has Christ as its central figure to follow, worship, and adore. I'm sure the people in the Temple Peter were speaking to were practicing Jews. If they weren't they wouldn't be in the Temple. Nor is there any need to repent. According to all three covenants there is no requirement of faith in their provision. The Abrahamic Covenant is mostly a God-sided covenant with Abraham required to do nothing. The Mosaic Covenant does have God requiring obedience with blessing and cursing attached to it, but no mention of faith. And the New Covenant neither has any requirement of faith God demands from the House of Israel and Judah. This makes sense when taken in context to Saul's statement in Romans "and ALL Israel shall be saved" (as per their covenants with God.) There is every indication and Peter, John, James, Saul neither converted to Christianity because there's nothing to convert back to if Jesus is the completion of their covenants and prophecies and promises. What could the eleven disciples do but continue in their Judaic religion but now have a Messiah, Redeemer-King to speak of. Yes, I'm sure of it. All these Jewish men who were disciples of Jesus Christ - Saul included - remained obedient to the Torah and the Jewish way of life. Peter and John went to the Temple to handle some religious duty. After all, Christianity is only Completed Judaism.
