Acts 3:21 Meaning and Explanation
“Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Heaven must receive Jesus until the times of restitution of all things, which God has spoken through all his holy prophets since the world began.
What Does Acts 3:21 Mean?
Peter answers the question his words raise — where is Jesus now? Received into heaven at his ascension (Acts 1:9-11), and there he must remain until the appointed times in which all that God has promised is restored. The scope is breathtaking: every holy prophet 'since the world began' has spoken toward this hope.
God's purpose is not bare rescue but restitution — the setting right of all things. What sin has broken, scattered, and stolen, God has pledged through his prophets to restore. History is not winding down; it is being gathered up toward that promise, with the risen Jesus at its center. Whatever ruin a believer grieves today, no word of God will fall to the ground, and nothing he intends to mend will stay broken.
Acts 3:21 in the Original Language
apokatastasis (ἀποκατάστασις), 'restitution' -- restoration; the setting of things back in their true and proper order.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 3:21
What does Acts 3:21 mean?
Heaven must receive Jesus until the times of restitution of all things, which God has spoken through all his holy prophets since the world began.