SEV Biblia, Chapter 3:21
al cual de cierto es necesario que el cielo tenga hasta los tiempos de la restauracin de todas las cosas, del cual habl Dios por boca de todos sus profetas que han sido desde el siglo.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 3:21
Verse 21. Whom the heaven must receive] He has already appeared upon earth, and accomplished the end of his appearing; he has ascended unto heaven, to administer the concerns of his kingdom, and there he shall continue till he comes again to judge the quick and the dead. The times of restitution of all things] The word apokatastasiv, from apo which signifies from, and kaqistanein, to establish or settle any thing, viz. in a good state; and, when apo is added to it, then this preposition implies that this good state, in which it is settled, was preceded by a bad one, from which the change is made to a good one. So in chap. i. 6, when the disciples said to Christ, Wilt thou at this time restore again (apokaqistaneiv) the kingdom to Israel? they meant, as the Greek word implies, Wilt thou take the kingdom from the Romans, and give it back to the Jews? Now, as the word is here connected with, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets, it must mean the accomplishment of all the prophecies and promises contained in the Old Testament relative to the kingdom of Christ upon earth; the whole reign of grace, from the ascension of our Lord till his coming again, for of all these things have the holy prophets spoken; and, as the grace of the Gospel was intended to destroy the reign of sin, its energetic influence is represented as restoring all things, destroying the bad state, and establishing the good-taking the kingdom out of the hands of sin and Satan, and putting it into those of righteousness and truth. This is done in every believing soul; all things are restored to their primitive order; and the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keeps the heart and mind in the knowledge and love of God. The man loves God with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength, and his neighbour as himself; and thus all the things of which the holy prophets have spoken since the world began, relative to the salvation of any soul, are accomplished in this case; and when such a work becomes universal, as the Scriptures seem to intimate that it will, then all things will be restored in the fullest sense of the term. As therefore the subject here referred to is that of which all the prophets from the beginning have spoken, (and the grand subject of all their declarations was Christ and his work among men,) therefore the words are to be applied to this, and no other meaning. Jesus Christ comes to raise up man from a state of ruin, and restore to him the image of God, as he possessed it at the beginning.
All his holy prophets] pantwn, all, is omitted by ABCD, some others, one Syriac, the Coptic, AEthiopic, Armenian, and Vulgate. Griesbach leaves it out of the text, and inserts the article twn, which the Greek MSS.
have, in the place of pantwn. The text reads thus: Which he hath spoken by his holy prophets, &c.
Since the world began.] ap aiwnov; as aiwn signifies complete and ever-during existence or eternity, it is sometimes applied, by way of accommodation, to denote the whole course of any one period, such as the Mosaic dispensation. See the note on Genesis xxi. 33. It may therefore here refer to that state of things from the giving of the law; and as Moses is mentioned in the next verse, and none before him, it is probable that the phrase should be so understood here. But, if we apply it to the commencement of time, the sense is still good: Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these things; and indeed the birth, life, miracles, preaching sufferings, death, resurrection, ascension, and reign of Jesus Christ, have been the only theme of all prophets and inspired men from the foundation of the world.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 21. Whom the heaven must receive , etc.] Hold and retain in his human nature; and which does not at all hinder or confront his mission, and coming to his people, in the mean while, in a spiritual way and manner, to their joy and comfort: or, who must receive heaven; the kingdom, and glory, and reign there: until the times of the restitution of all things : not of all created beings to their original estate, which there is no reason to believe ever will be; or of the churches of Christ to purity of doctrine, discipline, and conversation, which is to be hoped for, and will be in the spiritual reign of Christ; but of the accomplishment of all promises and prophecies concerning the bringing in the fulness of the Gentiles, and the conversion of the Jews, and so the gathering in all the elect of God; and concerning all the glorious things spoken of the church of Christ in the latter day; which sense is confirmed by what follows: which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets, since the world began : ever since the world was, God has had more or less holy men, set apart and sanctified by him, and on whom he bestowed the spirit of prophecy; and by the mouth of everyone of these he has spoken one thing or another concerning his church and people, and the filling up of the number of them, or the gathering of them all in; and till this is done, Christ will remain in heaven and reign there: and this sense is further confirmed by the Syriac and Arabic versions, the former rendering the words, until the filling or fulfilling of the times of all things; and the latter, until the times which will confirm the perfection of all the words which God hath spoken, etc. and from the sense of the word used, which some lexicographers explain by teleiwsiv , perfection or fulfilling.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 19-21 - The absolute necessity of repentance is to be solemnly charged upon the consciences of all who desire that their sins may be blotted out, an that they may share in the refreshment which nothing but a sense of Christ's pardoning love can afford. Blessed are those who have fel this. It was not needful for the Holy Spirit to make known the time and seasons of these dispensations. These subjects are still lef obscure. But when sinners are convinced of their sins, they will cry to the Lord for pardon; and to the penitent, converted, and believing times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord. In state of trial and probation, the glorified Redeemer will be out of sight, because we must live by faith in him.
Greek Textus Receptus
ον 3739 R-ASM δει 1163 5904 V-PQI-3S ουρανον 3772 N-ASM μεν 3303 PRT δεξασθαι 1209 5664 V-ADN αχρι 891 PREP χρονων 5550 N-GPM αποκαταστασεως 605 N-GSF παντων 3956 A-GPN ων 3739 R-GPN ελαλησεν 2980 5656 V-AAI-3S ο 3588 T-NSM θεος 2316 N-NSM δια 1223 PREP στοματος 4750 N-GSN παντων 3956 A-GPM αγιων 40 A-GPM αυτου 846 P-GSM προφητων 4396 N-GPM απ 575 PREP αιωνος 165 N-GSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
21. Of restitution (apokatastasewv). Only here in New Testament. The kindred verb, to restore, occurs Matt. xvii. 11; Acts i. 6, etc. As a technical medical term, it denotes complete restoration of health; the restoring to its place of a dislocated joint, etc.Since the world began (ap aiwnov). The American Revisers insist on from of old.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
3:21 {Restoration} (apokatastasews). Double compound (apo, kata, histemi), here only in the N.T., though common in late writers. In papyri and inscriptions for repairs to temples and this phrase occurs in Jewish apocalyptic writings, something like the new heaven and the new earth of #Re 21:1. Paul has a mystical allusion also to the agony of nature in #Ro 8:20-22. The verb apokaqistemi is used by Jesus of the spiritual and moral restoration wrought by the Baptist as Elijah (#Mt 17:11; Mr 9:12) and by the disciples to Jesus in #Ac 1:6. Josephus uses the word of the return from captivity and Philo of the restitution of inheritances in the year of jubilee. As a technical medical term it means complete restoration to health. See a like idea in palingenesia (renewal, new birth) in #Mt 19:28; Tit 3:5. this universalism of Peter will be clearer to him after Joppa and Caesarea.
