Acts 8:22

Easy-to-Read Version

Change your heart! Turn away from these evil thoughts and pray to the Lord. Maybe he will forgive you.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, your heart’s intent may be forgiven.

King James Version (1611)
Repent therefore of this thy wickednesse, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiuen thee.

King James Version
Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

English Standard Version
Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.

New American Standard Bible
"Therefore, repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart will be forgiven you.

New Century Version
Change your heart! Turn away from this evil thing you have done, and pray to the Lord. Maybe he will forgive you for thinking this.

Amplified Bible
"So repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, this thought of your heart may be forgiven you.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.

Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray earnestly to the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.

Berean Standard Bible
Repent, therefore, of your wickedness, and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for the intent of your heart.

Contemporary English Version
Get rid of these evil thoughts and ask God to forgive you.

Complete Jewish Bible
So repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord. Perhaps you will yet be forgiven for holding such a thought in your heart.

Darby Translation
Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and supplicate the Lord, if indeed the thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee;

Geneva Bible (1587)
Repent therefore of this thy wickednes, and pray God, that if it be possible, the thought of thine heart may be forgiuen thee.

George Lamsa Translation
Repent, therefore, of this evil of yours, and beseech God that he may perhaps forgive you for the guile which is in your heart.

Good News Translation
Repent, then, of this evil plan of yours, and pray to the Lord that he will forgive you for thinking such a thing as this.

Lexham English Bible
Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and ask the Lord if perhaps the intent of your heart may be forgiven you!"

Literal Translation
Repent, then, from this wickedness of yours, and petition God if perhaps you will be forgiven the thought of your heart.

American Standard Version
Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perhaps the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee.

Bible in Basic English
Let your heart be changed, and make prayer to God that you may have forgiveness for your evil thoughts.

Hebrew Names Version
Repent therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.

International Standard Version
So repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, this thought of your heart may be forgiven you.Daniel 4:27; 2 Timothy 2:25;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
Nevertheless, repent of this thy wickedness, and pray of Aloha, that the guile of thy heart may haply be forgiven thee;

Murdock Translation
Nevertheless, repent of this thy wickedness, and entreat of God, if perhaps the guile of thy heart may be forgiven thee.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Repent therefore of this thy wickednesse, & praye God, if perhaps ye thought of thyne heart may be forgeuen thee.

English Revised Version
Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perhaps the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee.

World English Bible
Repent therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee.

Weymouth's New Testament
Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord, in the hope that the purpose which is in your heart may perhaps be forgiven you.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor do thou penaunce for this wickidnesse of thee, and preie God, if perauenture this thouyt of thin herte be foryouun to thee.

Update Bible Version
Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perhaps the thought of your heart shall be forgiven you.

Webster's Bible Translation
Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee.

New English Translation
Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that he may perhaps forgive you for the intent of your heart.

New King James Version
Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.

New Living Translation
Repent of your wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive your evil thoughts,

New Life Bible
You must be sorry for this sin of yours and turn from it. Pray to the Lord that He will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.

New Revised Standard
Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Repent, therefore, from this thy baseness, and entreat of the Lord - whether, after all, the purpose of thy heart shall be forgiven thee;

Douay-Rheims Bible
Do penance therefore for this thy wickedness: and pray to God, that perhaps this thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee.

Revised Standard Version
Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Repent therfore of this thy wickednes and praye God that ye thought of thyne hert maye be forgeven the.

Young's Literal Translation
reform, therefore, from this thy wickedness, and beseech God, if then the purpose of thy heart may be forgiven thee,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Repente therfore of this yi wickednesse, and praye vnto God, yf happly the thought of thy hert maye be forgeue ye.

Mace New Testament (1729)
repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray to God, to forgive, if it be possible, this suggestion you have entertain'd.

Simplified Cowboy Version
You better change your ways if you don't want to end up in the fire. Pray that God forgives you. What you did is worse than riding in front of the boss.

Contextual Overview

¹⁴ The apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted the word of God. So they sent Peter and John to the people in Samaria. ¹⁵ When Peter and John arrived, they prayed for the Samaritan believers to receive the Holy Spirit. ¹⁶ These people had been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, but the Holy Spirit had not yet come down on any of them. This is why Peter and John prayed. ¹⁷ When the two apostles laid their hands on the people, they received the Holy Spirit. ¹⁸ Simon saw that the Spirit was given to people when the apostles laid their hands on them. So he offered the apostles money. ¹⁹ He said, "Give me this power so that when I lay my hands on someone, they will receive the Holy Spirit." ²⁰ Peter said to Simon, "You and your money should both be destroyed because you thought you could buy God's gift with money. ²¹ You cannot share with us in this work. Your heart is not right before God. ²² Change your heart! Turn away from these evil thoughts and pray to the Lord. Maybe he will forgive you. ²³ I see that you are full of bitter jealousy and cannot stop yourself from doing wrong."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Repent: Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19, Acts 17:30, Romans 2:4, 2 Timothy 2:25, 2 Timothy 2:26, Revelation 2:21

pray: Acts 9:11, Deuteronomy 4:29, Deuteronomy 4:30, 1 Kings 8:47, 1 Kings 8:48, 2 Chronicles 33:12, 2 Chronicles 33:13, Isaiah 55:6, Isaiah 55:7, Amos 5:6, Matthew 7:7, Matthew 7:8, Luke 11:9-13, Revelation 3:17, Revelation 3:18

if: Daniel 4:27, Joel 2:13, Joel 2:14, Amos 5:15, Jonah 1:6, Jonah 3:9, 2 Timothy 2:25

the thought: Acts 8:20, Hebrews 4:12

Reciprocal: Job 1:5 - in their hearts Job 15:12 - thine heart Psalms 10:4 - thoughts Psalms 49:11 - Their inward Proverbs 24:9 - thought Isaiah 32:6 - and his heart Jeremiah 4:14 - How long Jeremiah 6:19 - even Ezekiel 38:10 - that at Matthew 15:19 - evil Matthew 24:48 - say Matthew 25:9 - but Mark 2:8 - Why Mark 7:21 - out Acts 5:4 - why 2 Timothy 3:8 - men

Cross-References

Genesis 8:8
Noah also sent out a dove. He wanted it to find dry ground. He wanted to know if water still covered the earth.

Genesis 8:9
The dove could not find a place to rest because water still covered the earth, so the dove came back to the boat. Noah reached out his hand and caught the dove and brought it back into the boat.

Genesis 8:11
And that afternoon the dove came back to Noah. The dove had a fresh olive leaf in its mouth. This was a sign to show Noah that there was dry ground on the earth.

Genesis 8:12
Seven days later Noah sent the dove out again. But this time the dove didn't come back.

Genesis 8:16
"Leave the boat. You, your wife, your sons, and your sons' wives should go out now.

Genesis 8:17
Bring every living animal out of the boat with you—all the birds, animals, and everything that crawls on the earth. These animals will make many more animals, and they will fill the earth again."

Genesis 8:20
Then Noah built an altar to honor the Lord . Noah took some of all the clean birds and some of all the clean animals and burned them on the altar as a gift to God.

Genesis 45:6
This terrible famine has continued for two years now, and there will be five more years without planting or harvest.

Exodus 34:21
"You will work for six days, but on the seventh day you must rest. You must rest even during the times of planting and harvesting.

Jeremiah 5:24
The people of Judah never say to themselves, ‘Let's fear and respect the Lord our God. He gives us autumn and spring rains at just the right time. He makes sure that we have the harvest at just the right time.'

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Repent therefore of this thy wickedness,.... For a great piece of wickedness it was, to offer money for the gift of the Holy Ghost, and to imagine, that could be purchased with money; and what made the wickedness still greater was, the evil design he had in this, to advance himself in opposition to Christ and his apostles, as he afterwards did; and when the apostle puts him upon repentance, his view is to show the heinousness of his crime, the need he stood in of repentance, and that without it, his case must be miserable:

and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee; though he was in a state of nature, the apostle exhorts him to the duty of prayer; for prayer is a natural duty, and binding upon all men, though none but a spiritual man can perform it in a spiritual way: and though this sin of Simon's was a very heinous one, and came very near unto, and looked very much like the sin against the Holy Ghost, yet it was not the unpardonable one; it might be pardoned by the grace of God, and through the blood of Christ; and therefore Peter, who wished his salvation and not his damnation, put him upon prayer for it; which was possible, though difficult, but not certain: the apostle says not this, as doubting; if it was a case wholly to be despaired of, then he would not have directed him to the means; and yet the wickedness was so horribly great, and he in such a wretched hardened state, that there was no great hope or expectation of his repentance, and so of the application of pardon to him: however, this advice was not given ironically: Peter was too grave and serious to speak sarcastically, or break a jest upon a man in such circumstances; whom no doubt he heartily pitied, though he abhorred his sin: the Syriac version renders it, "the deceit of thine heart": and the Ethiopic version, "the evil thought of thine heart"; and such it was.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Repent, therefore - Here we may remark:

1. That Simon was at this time an unconverted sinner.

(2)That the command was given to him “as such.”

(3)That he was required to “do the thing”; not to wait or seek merely, but actually to repent.

(4)That this was to be the “first step” in his conversion. He was not even directed to “pray” first, but his first indispensable work was to “repent”; that is, to exercise proper sorrow for this sin, and to “abandon” his plan or principle of action.

And this shows:

(1)That all sinners are to be exhorted to “repent,” as their first work. They are not to be told to “wait,” and “read,” and “pray,” in the expectation that repentance will be “given” them. With such helps as they can obtain, they are to “do the thing.”

(2)Prayer will not be acceptable or heard unless the sinner comes “repenting”; that is, unless he regrets his sin, and “desires” to forsake it. Then, and then only, will he be heard. When he comes “loving” his sins, and resolving still to practice them, God will not hear him. When he comes “desirous” of forsaking them, grieved that he is guilty, and “feeling” his need of help, God will hear his prayer. See Isaiah 1:15; Micah 3:4; Proverbs 1:28; Psalms 66:18.

And pray God - Having a “desire” to forsake the sin, and to be pardoned, “then” pray to God to forgive. It would be absurd to ask forgiveness until a man felt his need of it. This shows that a sinner “ought” to pray, and “how” he ought to do it. It should be with a desire and purpose to forsake sin, and in that state of mind God will hear the prayer. Compare Daniel 4:27.

If perhaps - There was no certainty that God would forgive him; nor is there any evidence either that Simon prayed, or that he was forgiven. This direction of Peter presents “another” important principle in regard to the conduct of sinners. They are to be directed to repent; not because they have the “promise” of forgiveness, and not because they “hope” to be forgiven, but because sin “is a great evil,” and because it is “right” and “proper” that they should repent, whether they are forgiven or not. That is to be left to the sovereign mercy of God. they are to repent of sin, and then they are to feel, not that they have any claim on God, but that they are dependent upon Him, and must be saved or lost at His will. They are not to suppose that their tears will purchase forgiveness, but that they lie at the footstool of mercy, and that there is hope - not certainty - that God will forgive. The language of the humbled sinner is:

“Perhaps he will admit my plea,

Perhaps will hear my prayer;

But if I perish I will pray,

And perish only there.

“I can but perish if I go;

I am resolved to try;

For if I stay away, I

Know I shall forever die.”

The thought ... - Your “purpose,” or “wish.” “Thoughts” may be, therefore, evil, and need forgiveness. It is not open sin only that needs to be pardoned; it is the secret purpose of the soul.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 8:22. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness — St. Peter did not suppose his case to be utterly hopeless; though his sin, considered in its motives and objects, was of the most heinous kind.

If perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. — His sin, as yet, only existed in thought and purpose; and therefore it is said, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven.