מעשי השליחים 8:22

Delitzsche Hebrew New Testament

וְעַתָּה שׁוּב מֵרָעָתְךָ זֹאת וְהִתְחַנֵּן אֶל־הָאֱלֹהִים אוּלַי תִּסָּלַח לְךָ מְזִמַּת לְבָבֶךָ׃

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Modern Translation
ועתה שוב מרעתך זאת והתחנן אל האלהים אולי תסלח לך מזמת לבבך׃

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

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.