Luke 24:47 · Bible study
Luke 24:47 Commentary: Repentance & Forgiveness for All Nations
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why begin in Jerusalem, the city that crucified Jesus? Explore the meaning of repentance, forgiveness, and the global gospel in Christ's final commission.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The resurrected Christ commands universal proclamation of repentance and forgiveness, starting where rejection was deepest.
- Key words: repentance (metanoia), forgiveness (aphesis), name (onoma), nations (ethnē), beginning from Jerusalem (arxamenoi apo Ierousalēm).
- Main debate: Whether repentance is a condition for forgiveness or a gift that accompanies it, both are proclaimed together.
- Theological theme: Grace and mission: God’s mercy to the worst sinners and the global scope of salvation in Christ.
- Best use: As a mission statement for the church; comfort for the guilty; call to evangelism that starts at home and reaches the world.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
and in His name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.
WEB World English Bible 2000
and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
KJV King James Version 1769
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
and reformation and remission of sins to be proclaimed in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem:
Darby Darby Bible 1890
and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations beginning at Jerusalem.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And that penance and remission of sins should be preached in his name, unto all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y que se predicase en su nombre el arrepentimiento y la remisión de pecados en todas las naciones, comenzando de Jerusalem.
E que em seu nome fosse pregado arrependimento e perdão de pecados em todas as nações, começando de Jerusalém.
et que la repentance et le pardon des péchés seraient prêchés en son nom à toutes les nations, à commencer par Jérusalem.
und predigen lassen in seinem Namen Buße und Vergebung der Sünden unter allen Völkern und anheben zu Jerusalem.
En in Zijn Naam gepredikt worden bekering en vergeving der zonden, onder alle volken, beginnende van Jeruzalem.
e che nel suo nome si predicherebbe ravvedimento e remission dei peccati a tutte le genti, cominciando da Gerusalemme.
I aby była kazana w imieniu jego pokuta i odpuszczenie grzechów między wszystkimi narody, począwszy od Jeruzalemu.
и проповедану быть во имя Его покаянию и прощению грехов во всех народах, начиная с Иерусалима.
並且 人要奉 他 的名 傳 悔改、 赦 罪的道，從 耶路撒冷 起 直傳到 萬 邦。
And that teaching about a change of heart and forgiveness of sins is to be given to Jerusalem first and to all nations in his name.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Luke 24:47
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree on the central meaning of this verse. Jesus commissions his apostles to proclaim repentance and remission of sins to all nations, in his name, beginning from Jerusalem. The Greek verb κηρυχθῆναι (kēruchthēnai) means to herald or proclaim with authority, a public announcement, not a private suggestion. The two central items, repentance and forgiveness, are consistently linked in the New Testament. As Gill notes, they are joined not because repentance earns pardon, “repentance makes no satisfaction for sin”, but because they are connected in God’s order of grace. Clarke emphasizes that “remission of sins” (ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν) includes the full removal of sin’s power, guilt, and pollution. The phrase “in his name” (ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ) means on the basis of Christ’s authority and atoning work. The scope extends “to all the nations” (εἰς πάντα τὰ ἔθνη), fulfilling promises to Abraham (Genesis 12:3) and the psalmists (Psalm 22:27). The starting point is Jerusalem, astonishingly, the city where Jesus was crucified. Commentators from Calvin to Wesley highlight this as a demonstration of grace: the gospel offers pardon first to Christ’s murderers, proving that no sinner is beyond hope.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Repentance as condition (Arminian/Wesleyan): Emphasizes the order ‘repentance and remission’ as sequential; repentance is the human response that precedes pardon (Acts 2:38).
- Repentance as gift (Reformed): Repentance is itself a gift from Christ (Acts 5:31, 11:18); it accompanies forgiveness rather than procuring it. Both are proclaimed because they are connected in God’s covenant order.
- Jerusalem as historical priority: The apostles literally began in Jerusalem (Acts 2) before expanding outward; this reflects the ‘to the Jew first’ pattern (Romans 1:16).
- Jerusalem as theological symbol: Starting at Jerusalem demonstrates that no sin is beyond forgiveness — even the murder of the Messiah — and thus the gospel is for the worst offenders.
What is clear: Christ commissions the universal proclamation of repentance and forgiveness in his name, beginning from Jerusalem — a statement of grace, mission, and hope for all nations.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Repentance and forgiveness: cause or connection? | Both are essential parts of the gospel message and are linked together in the commission. | Some traditions (Arminian/Wesleyan) see repentance as a condition for receiving forgiveness; others (Reformed) see both as gifts of grace, with repentance accompanying forgiveness rather than causing it. |
| Beginning at Jerusalem: priority or pattern? | Historically, the apostles preached first in Jerusalem (Acts 2). This shows God’s faithfulness to Israel and his willingness to forgive the worst sinners. | Some see this as a permanent pattern, the gospel should always be offered to the Jewish people first. Others see it as a unique historical starting point, emphasizing that the church’s mission begins at home and expands outward. |
| All nations: universal offer or universal salvation? | The gospel is to be proclaimed to every ethnic group without exception, fulfilling Old Testament promises. | All Christians affirm the universal offer of salvation, but they differ on whether this verse implies that all will be saved (universalism) or that the offer is made to all but requires a response (evangelical view). Most traditions reject universalism. |
| In his name: content or authority? | Preaching in Jesus’ name means the message is authorized by him and centered on his work. | Some stress that “in his name” includes explicit confession of Jesus as Lord and the call to faith in him; others emphasize the authority given to the apostles, which extends to the church’s mission today. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Jerusalem in the first century was the religious and political center of Judaism. It held the Temple, the Sanhedrin, and the heritage of God’s covenant with Israel. When Jesus commands the apostles to begin preaching there, he places them at the very location of his crucifixion and rejection. This choice is both gracious and strategic. As Clarke puts it, these are “the first overtures of mercy to my murderers.” Wesley notes that it encourages the greatest sinners to repent, seeing that even those who killed Christ are not excluded. Calvin adds that the “wall of partition” (Ephesians 2:14) is thrown down; yet the Jews retain the privilege of the firstborn, the gospel goes “to the Jew first” (Romans 1:16).
The literary context of Luke’s Gospel reinforces this. From the infancy narratives in the temple to the final journey toward Jerusalem (Luke 9, 19), the city has been the focal point of Jesus’ mission. Now, after his resurrection, the mission radiates outward. The command is rooted in Scripture: Jesus says “thus it is written” (v.46), echoing prophecies that the nations would stream to Zion (Isaiah 2:3, Micah 4:2). But the apostolic mission reverses the flow: instead of nations coming to Jerusalem, the heralds go out from Jerusalem. This re-centering of God’s work fits Luke’s emphasis on the universality of salvation. The resurrection proves Jesus is the Messiah for all people. Beginning at Jerusalem also fulfills the Old Testament promises of blessing to the families of the earth (Genesis 12:3), not by drawing them to one place, but by sending witnesses to every place.
Textual Notes
The Greek text of Luke 24:47 is well established with no significant variants between major manuscripts. Vincent’s Word Studies notes that some editors place a period after “nations” and connect “beginning from Jerusalem” with the following sentence: “beginning from Jerusalem, you are witnesses.” This punctuation affects the flow of thought but does not change the meaning, the apostles are still witnesses beginning at Jerusalem. Most modern editions (including the WEB, KJV, ASV, BSB) keep the traditional reading, where “beginning at Jerusalem” modifies the preaching commission.
Reception History
Luke 24:47 has been recognized across church history as a programmatic statement for the church’s global mission. Early Christians used it to justify taking the gospel beyond Jewish boundaries, fulfilling Old Testament promises of blessing to the nations. In the Reformation, Calvin highlighted the breaking down of the wall between Jew and Gentile, while Lutheran and Reformed theologians stressed that repentance and remission of sins are both gifts received through faith alone. Wesley and Clarke saw this verse as a warrant for universal evangelism, if the murderers of Christ were offered pardon, no one on earth is beyond hope. During the modern missionary movement, this verse provided a concise mandate: preach Christ to all peoples, beginning where the church already is. It continues to comfort the guilty and challenge the comfortable, reminding every generation that God’s grace is wider and deeper than our worst failures.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The message proclaimed: repentance and forgiveness. These two belong together. Repentance is a change of mind and life; forgiveness is the full release from sin’s penalty and power. Neither is earned, both are gifts through Christ.
- The authority behind it: in his name. The apostles preach on the foundation of Christ’s person and work. His resurrection validates his authority to grant pardon.
- The scope and starting point: to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. The gospel is for everyone, and it starts where rejection is deepest, proving grace is for the worst sinners.
Five-point outline
- The risen Lord gives a commission. The resurrection changes everything. Jesus has conquered death and now sends his witnesses.
- The content of the commission: repentance and remission of sins. This is not a vague spiritual message but a specific call to turn from sin and receive pardon.
- The foundation of the commission: in his name. The message carries Christ’s authority and is based on his atoning sacrifice.
- The reach of the commission: all nations. No ethnic or geographic boundary limits the offer.
- The order of the commission: beginning at Jerusalem. Jerusalem is first both in privilege and in depth of sin, a pattern of grace that encourages every sinner.
Illustration hooks
- A person who feels unforgivable, perhaps someone who abandoned their family or committed a terrible crime, can look at Jerusalem and realize: if the murderers of Christ were offered pardon, then anyone can be.
- A church that wants to reach its community often starts by addressing its own failures first, like the early believers who stayed in Jerusalem despite their fear and failures.
- In a divided congregation, the command to “begin at Jerusalem” might mean offering forgiveness to those who have wounded you before taking the gospel to others.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why would God offer forgiveness to the people who killed His Son? Does that mean no sin is too great for God to forgive?
- What does it mean to “repent”, is it just feeling sorry, or does it involve changing behavior?
- How does this verse guide the church’s mission today? Should we start with the hardest people or the most receptive?
Leading a Discussion
This verse is Jesus’ final commission in Luke’s Gospel, a compact statement of what the apostles were to do after his ascension. It connects the resurrection to the worldwide mission of the church. As you discuss it, notice how each phrase carries weight: repentance, forgiveness, in his name, all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Discussion questions
- What does the Greek word kērussō (to proclaim) suggest about the nature of Christian preaching? How is it different from teaching or sharing opinions?
- Why are repentance and forgiveness paired together? What would be missing if only one were preached?
- What does “in his name” mean practically for how we share the gospel? Is it about method, authority, or both?
- How does the resurrection (v.46) relate to the command to preach? Why is the resurrection essential for forgiveness?
- Why does Jesus specify “beginning at Jerusalem”? What does that teach us about God’s heart for people who oppose him?
- How does the Old Testament background (Genesis 12:3; Isaiah 2:3) shape your understanding of “all nations”?
- In what ways can your group or church “begin at Jerusalem”, that is, start with your own community or even with people who have hurt you?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 12:3 | I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who treats you with contempt. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you.” |
| Psalms 22:27 | All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to Yahweh. All the relatives of the nations shall worship before you. |
| Psalms 67:2 | That your way may be known on earth, and your salvation among all nations, |
| Psalms 67:4 | Oh let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you will judge the peoples with equity, and govern the nations on earth. Selah. |
| Psalms 67:7 | God will bless us. All the ends of the earth shall fear him. |
| Psalms 86:9 | All nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord. They shall glorify your name. |
| Psalms 98:1 | A Psalm. Sing to Yahweh a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. |
| Psalms 98:3 | He has remembered his loving kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke stresses that remission of sins means the complete removal of sin's power, guilt, and corrupting nature — not mere pardon. He highlights the striking grace of the command: the heralds of this message were to start in Jerusalem, offering mercy first to Christ's own murderers.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes highlights that repentance is commanded by Christ’s authority and pardon is offered by Christ’s merit. The command to preach begins at Jerusalem, the home of his murderers, showing his readiness to forgive the worst sinners, and because it was the holy place of the ancient dispensation.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin notes that Christ only fully revealed the gospel's worldwide reach after his resurrection, tearing down the barrier between Jews and Gentiles. Yet he insists the Jews kept their firstborn privilege: the apostles had to begin at Jerusalem, honoring God's covenant with Abraham before the message went to all nations.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible Schools commentary ties this verse to Old Testament prophecies, showing that forgiveness proclaimed in Christ's name was always intended for all nations, not just Israel. It also notes the specific starting point in Jerusalem, as foretold by Isaiah and Micah.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes emphasize that the message to be preached is repentance and forgiveness of sins, proclaimed in Christ's authority to every nation. They highlight the starting point at Jerusalem, showing the gospel deliberately spreading from the center of Jewish worship outward.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill stresses that repentance and remission of sins are preached together, but repentance does not cause pardon. Only Christ's blood atones for sin. Repentance is a Gospel gift, not law, and true evangelical repentance includes faith and hope of forgiveness. Preaching began at Jerusalem to show even the worst sinners can receive mercy.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB gives two deliberate reasons the gospel message must begin in Jerusalem: it was the heart of God's existing kingdom, and it was the nation's worst reservoir of sin. Starting there demonstrates that mercy in Christ reaches even the chief of sinners, making the offer as striking as possible.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that Jesus appeared five separate times on the day of his resurrection, each to different individuals or groups. The appearance to the eleven disciples at night was the last of these, and their initial terror and later joy show how gradually and personally Jesus convinced them of his real bodily resurrection.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley highlights the grace and wisdom of starting the gospel message in Jerusalem itself. The grace is shown by including Christ's murderers in the offer of mercy, encouraging the worst sinners to repent. The wisdom lies in preaching the facts on the very spot where they happened, strengthening the testimony.