Acts 3:20Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Here he speaks in a veiled manner about the resurrection, for those are truly times of refreshing. Paul also desired them when he said, "For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened" (2 Cor 5:4).

Then, showing that Christ is the cause of the times of refreshing, he says, "and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was appointed for you."

"And that He may send." Having said this, he does not say from where He will send Him, but only adds, "whom heaven must receive."

"Appointed." By this he also frightens them, since much still remains to take place.

What ignorance was there in asking for the robber to be released, and not receiving into their company the One whom Pilate had judged should be released, but instead killing Him?

He spoke this way to open for them the doors of conversion. Therefore he does not say, "Repent of what you dared to do in the days of the crucifixion."

Instead he says, "that you may be cleansed from your other sins." "Repent," he says, "that times of refreshing may come."

But here he also shows that they are to undergo many afflictions. Such speech can be addressed only to one before whom tears lie, and who awaits some consolation.

See how he gradually approaches the goal. In the first discourse he pointed to Jesus' resurrection and His sitting in the heavens.

Here he already points to His glorious coming, which he calls "times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord." For what other times of renewal or resurrection could there be?

The Apostle Paul raises the question of these times when he says, "We who are in this tent groan, being burdened" (2 Cor 5:4).

If someone should wish to call the times following the conquest of Jerusalem the times of refreshing, there is no obstacle.

For God shortened the times of the Jews' oppression and captivity for the sake of the elect, so that believers might find refreshment and be freed from that severe oppression.

Life in the kingdom of God, in the kingdom of Christ, in reconciliation with God, is a time of rest and a time of refreshing.

This time of spiritual peace or refreshing begins for a person or society from the time of conversion to Christ. In general, it then continues constantly.

This ideal rest in the kingdom of Christ, or, in the characteristic expression, sabbath-rest (Heb 4:1-11), is meant here by the phrase "times of refreshing."

These times of refreshing are rhetorically represented as if present before the face of the Lord, and as coming to earth from His face.

By "the Lord" here is meant God the Father, as is clear from the further connection of the speech.

"That He may send," and so forth. This is speech about the second coming of the Lord Jesus at the end of the world, as is clear from the apostle's further words.

This sending of Him by God the Father is spoken of in the same sense in which His sending for the Incarnation is spoken of (Jn 5:23-24).

"Appointed": the Greek word means determination, decision, predestination. Applied to Christ, the expression means: that He may send the Messiah appointed for you, that is, for the whole Jewish people.

The Gentiles are not excluded from this, but the Messiah was first sent to the Jews (cf. Acts 3:26).

To remain in debts that cannot be paid is surely a crushing state. Their forgiveness must undoubtedly produce refreshment.

So also the forgiveness of sins, granted in Christianity, must fill the hearts of the newly converted with great refreshment.

And with what joy their hearts will be filled when Christ the Savior Himself enters them spiritually and sups with them, consoling and gladdening them in many ways with His many heavenly gifts of salvation.

So the apostle spoke to those who had crucified the Lord, consoling them that they had done this in ignorance.

We, however, do not crucify Christ in ourselves a second time through our sins in ignorance. Yet the Most Merciful receives us also when we turn to Him with all our heart.

The more sincerely anyone has done this, the more strongly he has felt the cool refreshment of mercy proceeding from the face of God through the hands and absolving word of God's priest.

Now "what remains for us to do? To guard ourselves from new falls, lest we again fall into the guilt of crucifying the Lord" (Bishop Theophan).