SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 3:21

3:21a

Heaven must take Him in: The Greek is literally “whom it is necessary for heaven to receive/welcome.” Jesus must stay in heaven until the time when God restores all things (3:21b). For example:

whom heaven must receive (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
whom heaven must keep (New Jerusalem Bible)

Heaven: This word refers to the place where God lives and from which he rules. In some languages the same word is used for “heaven” and “sky.” If that is true in your language, you may need to make it clear that this refers to the place where God lives. For example:

the place of God
-or-
the place where God lives

See how you translated Heaven in 1:2a.

must: This word indicates that it was necessary for heaven to receive/welcome Jesus. That event happened when Jesus ascended to heaven (1:9–11).

Him: Here the pronoun Him refers to Jesus.

3:21b

until: The word until indicates that Jesus will not remain in heaven when God restores everything. He will come on the clouds with power and glory (Matthew 24:30–31).

the time comes for the restoration of all things: This clause refers to it becoming the right time for the restoration of all things. In some languages a word other than comes must be used. For example:

the time occurs for God to restore everything
-or-
the time when God will restore everything

restoration: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as restoration:

(1) It means make like new again. For example:

be made new (Good News Translation)

(Berean Standard Bible, Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, English Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, New International Version, New Revised Standard Version, God’s Word, NET Bible, New Living Translation (2004), Revised English Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition, New Jerusalem Bible, King James Version)

(2) It means place in a secure position. It indicates that God will make every promise secure. For example:

establishing (Revised Standard Version)

(Revised Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

all things: This probably refers to all of creation.

3:21c

which God announced long ago through His holy prophets: The word through indicates that long ago God told his prophets what he would do, and the prophets told his words to other people. Here is another way to translate this clause:

he said these things long ago to his holy prophets and they proclaimed them to people

long ago: The phrase long ago refers to hundreds of years before Peter said this.

His holy prophets: The Greek is literally “the mouth of his holy prophets.” But it is more natural in English not to translate “the mouth of.” So many English versions do not translate that phrase.

holy: The word holy indicates that they were dedicated to God. Here are some other ways to translate this word:

dedicated to serving God
-or-
serving God only

prophets: See how you translated the word prophets in 2:16 or 3:18.

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