What Does Acts 26:20 Mean in the King James?
But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judæa, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The verse repeats the turn in two movements, then shows it taking shape in actions that face the same direction.
THE MEANING
Your turn toward God reaches beyond a change of thought: it gives your life a new direction, and fitting actions make that direction visible. The verse joins inward reorientation and outward action in one movement.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
Turning toward God is only a private feeling; the verse joins that turn to actions that match it.
THE ROOT
μετανοεῖν
metanoein
GROWS FROM
νοέω
noeō
Perceive, think, or understand; with μετα- (meta-, change or after), the word carries a changed orientation of thought.
English “repent” can sound like regret alone, but μετανοεῖν (metanoein, to repent or turn through a changed understanding) carries a reorientation. Here it is paired with another verb for turning, so that reorientation immediately faces a direction: God.
ALSO GROWS
nous: Mind, understanding.
νοῦς
This branch shows the faculty of perception beneath the turn.
noēma: Thought, purpose, or intention.
νόημα
A changed understanding reaches into the purposes that shape a life.
metanoia: Turning or a changed mind.
μετάνοια
This noun names the reorientation that the verse says should become visible in action.
ἐπιστρέφειν ἐπὶ τὸν θεόν
epistrephein epi ton
GROWS FROM
στρέφω
strephō
Turn or turn around; the phrase ἐπὶ τὸν θεόν (epi ton theon, toward God) names the direction of the turn.
“turn to God” in this verse is epistrephein epi ton. This verb shares its stem with words for turning away and turning back. The phrase names the destination plainly: the turn is toward God, not merely away from one former direction.
ALSO GROWS
apostrephō: Turn away or turn aside.
ἀποστρέφω
This branch makes the direction of a turn matter: turning away is not the same movement as turning toward God.
epistrophē: Return or turning back.
ἐπιστροφή
This branch echoes the passage’s movement toward God as a return, rather than an abstract change.
THE PATTERN
A turn toward God takes visible shape in actions that fit the new direction.
Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.THE THREAD
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;The same paired Greek verbs return: μετανοήσατε (metanoēsate, turn) and ἐπιστρέψατε (epistrepsate, turn back or return). Here the turn is followed by what is missing being blotted out, joining reorientation with release.
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