Heaven must take Him in until the time comes for the restoration of all things, which God announced long ago through His holy prophets.
Parallel translations
- WEB whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God spoke long ago by the mouth of his holy prophets.
- KJV Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
- NKJV whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.
- NASB whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things, about which God spoke by the mouths of His holy prophets from ancient times.
- NLT For he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Heaven must receive Jesus until the time God restores all things, as the prophets foretold. Christ now reigns in heaven, awaiting the final renewal of creation.
Overview
This verse affirms the ascension and Christ's present heavenly session until the 'restoration of all things,' the renewal of creation promised by the prophets. It anchors Christian hope in God's long-declared purpose to make all things new. Believers live between Christ's ascension and return, trusting the One who reigns above and will come to complete his redeeming work.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Rom 8:21that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
- Isa 1:26I will restore your judges as at first, and your counselors as at the beginning. After that you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City.”
- Acts 1:11“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.”
- Mal 4:5–6Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD.
- Mark 9:11–13And they asked Jesus, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
- Matt 17:11–12Jesus replied, “Elijah does indeed come, and he will restore all things.
- Rev 22:6Then the angel said to me, “These words are faithful and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent His angel to show His servants what must soon take place.”
- Luke 1:70as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past,
- 2 Pet 3:2by recalling what was foretold by the holy prophets and commanded by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.
- Mal 3:3–4And He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will present offerings to the LORD in righteousness.
- Acts 10:43All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”
- 2 Pet 1:21For no such prophecy was ever brought forth by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
- Rev 18:20Rejoice over her, O heaven, O saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced for you His judgment against her.
- Acts 3:19Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away,
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 3:21 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.