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.
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.
- BSB Heaven must take Him in until the time comes for the restoration of all things, which God announced long ago through His holy prophets.
- 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 8:21Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
- Isa 1:26And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city.
- Acts 1:11Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
- Mal 4:5–6Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
- Mark 9:11–13And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?
- Matt 17:11–12And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.
- Rev 22:6And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
- Luke 1:70As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
- 2 Pet 3:2That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
- Mal 3:3–4And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
- Acts 10:43To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
- 2 Pet 1:21For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
- Rev 18:20Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.
- Acts 3:19Repent 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;
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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.