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.
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.
- 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.
- 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 also will be delivered from the bondage of decay into the liberty of the glory of the children of God.
- Isa 1:26I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called ‘The city of righteousness, a faithful town.’
- Acts 1:11who also said, “You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky, will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky.”
- Mal 4:5–6Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of Yahweh comes.
- Mark 9:11–13They asked him, saying, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
- Matt 17:11–12Jesus answered them, “Elijah indeed comes first, and will restore all things,
- Rev 22:6He said to me, “These words are faithful and true. The Lord God of the spirits of the prophets sent his angel to show to his bondservants the things which must happen soon.”
- Luke 1:70(as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been from of old),
- 2 Pet 3:2that you should remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior:
- Mal 3:3–4and he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, and refine them as gold and silver; and they shall offer to Yahweh offerings in righteousness.
- Acts 10:43All the prophets testify about him, that through his name everyone who believes in him will receive remission of sins.”
- 2 Pet 1:21For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit.
- Rev 18:20“Rejoice over her, O heaven, you saints, apostles, and prophets; for God has judged your judgment on her.”
- Acts 3:19“Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, so that there may come times of refreshing 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.