Turning each of you from your wicked ways
Acts 3:26 - This all points to our personal responsibility to respond to the offer from God of salvation and transformation through Jesus Christ.
“When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”
Acts 3:26 NIV
The person speaking here in the Acts of the Apostles is Peter, and the “you” he’s referring to are the people of Israel. In this case, Peter and John have just healed a lame man at the temple, and a crowd has gathered. Peter explains the miracle to them and calls them — many of the same people who had called for the criminal Barabbas to be freed and for Jesus to be crucified — to repent, emphasizing their need for forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
Who is “his servant” that God raised up? Jesus! Peter is referring to the resurrection of Christ, and his audience — mostly members of the Jewish faith — would have been familiar with the term “servant” from Isaiah 52:13-53:12. This is the prophecy from Isaiah about the “Suffering Servant” that foresees the Messiah, who would suffer for the sins of the people. This isn’t the only connection; in the Old Testament, God raised up leaders like Moses and David as His servants to deliver Israel.
God “sent him first to you”, the Jewish people. The ministry of Jesus was initially directed at Israel, and grew to encompass those not of the Jewish faith. Jesus made statements during His early ministry in which He said He was “sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” (Matthew 15:24). God prioritized Israel due to His covenant with the nation, but said through Isaiah that “I will make you a light to the Gentiles, and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:6) In Acts, the early church begins its work in Jerusalem before expanding to the Gentiles.
God sent Jesus “to bless you” (Israel) through salvation and the forgiveness of sins, having made a promise all the way back in Genesis 12:3 to Abram (Abraham) — “All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” In Matthew 1, we see the genealogy of Jesus as a descendant of Abraham, and He fulfills God’s promise by offering reconciliation with the Father — “turning each of you from your wicked ways.”
The last words of this verse are a call to repentance, turning away from sin and towards God. Throughout the Old Testament, the prophets urged Israel to return to God, repenting their sins. Both John the Baptist and Jesus began their ministries by calling for repentance as seen in Matthew 3:2 — “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near” (John the Baptist) — and in Matthew 4:17 — “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” (Jesus).
Charles H. Spurgeon summarized Acts 3:26 with these words:
They were to have the first proclamation of the gospel; from among them would be gathered many of the first converts. The preacher did not know immediately what result this sermon produced; it was not like the sermon preached at Pentecost, for he did know what happens after its delivery. This is quite as good a sermon every way, and we have every reason to believe that as many were converted by it. The Spirit of God was with Peter; yet even the Spirit of God, does not always work in the came way upon men. You see, the apostles had no opportunity to have a talk with the people afterwards, and to find out what had been done, as they had on the day of Pentecost.
This all points to our personal responsibility to respond to the offer from God of salvation and transformation through Jesus Christ. Have you accepted that responsibility?
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Father, You sent Jesus for all mankind, and this verse shows us that Your promise is personal. Help all to receive Your promise personally; our families, our friends, our communities, and our enemies. Through this acceptance, may they know the salvation and blessing that comes through Your Son. We pray that they all experience the transformation in their lives that only comes from Christ’s redemptive power. Give us the desire to share the truth of the gospel, so that others may also know the joy of leaving the darkness and entering Your light. AMEN.
Scripture quotations taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica US, Inc.®. Used by permission.
BibleHub was accessed on July 24, 2025 for commentary on Acts 3:26
Spurgeon commentary on Acts 3:26 is from Truth According To Scripture.