Acts 3:26

Unto you first. This precedence of the Jew as recipient of the gospel is noteworthy. Peter did not as yet know the conditions under which the gospel was to be preached to the heathen, but his words imply a distinct understanding that the message was to go first to the Jews. This sequence was also used by Paul: “To the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Rom. 1:16; cf. ch. 2:9, 10). He followed it so frequently in his gospel preaching that it became a formula (Acts 13:46; see chs. 9:19, 20; 14:1; 17:1-3). Compare Vol. IV, pp. 29, 30.

Son. Gr. pais (see on v. 13).

Jesus. Textual evidence attests (cf. p. 10) the omission of this word.

To bless you. The blessing referred to here follows the resurrection and involves the power of Christ that enables a man to turn from sin to the new life that is in Him. This new life of the believer is made possible by the resurrection (see Eph. 2:4-6; Col. 2:12, 13).

Turning away. The Greek verb here, apostrepho, like the related verb epistrepho, is used frequently in the LXX to translate the Heb. shub (see on v. 19). This passage ambiguous. It may be understood either as meaning that Jesus turns away men from iniquity or that He blesses them when they turn away from iniquity. In a sense both of these are true. The blessings of salvation can come only through the restoring power of the Holy Spirit, following upon the necessary turning away from sin, with repentance and conversion.