Acts 3:19 – Amp. – So repent (change your mind and purpose); turn around and return [to God], that your sins may be erased (blotted out, wiped clean), that times of refreshing (of recovering from the effects of heat, of reviving with fresh air) may come from the presence of the Lord;
The Amplified Bible Translation brings out an important shade of meaning found in the original text in this verse. The Greek word for refreshing is anapsuxis, it is describing recovery from the effects of heat upon your life. The times of refreshing is the Lord’s way to bring recovery from the effects of heat from all of the circumstances that batter us from day to day. Heat exhaustion takes away all of your strength, Luke is comparing the effects of all the sin in the world to heat exhaustion. We come to Christ overwhelmed and exhausted and He breaths fresh air into our lungs. This is how Brian Simmons describes this truth followed by comments from the Christ Centered Exposition.
Brian Simmons
“Or “cooling breeze,” which occurs only here in the New Testament. This hints of the time when God walked with Adam in the cooling breeze of the day. The work of the cross begins the restoration of Paradise within the hearts of Christ’s followers.”
Christ Centered Exposition
“Through repentance you can enjoy spiritual refreshment. The language Peter uses here speaks of respite, rest, refreshment, or relief. It’s a word about the messianic age, when the Spirit will be poured out. It’s a reminder that those who turn to Jesus find rest. What good news the gospel offers to people who have been trying to earn forgiveness of sins and to achieve eternal life: simply come to Jesus and find rest and refreshment for your weary soul. His actions on the cross set us free!”
This is why I love the seasons of outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It seems that the Lord times these outpourings perfectly, often coming when the world falls into a horrible mess. The way things have been going over the last several years it feels like one of those seasons of refreshing are about to fall on the church world once again. So what exactly should we do? Allow the Lord to search your heart, turn away from sin and seek the Lord. His response is certain, times of refreshing flowing from the presence of the Lord.
