Acts Chapter 8 verse 22 Holy Bible
Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perhaps the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee.
read chapter 8 in ASV
Let your heart be changed, and make prayer to God that you may have forgiveness for your evil thoughts.
read chapter 8 in BBE
Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and supplicate the Lord, if indeed the thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee;
read chapter 8 in DARBY
Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
read chapter 8 in KJV
read chapter 8 in WBT
Repent therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
read chapter 8 in WEB
reform, therefore, from this thy wickedness, and beseech God, if then the purpose of thy heart may be forgiven thee,
read chapter 8 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 22. - The Lord for God, A.V. and T.R.; thy for thine, A.V.; shall for may, A.V. Repent. The terrible words, "Thy money perish with thee," had not expressed Peter's wish for his destruction. But they were the wounds of a friend speaking sharp things to pierce, if possible, a callous conscience. In the hope that that conscience had been pierced, he now urges repentance. And yet still, dealing skilfully with so bad a case, he speaks of the forgiveness doubtfully, "if perhaps." The sin was a very grievous one; the wound must not be healed too hastily. "There is a sin unto death."
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(22) Repent therefore of this thy wickedness.--The stern words of condemnation are, we see, meant to heal, not to slay. Rightly understood, the call to repent in such a case as this, opens the door of hope as wide as the history of the penitent thief. Repentance, and with repentance, forgiveness, were possible, even for the charlatan adventurer who had traded on the credulous superstition of the people, and claimed something like adoration for himself and his mistress.Pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart . . . .--The better MSS. give "Lord" instead of "God," either in the Old Testament sense of the word or with special reference to the Lord Jesus. The "if perhaps," in the Greek, as in the English, implies a latent doubt. Did the thought come across the mind of the Apostle that the sin of Simon came very near that "sin against the Holy Ghost which hath never forgiveness" (Matthew 12:31)? The use of such words by the chief of the Apostles, after the apparent concession of a plenary power in John 20:23, are terribly suggestive. He neither forgives nor condemns, but bids the offender turn to the Searcher of hearts and pray for forgiveness. Had he seen repentance, he might have said, "Thy sins are forgiven thee." Had he seen a conscience utterly dead, he might have closed the door of hope. As it is, he stands midway between hope and fear, and, keeping silence, leaves judgment to the Judge.
