Acts 17:30

"And the times of this ignorance" — that was no great compliment to their polish, learning, philosophy, wisdom, or education. Whether sage or savage, they are all put in one lump there. "The times of this ignorance God winked at" — that is, He did not take account of it. "But now commands all men everywhere" — mark those words — "to repent."

During the times of ignorance, God had put up with the wanderings of man. He had passed them over without judgment. Now He was calling to all men everywhere to repent, because a day was appointed in which He should judge the world.

The Gentiles, during God's dealings with Israel, were in the dark. Those were the times of ignorance, and God overlooked their ways. But now, says the apostle, He commands all men everywhere to repent. There is no excuse for ignorance any longer. The Light shines, the true Light. Christ was that Light.

Clearly there is a thrust at conscience. This is why he insists here on God's call to repent. It is no use to talk of science, literature, politics, religion. Old or new speculations in philosophy are equally empty. God is now requiring all everywhere to repent. So he puts the sage down with the savage, because God is brought in as the judge of all. Divine truth must be aggressive. It cannot help dealing with every conscience that hears it, anywhere in the world. The law might thunder its claims at one particular people. But the truth deals with everybody as he is before God.

If God commands all men, everywhere to repent, does He mean what He says, or merely all the elect? What right have we to add to, or alter, to pare down, or to accommodate the Word of God? None whatever.

The apostle keeps to one fact here: God did not judge those times of terrible and inexcusable ignorance. In His goodness He overlooked the past, and now He calls people to repent. ... How true it is that the message of God's love in salvation to everyone who believes is His own command! ... The Gentiles ignored the true God. They set up idols to His dishonour and their own shame. God no longer ignores them. "The true light already shines." Coming into the world, it gives light to every man. It is true that the world was so blind it did not know Him. But the God of all grace does not leave them to their folly. He sends them this charge: they should "all everywhere repent." What compassion for "all everywhere," and what concern!

No sinner, no child of fallen man, ever turned to God in faith — as all did from Abel onward — without repentance. ... Its character is self-judgment before Him. Not only one's ways, but one's self, is laid bare as seen by His holy eyes, with whom we have to do.

The definition that it is merely a change of mind is not enough; that would reduce it entirely to faith. It is the soul judging itself before God — the eye turned inward, not outward, by the Spirit of God.

On Mars Hill the coming judgment was announced. A fixed day was made known, and the Judge was pointed out. How was this divine communication received? Some mocked, some put it off, a few believed. That was the effect on the hearers. What has been the effect in the reader's case?