Luke 24:47 teaches that after Jesus rose from the dead, His followers were to proclaim that people everywhere can turn back to God and receive forgiveness of sins through His name. The message was not limited to one group. It was to start in Jerusalem and then reach every nation. Jesus spoke these words to His disciples on the evening of His resurrection, as He explained to them how the Scriptures pointed to Him.
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Luke 24:47 (WEB)
What Luke 24:47 Means
The verse begins with “repentance,” which means a real turning away from sin and a turning toward God. In Scripture this is more than feeling sorry. It is a change of direction in the heart and in daily life. “Remission of sins” refers to forgiveness, the wiping away of guilt so that a person is no longer held accountable for what they have done. Together these two ideas describe the core of the gospel message.
The phrase “preached in his name” tells us that the message carries Christ’s authority. The disciples were not offering their own opinions but announcing what Jesus had accomplished and what He now offers. “To all the nations” shows that God’s mercy is not reserved for one people. The verse makes a promise about what the message offers and a command about who must carry it. It does not promise that every hearer will respond, nor does it describe the timing of every conversion.
The Context of Luke 24:47
Luke wrote this Gospel and the book of Acts, and both are addressed to a man named Theophilus. Luke was a companion of Paul and writes with a careful, orderly style, wanting his readers to know the reliability of what they had been taught. Luke was likely writing for a largely Gentile audience, which helps explain his emphasis on the message reaching all nations.
Just before this verse, Jesus opens the minds of the disciples so they can understand the Scriptures, showing them that the suffering and resurrection of the Christ were foretold. Just after it, He tells them they are witnesses of these events and promises to send the Holy Spirit, asking them to wait in Jerusalem until they are empowered. Seen this way, the verse is a commission grounded in the resurrection and fulfilled through the Spirit’s power, not through human strength alone.
Key Phrases in Luke 24:47
Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.”
(WEB)
This verse picks up exactly where Luke 24:47 leaves off, describing the disciples receiving power from the Spirit and becoming witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. It shows how the commission of Luke 24:47 was carried out in the early church.
Acts 2:38
Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
(WEB)
Peter’s words on the day of Pentecost echo Luke 24:47 closely, calling the crowd to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins. The passage shows the message being preached in Jerusalem and bearing fruit immediately.
A Short Prayer From Luke 24:47
Lord Jesus, thank You that Your forgiveness is offered to me and to every person who turns to You. Help me to turn away from the sins I have clung to, and to receive Your pardon with a humble and grateful heart. Give me courage to speak of Your name to the people You have placed around me, trusting that the message is Yours and not mine. Send Your Spirit to strengthen me for this work, beginning right where I am. Amen.
