16 Best Bible Verses About Repentance

Update on by Pastor Jack Wellman

The Bible says a lot about repentance, and to help you better understand what biblical repentance is, here are the 16 best Bible verses about repentance found in Scripture.

16
but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.
- Acts 26:20
4

15
When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
- Acts 11:18
4




14
Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
- Revelation 2:5
5

13
God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
- Acts 5:31
5

12
Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,
- Acts 3:19
5




11
No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
- Luke 13:3
5

10
Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
- Romans 2:4
5

9
correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,
- 2 Timothy 2:25
5

8
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
- Matthew 4:17
6

7
For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
- 2 Corinthians 7:10
6

6
The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
- Acts 17:30
6

5
I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
- Luke 5:32
7

4
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
- 2 Peter 3:9
10

3
if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
- 2 Chronicles 7:14
22

2
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.
- Mark 1:14-15
27

1
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- Acts 2:38
50

Total Quotes Found: 16

5 Stories From The Bible About Repentance

Here are 5 stories from the Bible that speak about repentance.

The Prodigal

When the Prodigal Son thought, “I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you” (Luke 15:18), so he repented of his evil and wasteful life, and returned (repented) to the father, who by the way, was waiting and watching for him, and expecting him.  When the father saw the son, “his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him” (Luke 15:20b), rejoicing that “my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found” (Luke 15:24).

The Adulterer

When a woman caught in adultery was brought before Jesus, my question is: Where is the man? Doesn’t it take two to commit adultery, but anyway, Jesus asked the woman, ““Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you” (John 8:10), at which “She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more” (John 8:11).  To “sin no more” means the woman is to turn from that sin and turn to God.  Repent means: Re (to) Pent (regret), so the woman regretted her adultery and turned to it no more.

That None Should Perish

God has never sought or enjoyed the death of the wicked.  He takes no pleasure in seeing the wicked destroyed (Ezekiel 18:23, 32, 33:11).  The Apostle Peter knew that “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).  That should be our desire too, right?

The Command

The Apostle Paul told the Greeks that “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30), so this is not just a great idea…repentance is commanded.  Jesus Himself began proclaiming the gospel, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17).  Those are verbal, imperative commands…we must repent and then believe the gospel (Mark 1:15).

Humble Ourselves

God spoke to Solomon in a dream and said, “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).  That means when we live in obedience, or when we repent from our wicked ways, God will hear our prayers and will heal the land; perhaps meaning others will be brought to repentance and faith in Christ in the land.

If you enjoyed these 16 best Bible verses about repentance, I hope you’ll share them with a friend. Maybe they can have a better understanding of what the Bible teaches about repentance.