Acts 8:22

Verse 22. Repent therefore. Here we may remark, (1.) that Simon was at this time an unconverted sinner. (2.) That the command was given to him as such. (3.) That he was required to do the thing; not to wait or seek merely, but actually to repent. (4.) That this was to be the first step in his conversion. He was not even directed to pray first; but his first indispensable work was to repent, that is, to exercise proper sorrow for this sin, and to abandon his plan or principle of action. And this shows, (1.) that all sinners are to be exhorted to repent, as their first work. They are not to be told to wait, and read, and pray, in the expectation that repentance will be given them.