ak-sept’, ak-sep’-ta-b’-l, ak-sep-ta’-shun: "To receive with favor," "to take pleasure in"; "well-pleasing"; "the act of receiving."

Accept, used

(1) of sacrifice, "accept thy burnt-sacrifice" (dashen, "accept as fat," i.e. receive favorably; Ps 20:3);

(2) of persons, "Yahweh accept Job" (Job 42:9, nasa’, "to lift up," "take," "receive");

(3) of works, "a the work of his hands" (De 33:11 ratsah, "to delight in").

In New Testament

(1) of favors, "We accept .... with all thankfulness" (apodechomai, Ac 24:3);

(2) of personal appeal, "He accept our exhortation" (2Co 8:17);

(3) of God’s Impartiality (lambano, "to take," "receive"); "accepteth not man’s person" (Ga 2:6).

Acceptable, used

(1) of justice (bachar, "choose select"), "more accept .... than sacrifice" (Pr 21:3);

(2) of words (chephets, "delight in," "sought .... accept words") (Ec 12:10);

(3) of times (ratson, "delight," "approbation"; dektos, "receivable") "acceptable year of the Lord" (Isa 61:2 (King James Version); Lu 4:19);

(4) of spiritual sacrifice (euprosdektos, "well received"), "acceptable to God" (1Pe 2:5);

(5) of patient endurance (charis, "grace," "favor") "This is acceptable with God" (1Pe 2:20). Acceptation, used twice to indicate the trustworthiness of the gospel of Christ’s saving grace: "worthy of all acceptation." (1Ti 1:15; 4:9).

These words are full of the abundant grace of God and are rich in comfort to believers. That which makes man, in word, work and character, acceptable to God; and renders It possible for God to accept him, his service and sacrifice, is the fullness of the Divine mercy and grace and forgiveness. He "chose us" and made us, as adopted sons, the heirs of His grace "which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved" (Eph 1:6; compare the King James Version).

Dwight M. Pratt