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."<br /><br />

Accept, used<br /><br />

(1) of sacrifice, "accept thy burnt-sacrifice" (dashen, "accept as fat," i.e. receive favorably; <bibleref ref="Ps.20.3">Ps 20:3</bibleref>);

(2) of persons, "Yahweh accept Job" (<bibleref ref="Job.42.9">Job 42:9</bibleref>, nasa’, "to lift up," "take," "receive");

(3) of works, "a the work of his hands" (<bibleref ref="Deut.33.11">De 33:11</bibleref> ratsah, "to delight in").

In <span class="auto-link">[[New Testament]]</span>

(1) of favors, "We accept .... with all thankfulness" (apodechomai, <bibleref ref="Acts.24.3">Ac 24:3</bibleref>);

(2) of personal appeal, "He accept our exhortation" (<bibleref ref="2Cor.8.17">2Co 8:17</bibleref>);

(3) of God’s Impartiality (lambano, "to take," "receive"); "accepteth not man’s person" (<bibleref ref="Gal.2.6">Ga 2:6</bibleref>).

Acceptable, used<br /><br />

(1) of justice (bachar, "choose select"), "more accept .... than sacrifice" (<bibleref ref="Prov.21.3">Pr 21:3</bibleref>);

(2) of words (chephets, "delight in," "sought .... accept words") (<bibleref ref="Eccl.12.10">Ec 12:10</bibleref>);

(3) of times (ratson, "delight," "approbation"; dektos, "receivable") "acceptable year of the Lord" (<bibleref ref="Isa.61.2">Isa 61:2</bibleref> (<span class="auto-link">[[King James Version]]</span>); <bibleref ref="Luke.4.19">Lu 4:19</bibleref>);

(4) of spiritual sacrifice (euprosdektos, "well received"), "acceptable to God" (<bibleref ref="1Pet.2.5">1Pe 2:5</bibleref>);

(5) of patient endurance (charis, "grace," "favor") "This is acceptable with God" (<bibleref ref="1Pet.2.20">1Pe 2:20</bibleref>). Acceptation, used twice to indicate the trustworthiness of the gospel of Christ’s saving grace: "worthy of all acceptation." (<bibleref ref="1Tim.1.15">1Ti 1:15</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="1Tim.4.9">4:9</bibleref>).

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" (<bibleref ref="Eph.1.6">Eph 1:6</bibleref>; compare the King James Version).

Dwight M. Pratt<br /><br />