Hi Booker,
Repentance means " to change ones Mind with regards to past or intended action and conduct."
In Greek, two words are used in connection with repentance: Metanoeo and Metamelomai. The first is composed of Meta, after and noeo (related to nous , the mind, disposition or moral consciousness), meaning " to perceive, note, grasp, recognize or understand." Hence, Metanoeo literally means afterknowing( in contrast to foreknowing) and signifies a change in one's mind, attitude or purpose. Metamelomai, on the other hand, comes from melo, meaning "to care for or have interest in." The prefix meta(after) gives the verb the sense of regretting (Matt. 21:30; 2Cor. 7:
, or repenting. Of course, only God can CAUSE Humans to repent and most of Humanity won't fully repent in their Lifetime, except God's Chosen Elect, that's why they receive Eonian Life, the Life of the Age. God caused Saul who became Paul to repent. There is no Scriptural Evidence or Theory that He was experiencing any change of mind prior to meeting Christ on the road to Damascus. Read Excerpt of Ray's below in Blue regarding repentance.
REPENTANCE: "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (Luke 5:32). Strong's #3341 metanoia--"compunction (for guilt), reversal." Metan(the noun) is from #3340, metanoeo (the verb), which means: "to perceive afterwards, implying change... the mind, the seat of moral reflection... hence signifies to change one's mind or purpose" (Vines Concise Dictionary of Bible Words.)
The very first word to humanity out of Jesus' mouth after being tempted by Satan in the wilderness was "repent..." (Matt. 4:17). And what does "repent" mean? It means to change. And what have I been teaching since we started bible-truths.com? That God is changing physical, carnal humanity into the spiritual Image of God. That's what our existence is all about. This is the purpose for humanity. This is the next goal in the plan of God. To make carnal, physical humanity into the Spiritual Image of God. It's all about change. God is going to change the entire human race. And once you understand this first word "repentance," you will understand the other spiritual and pious sounding words of Scripture. They all involve change-changing from what we are into what God isoia .
Hope this helps, Samson.P.S. Post modified due to my omitting a few key words at 9:48 AM, should have previewed, like I usually do.