When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “so, then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.”

When God first introduced Himself to Israel in the Old Testament, He gave them the law, and taught them how to atone for their sin. It was a matter of sacrificing nearly every day for your own sin or the sin of Israel as a nation.  You would go to the priest, bring your sacrifice and the blood spilled on the altar would atone for your sin.  In vs. 18, the phrase is “repentance unto life”.  One death, Jesus, has paid for it all.  Repentance which leads to salvation is for life, not only life eternal, but true life with God here on earth.