{Done} (not in the Greek, only the article 	(936e)), "not as a
result of works those in righteousness which we did." Same idea
as in  Ro 3:20f . {According to his mercy he saved us} (kata to
autou eleos es(9373)en). See  Ps 109:26  1Pe 1:3  Eph 2:4 .
Effective aorist active indicative of s(937a)(935c). {Through the
washing of regeneration} (dia loutrou palingenesias). Late and
common word with the Stoics (Dibelius) and in the
Mystery-religions (Angus), also in the papyri and Philo. Only
twice in the N.T. ( Mt 19:28  with which compare apokatastasia
in  Ac 3:21 , and here in personal sense of new birth). For
loutron, see  Eph 5:26 , here as there the laver or the bath.
Probably in both cases there is a reference to baptism, but, as
in  Ro 6:3-6 , the immersion is the picture or the symbol of the
new birth, not the means of securing it. {And renewing of the
Holy Spirit} (kai anakain(9373)e(9373) pneumatos hagiou). "And renewal
by the Holy Spirit" (subjective genitive). For the late word
anakain(9373)is, see  Ro 12:2 . Here, as often, Paul has put the
objective symbol before the reality. The Holy Spirit does the
renewing, man submits to the baptism after the new birth to
picture it forth to men.