Peter's Witness to Jesus Christ — Acts 3:17-26 Daily Word

Peter testifies that Jesus is the Christ through a miracle, explaining how His suffering and resurrection fulfilled Old Testament prophecies. He calls the Jewish people to repentance and return to God.

Peter’s Witness to Jesus Christ

[Scripture]

[17] “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. [18] But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. [19] Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, [20] that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, [21] whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. [22] Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. (Acts 3:17-22, ESV)

[23] And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ [24] And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. [25] You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ [26] God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.” (Acts 3:23-26, ESV)

[Daily Word]

Peter, concerned that people might misunderstand the healing miracle, says this: [12] And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? (Acts 3:12, ESV) Just as God had directed Peter and John to fix their attention on the man who could not walk, He now caused the crowd to fix their attention on the two apostles.

How deep was the faith of the Jewish people at that time?

It is estimated that approximately 500,000 to 600,000 people lived in Judea during the time of Jesus. Among them, the Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and Zealots were a distinct minority, numbering around 30,000. Diaspora Jews, on the other hand, numbered approximately 3.5 million, making up roughly 7 percent of the population of the Roman Empire. This means that, as a result of Roman colonization, the vast majority of Jewish people lived under the pervasive influence of Hellenistic culture. Consequently, most Jews did not observe their traditional religious practices.

Earlier, Peter rebuked the crowd, saying that they had killed the Author of life. Yet in verse 17, he acknowledges that the people of Israel and their leaders acted in ignorance when they put Jesus to death. He then declares that through this, the plan of God — foretold by the prophets in the Old Testament — has now been fulfilled. [26] Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” [27] And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:26-27, ESV)

The fact that the people’s ignorance served to fulfill God’s plan of salvation does not, however, excuse the sin of the people of Israel for bringing about the Lord’s death. Therefore, Peter lays out two things the people of Israel must do. The first is to repent, and the second is to turn back (v. 19). These two are not the same in meaning: repentance refers to turning away from sin, while turning back refers to returning to God.

As stated in verse 19, when we repent and turn back to reach a state free from sin, times of refreshing will come from the presence of the Lord. In verse 20, it says that He will send the Christ Jesus, whom He appointed for us. The times of refreshing that come through repentance are a state pleasing to God — a state of spiritual purity. When that time arrives, Jesus will return just as He was appointed to do.

Therefore, Peter urges repentance.

To this end, he quotes from Deuteronomy and Leviticus. [15] “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— (Deut 18:15, ESV) (see v. 22) [29] For whoever is not afflicted on that very day shall be cut off from his people. (Lev 23:29, ESV) (see v. 23) The reason these passages are quoted is to confirm that Jesus is the one who fulfilled the prophecy in Deuteronomy, and to warn those who do not believe.

In particular, God had already made known the coming of Christ. In the Old Testament era, He spoke about Jesus Christ through the prophets. (v. 18) The prophecies proclaimed by the prophets were largely about the Messiah. God declared that the Messiah would come and save His people, and the coming of Jesus, His crucifixion, and His resurrection were all fulfilled just as prophesied.

Therefore, the prophecies recorded beginning in verse 21 all point to Jesus Christ. The “prophet like me” spoken of by Moses also points to Christ. (v. 22) And in verse 24, it is stated that the prophecies of the prophets from Samuel onward likewise point to “these days.”

Among the many prophets, the reason Samuel is used as a reference point is, first, that [12] When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. [13] He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. (2 Sam 7:12-13, ESV) appears as a passage prophesying the Messiah. [12] When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. [13] He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. (2 Sam 7:12-13, ESV)

The second reason is that the Jewish people regard Samuel as the first of the prophets. (Heb 11:32) And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—

Therefore, the people must now understand. The people of Israel are the descendants of the prophets who followed Samuel. (24) This is why verse 25 declares that they are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant. The phrase “sons of the prophets” refers to all those who receive the word of God through the prophets whom God has sent. Thus, in accordance with the covenant spoken to Abraham in (Gen 22:18), all the families of the earth shall be blessed through his offspring.¹

The reason God speaks through the prophets is

as stated in verse 26, to bless the people by turning each one of them from their wickedness. The offspring of Abraham points to Jesus Christ. Therefore, Peter proclaimed that even now the people must come to know Jesus Christ, and that though it is late, they must repent, turn back, and receive the forgiveness of sins. Those who refuse to hear the gospel handed down through the prophets will perish. But those who obey will receive salvation and blessing. Without knowledge, nothing can be done.

Acts 3, Peter’s Sermon, Repentance and Salvation, Jesus Christ, Prophecy of the Prophets

Originally published in Korean at bible2u.com