Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 3, verses 11-26
1 Peter, preaching to the people that came to see a lame man restored to his feet, 12 professeth the cure not to have been wrought by his or John's own power or holiness, but by God and his Son Jesus, and through faith in his name, 13 withal reprehending them for crucifying Jesus, 17 which, because they did it through ignorance, and that thereby were fulfilled God's determinate counsel and the Scriptures, 19 he exhorteth them by repentance and faith to seek remission of their sins, and salvation in the same JesusLuke, Chapter 24, verses 35-48
13 Christ himself appeareth to the two disciples that went to Emmaus, 36 Afterwards he appeareth to the apostles and reproveth their unbelief, 47 giveth them a charge24
24:35 In the breaking of bread - The Lord's Supper.
24:36 Jesus stood in the midst of them - It was just as easy to his Divine power to open a door undiscernibly, as it was to come in at a door opened by some other hand. Mar 16:14, Mar 16:19; Joh 20:19.
24:40 He showed them his hands and his feet - That they might either see or feel the prints of the nails.
24:41 While they believed not for joy - They did in some sense believe: otherwise they would not have rejoiced. But their excess of joy prevented a clear, rational belief.
24:43 He took it and ate before them - Not that he had any need of food; but to give them still farther evidence.
24:44 And he said - On the day of his ascension. In the law, and the prophets, and the psalms - The prophecies as well as types, relating to the Messiah, are contained either in the books of Moses (usually called the law) in the Psalms, or in the writings of the prophets; little being said directly concerning him in the historical books.
24:45 Then opened he their understanding, to understand the Scriptures - He had explained them before to the two as they went to Emmaus. But still they Understood them not, till he took off the veil from their hearts, by the illumination of his Spirit.
24:47 Beginning at Jerusalem - This was appointed most graciously and wisely: graciously, as it encouraged the, greatest sinners to repent, when they saw that even the murderers of Christ were not excepted from mercy: and wisely, as hereby Christianity was more abundantly attested; the facts being published first on the very spot where they happened.
3
3:12 Peter answered the people - Who were running together, and inquiring into the circumstances of the fact.
3:13 The God of our fathers - This was wisely introduced in the beginning of his discourse, that it might appear they taught no new religion, inconsistent with that of Moses, and were far from having the least design to divert their regards from the God of Israel. Hath glorified his Son - By this miracle, whom ye delivered up - When God had given him to you, and when ye ought to have received him as a most precious treasure, and to have preserved him with all your power.
3:14 Ye renounced the Holy One - Whom God had marked out as such; and the Just One - Even in the judgment of Pilate.
3:16 His name - Himself: his power and love. The faith which is by him - Of which he is the giver, as well as the object.
3:17 And now, brethren - A word full of courtesy and compassion, I know - He speaks to their heart, that through ignorance ye did it - which lessened, though it could not take away, the guilt.As did also your rulers - The prejudice lying from the authority of the chief priests and elders, he here removes, but with great tenderness. He does not call them our, but your rulers.For as the Jewish dispensation ceased at the death of Christ, consequently so did the authority of its rulers.
3:18 But God - Who was not ignorant, permitted this which he had foretold, to bring good out of it.
3:19 Be converted - Be turned from sin and Satan unto God.See Act 26:20. But this term, so common in modern writings, very rarely occurs in Scripture: perhaps not once in the sense we now use it, for an entire change from vice to holiness.That the times of refreshing - Wherein God largely bestows his refreshing grace, may come - To you also. To others they will assuredly come, whether ye repent or no.
3:20 And he may send - The apostles generally speak of our Lord's second coming, as being just at hand. Who was before appointed - Before the foundation of the world.
3:21 Till the times of the restitution of all things - The apostle here comprises at once the whole course of the times of the New Testament, between our Lord's ascension and his coming in glory.The most eminent of these are the apostolic age, and that of the spotless Church, which will consist of all the Jews and Gentiles united, after all persecutions and apostacies are at an end.
3:22 The Lord shall raise you up a prophet like unto me - And that in many particulars. Moses instituted the Jewish Church: Christ instituted the Christian. With the prophesying of Moses was soon joined the effect, the deliverance of Israel from Egypt: with the prophesying of Christ that grand effect, the deliverance of his people from sin and death. Those who could not bear the voice of God, yet desired to hear that of Moses. Much more do those who are wearied with the law, desire to hear the voice of Christ.Moses spake to the people all, and only those things, which God had commanded him: so did Christ. But though he was like Moses, yet he was infinitely superior to him, in person, as well as in office. Deu 18:15.
3:23 Every soul who will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people - One cannot imagine a more masterly address than this, to warn the Jews of the dreadful consequence of their infidelity, in the very words of their favourite prophet, out of a pretended zeal for whom they rejected Christ.
3:24 These days - The days of the Messiah.
3:25 Ye are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant - That in, heirs of the prophecies. To you properly, as the first heirs, belong the prophecies and the covenant. Gen 12:3.
3:26 To bless you, by turning you from your iniquities - Which is the great Gospel blessing.