Atos 3
Warren Wiersbe · Citado em PreceptAustin
Atos 3
Wiersbe - Keep in mind that Acts 1-10 describes a gradual transition from Israel to the Gentiles and from "Jewish Christianity" (note Acts 21:20) to the "one body" made up of both Jews and Gentiles. It took several years before many of the Jewish believers really understood the place of the Gentiles in God's program, and this understanding did not come without its conflicts. (Borrow Be Dynamic). From the chart above notice that Irving Jensen entitles Acts 3-7 "The Church Grows through Testing," the site being Jerusalem and the focus still on the Jewish component of the Body of Christ. Note from the diagram this continues the "Acts of the Holy Spirit" as the "Church (is) witness to the World" and Jesus is glorified by the Spirit (Jn 16:14). And so we begin this chapter with two apostles who are filled with (controlled by) and empowered by the Holy Spirit to exalt the Name of Jesus. As you begin your day today, this is a good pattern to emulate, walking forth filled and empowered, looking for "lame" souls who need the healing touch of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This makes life an adventure of a lifetime. Lord give us all eyes to see events, places and people with Your eyes and Your heart in Jesus' mighty Name. Amen. J Vernon McGee introduces Acts 3 - We are still in the first division of the Book of Acts which shows the Lord Jesus Christ at work by the Holy Spirit through the apostles in Jerusalem. We have seen the birthday of the church on the Day of Pentecost, a day which can never be repeated. There was a church because the Holy Spirit had become incarnate in believers. He was indwelling the believers, and He filled them with His love, power, and blessing for service. Just as you and I cannot repeat Bethlehem, neither can we repeat Pentecost. But we do need the power of the Holy Spirit today. Thank God, He is in the world, convicting the world, restraining evil in the world. We don’t have to seek Him; He is indwelling all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.In this third chapter we will find the healing of the lame man, verses 1–11. The appealing and revealing address of Peter is in verses 12–26. The result was five thousand men who believed! (Thru the Bible) Peter and John - What an interesting combination! Only God would have put these two together for their personalities were almost polar opposites. Peter was outgoing, gregarious, loquacious, impetuous, opinionated. Someone said the only time he opened his mouth was to change feet. John was serene, contemplative, reflective, tender, self-effacing, the one Jesus loved and who leaned on Jesus' breast at the Last Supper. (disciple "whom Jesus loved" Jn 13:23). In fact, five times John refers to himself as the one "Jesus loved!" (Jn 13:23, 19:26; 20:2; 21:7,20). Peter and John were "one" in Jesus. Does that describe your (my) relationships with brothers and sisters with whom you (I) will spend eternity?
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Wiersbe adds "The events in Acts 3 are an illustration of the last phrase in Acts 2:47, showing us how the Lord added to His church daily. While the Holy Spirit is not named in this chapter, He was certainly at work in and through the Apostles, performing His ministry of glorifying Jesus Christ (John 16:14). (Borrow Be Dynamic). F B
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Wiersbe observes that "The emphasis in Acts 3 and 4 is on the Name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 3:6, 16; 4:7, 10, 12, 17-18, 30). A name, of course, implies much more than identification: it carries with it authority, reputation, and power (ED: cf Pr 18:10+). When somebody says, “You can use my name!” you sincerely hope the name is worth using!. If an order is given in the name of the President of the United States or the Prime Minister of Great Britain, those who receive the order know that they are obligated to obey. If I were to issue orders at the White House or at No. 10 Downing Street (even if I could get in), nobody would pay much attention because my name has no official authority behind it.But the name of the Lord Jesus has all authority behind it, for He is the Son of God (Matt. 28:18). Because His name is "above every name" (Phil. 2:9-11), He deserves our worship and obedience. The great concern of the first Christians was that the name of Jesus Christ, God's Son, be glorified; and believers today should have that same concern. (Borrow Be Dynamic). IVP Commentary on the Name - A name is an expression of a person's very essence. The power of the person is present and available in the name (Haenchen 1971:200). In the case of Jesus, the invocation of his name is a direct link between earth and heaven. It is not a magic formula but a simple recognition that if any salvation blessings are to come, they must arrive in and through the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus so commissioned his disciples (Lk 24:47) Rise up and walk - Both of these verbs are commands in the present imperative - Be rising, be walking expressing enduring action meaning this lame man will not just walk a few steps but will have the power to walk now and always. Jesus gave a similar double command (Mt 9:5; Mark 2:9, 11; Luke 5:23; 6:8; John 5:8). Think about what Peter is commanding -- has your foot ever fallen asleep and you get up quickly and try to walk and either stumble or fall. And here is a man lame for 40 years (Jesus may have even passed by!) and Peter says rise and walk clearly indicative of the miraculous nature of the healing. He had never walked and yet he did not have to learn like an infant who had never walked. In fact we learn later, he doesn't just walk, but leaps, something not possible short of a miraculous cure! Rise up ((present imperative)(1453)(egeiro) means to rise (stand up) from a sitting or lying position (Mt 8:26, 9:5), to awaken from sleep (Mt 8:25), figuratively to "awaken" from death (rise up). Egeiro was used literally also to raise up or lift up a person either sitting or lying down. Notice that the newest version of the NAS omits "rise up" because of its absence in a few of the Greek manuscripts. However, most modern translations include rise up (ESV, NLT, NET, CSB). Walk (present imperative - be walking, keep walking now and always)(4043)(peripateo from peri = about, around + pateo = walk, tread) means literally to walk around (walk around in a complete circuit or full circle), to go here and there walking, to tread all around. The 39 uses in the Gospels always refer to literal, physical walking. Seven of the 8 uses in Acts are also in the literal sense (except Acts 21:21). (See Spurgeon's comments on what it means to walk) LaSor - “It is not the Church’s business in this world to simply make the present condition more bearable; the task of the Church is to release here on earth the redemptive work of God in Christ.” (Quoted by Guzik) Paul Apple - How crippled were you before you came to know the power of Jesus Christ in your life? What have you experienced of the strength of the shackles of sin; the destruction of its bondage in your life; the broken relationships with God and with those around you? How has pride and selfishness and lust and anger and anxiety and impatience imprisoned you and kept you outside of the place of God’s blessing for you? What sense of desperation and failure and hopelessness have you experienced? The healing power of Jesus Christ can only be appreciated against such a black backdrop. That is why the miracle of healing in Acts 3 should be so exciting to us today. Maybe we still have an area of our life that is still broken and still needs the healing power of God and His gracious restoration to healthy functioning. As we study the transformation of this pitiful cripple, we need to see our own spiritual conversion and praise the Lord for His amazing grace in our lives. We also need to have compassion for the broken condition of those around us who are far worse off than just a physical cripple – they are lost in the bondage of sin and separated from the life of God. Acts 2 prepared us for the study of these signs and miracles that took place in the early church through the apostles. (The Spread of the Gospel) Peter's command "Stand up and Walk" reminds me of the story in the Global Prayer Digest - Pastor Chagan John invited us to accompany him to a Mayvasi Kohli wedding. When we arrived, he asked to see the bride so we could pray for her. When he found that the bride was not the oldest sibling he asked why she was being married first, since that was the custom among the Mayvasy Kohli people. They told us the sad story about Rudhi, her older sister, who was crippled. For the last six months she has had this disease and has been unable to walk. They had taken her to the best doctors and had bought the best charms and amulets to heal her, but to no avail. But they said we were welcome to pray for her. Rudhi was brought out to this open room and placed on a mat in the center. We began praying for her. Suddenly Pastor Chagan said to Rudhi, “Stand up and walk.” We were very amazed at this; what if she couldn’t walk? As Pastor Chagan took her hand, she stood up and began walking! People asked us to pray for them as well. As a result, Rudhi and her family were baptized. There are about 30,000. Mayvasi Kohlis, but only about 20 believers among them. Pray for many from the Mayvasy Kohli people to put all their faith in Jesus Christ. (Global Prayer Digest entry for 11/11/2018) GOD'S BEST - The crippled man asked for money, but Peter gave him something much better—the use of his legs. We often ask God to solve a small problem, but he wants to give us a whole new life and help for all our problems. When we ask God for help, he may say, "I've got something even better for you." Ask God for what you want, but don't be surprised when he gives you what you really need. (Life Application Bible Commentary – Acts) G Campbell
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Wiersbe - It is easy to see in this man an illustration of what salvation is like. He was born lame, and all of us are born unable to walk so as to please God. Our father Adam had a fall and passed his lameness on to all of his descendants (Rom. 5:12-21). The man was also poor, and we as sinners are bankrupt before God, unable to pay the tremendous debt that we owe Him (Luke 7:36-50). He was "outside the temple," and all sinners are separated from God, no matter how near to the door they might be. The man was healed wholly by the grace of God, and the healing was immediate (Eph. 2:8-9). He gave evidence of what God had done by "walking, and leaping, and praising God" (Acts 3:8) and by publicly identifying himself with the Apostles, both in the temple (Acts 3:11) and in their arrest (Acts 4:14). Now that he could stand, there was no question where this man stood! (Borrow Be Dynamic). CHANGED! - As they watched the beggar, the people could see an obvious change in his life. Before, he had been lame; now he was walking. The difference was amazing. Though we may not be the recipients of a physical miracle of healing, God can change us emotionally and psychologically. These kinds of internal changes are just as miraculous as external healings and can fill others with "wonder and amazement." In what ways has God changed you? Can others see the changes? Praise God for all he has done in your life. (Life Application Bible Commentary – Acts) Acts 3:11 While he was clinging to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the so-called portico of Solomon, full of amazement. KJV Acts 3:11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering. While he was clinging to Peter and John Luke 8:38 all the people ran together to them Acts 2:6 at the so-called portico of Solomon Acts 5:12; John 10:23 Acts 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE PLACE OF PETER'S PROCLAMATION | Portico of Solomon See this excellent depiction of the Temple plan - note the right side of the picture faces East and that is the location of Solomon's Portico on the diagram. The replica above of the Portico of Solomon shows the inner structure that would have faced toward the main Temple building. It consisted of a set of magnificent pillars supporting a roof and open on the inner side facing the center of the temple complex. The Portico was on the east side of the Court of the Gentiles and extended along the entire eastern wall of the Temple forming a covered walkway which was a place of commerce and conversation. (Described by Josephus, Ant. 15.11.3–5, 20.9.7) Notice in the diagram of the Temple the location of the Court of the Women (marking the closest point women were allowed). Although Luke does not specifically describe what happened, logically after prayer the Jews would have come out of the men's court and passed through the Court of the Women and then toward the Eastern side to the Portico of Solomon. And today because of the man leaping and praising God prayers may have been curtailed. As an aside, it is notable that Jesus had also once taught in the Portico of Solomon (Jn 10:22, 23, 24-29) but with a dramatically different result than Peter experienced. When Jesus taught that He and the Father were One (Jn 10:30), "The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him." (Jn 10:31) How blind their religion was, for here was God Himself standing in the Temple complex which had been constructed to worship God, but in their spiritual blindness and hardness of heart the Jews sought to kill Him! Clearly, the Spirit had opened the eyes of many of Peter's listeners in the Portico of Solomon (some of whom may have formerly picked up a stone!), to now see that the one the Jews once sought to stone, was in fact the resurrected Messiah and God! Life Application Bible Commentary - The reference to this site would remind the Jews of the golden days of Israel's history, making the healing here all the more poignant. While he was clinging to Peter and John - The first word in the sentence is clinging to emphasize this action. Clinging is krateo which means to take hold of forcibly with power (cf Mt 12:11) and is in the present tense indicating he was "sticking like glue" to the two apostles. Peter and John don't seem to mind as this man in a sense is like a walking "advertisement" testifying to the power of Jesus Christ Who had healed him. All the people ran together to them at the so-called portico of Solomon - Note that the crowd did not just walk but ran, such was their state of amazement at this lame man who they all knew and who was now walking as if he had never been lame! One pictures the trio surrounded by the surging crowd. As Acts 3:12 implies, the crowd focused their attention on Peter and John as the ones responsible for this miracle, but Peter would soon correct their focus from horizontal to vertical (so to speak)! Full of amazement is ekthambos (ek = out or intensifier + thambos = astonishment) means the crowd was greatly astonished, amazed, even "dumbfounded!" The ESV picks up the sense of ekthambos translating it as "utterly astounded." They were already filled with thambos (wonder) in Acts 3:10, but this is an even heightened state of wonder or amazement. The crowd and seen this man by the beautiful gate for years and knew hen had been truly healed, so there was no question this was a miracle and they were awestruck. Warren Wiersbe reiterates an important point that "Miracles by themselves do not produce either conviction or faith. They must be accompanied by the Word (ED: WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT PETER IS GOING TO PRESENT TO THEM IN vv12-26). (cf Acts 14:3). (Be Daring). Spurgeon on the healed man clinging to Peter and John - You are not at all surprised that he held Peter and John; it was but natural that he should follow them wherever they went, for he owed so much to them, and they were the best friends that he had ever had. He was filled with reverence for them because of what they had wrought upon him; and now, lest they should go away, he held them; and “all the people ran together unto them, greatly wondering.” He who was healed by Christ’s wonderful Name was wondering, and the people who saw him healed were all wondering. I suppose that wonder mingles with all true worship. All wonder is not worship; but where there is adoration of God, and a sense of his great goodness and of our unworthiness, there seems always to be a large amount of wonder. We shall even- “Sing with wonder and surprise, His lovingkindness in the skies.” William Arnot on Acts 3:12-13 THE USE OF MIRACLES - THE healing of the lame beggar at the gate Beautiful, as narrated in Acts 3:1-11, needs no comment. There the picture stands, full-bodied as in the stereoscope. Our business, like Peter's, lies mainly, not with the fact, but with the use to which the fact was applied in the progress of Christ's kingdom. These Galileans were not alone. The words of the Lord "Lo, I am with you always" (ED: THE SPIRIT OF JESUS WAS NOW IN THEM!) (Mt 28:20) were still sounding in their ears. The Master puts forth the power, and they yield themselves as his instruments. This is the footing on which the work proceeds. Here, in the ministry of the apostles, as also in His own, the Lord employs power to cleave a path for grace. When the mountains close in and block the way, a miracle will rend them, that the Word may burst the barriers and spread through the land. Those who refuse to believe in anything supernatural do not gain much at this point. They only shift the difficulty from one spot to another. The fact remains patent to the whole world and undeniable, that in the hands of these Jewish missionaries the religion of Christ, with its self-denying doctrines, made way against the culture of Greece and the might of Rome, -- made way until it obtained supremacy. This fact, if it is not based on miracles, is itself a miracle greater than all. The effect of this cure upon the public was a great and general amazement. Now was Peter's opportunity and he improved it with promptitude and skill. The Master in calling him had promised to make him a fisher of men (Mt 4:19) and here the tact and energy of the fisher appear. He knew the favorable juncture. When Peter plied his trade on the lake of Galilee, he did not think it enough that he spread his net and drew it, in the approved fashion, so many times every day. His business was, not to spread his net in an unexceptionable manner -- in the very manner that all the ablest fishermen in those parts had uniformly followed -- his business was to catch fish and toward that end he bent all the energy, not only of his stalwart arm, but also of his inventive mind (ED: AND FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST, THE MIND OF CHRIST). Peter would fish as his forefathers had fished, if their method seemed to him best; but he would fish as nobody had ever fished before, if he saw that by a new method he could obtain greater success. So, now that he has become a preacher of the gospel, Peter is not content with delivering, at the proper time, an evangelical sermon. He does not think of the sermon or the preacher. He thinks of men in their need, and of God's grace in their offer now. He rushes in, and strikes home, to win souls. He waits and watches till he sees the multitude moved and susceptible. As soon as he perceives some movement on the gathered waters (ED: USING THE FIGURE OF A FISHERMAN), he follows quickly the angel's steps, lest his opportunity (SEE KAIROS) should slip away (cf Eph 5:16NLT+). The commotion took the form of a reverential regard directed upon the apostles personally. The wonder that the people had witnessed drew their eyes (ED: IN ACTS 3:12 Gaze = atenizo) to the immediate instruments (ED: PETER AND JOHN) . At that moment the apostles, taught by the Spirit, recognized accurately and promptly the precise place and use of mighty works in their ministry. Such works could not convert the people, but such works then held an important place among the means of conversion. The miracles broke up the hard ground, and these faithful watchers were ready to run in and cast the living seed into the open furrow. From this timely sowing a great harvest sprang. Peter, as usual, is spokesman. I think the modest and meditative John would not take a prominent public place when Peter was present. Whatever he may have contributed by private suggestion, he left public work to his more forward and more fiery colleague. Mark how skillfully the speaker begins. It is no longer the affectionate blunder, ''Far be this from thee, Lord;" it is no longer the cowardly falsehood, ''I know not the man.'' He has now obtained both wisdom and strength. By this time the Holy Ghost had come upon him, and he had ''received power" (Acts 1:8+) to be a witness of Christ. He has courage to confess his Master now and skill to arrange his argument aright. In presence of the healed cripple the people were overawed; and their veneration, after quivering awhile uncertain, like a ship's compass in a broken sea, began to settle down steadily upon Peter and John as the authors of the miracle and the objects of praise. Observing the current flowing in a devotion which would soon have developed itself into idolatry, Peter ran in, and seized it, and bent it aside from the servants that it might flow full upon the Lord. "And when Peter saw it, he answered and said unto the people. Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus,'' &c. The servants, when they saw worship springing up in human hearts, hastily retired, and presented Jesus alone to receive it. It is eminently instructive to compare and contrast with this the conduct of the Lord Himself in similar circumstances. When he had read the prophecy in the synagogue at Nazareth (Luke 4:16-22+), and all eyes were turned in eager expectation toward Him, He did not intercept the stream, or divert it into another channel. He accepted it in full. He closed the book and removed it; then He presented Himself to the people as the fulfillment of the prophecy, and the expected Messiah (Lk 4:20). The absolute contrast between His method and that of the apostles in such a case is peculiarly valuable, as showing incidentally the Divinity of Christ. In the mean time, Peter's fidelity affords a fine lesson both to preachers and hearers of the gospel in all times. Through the ministers, if possible, as earthen vessels, let the word of life come; but let the ministers present, and the people receive, only the Lord Himself as the Bread of life. (ILLUSTRATION) It is said that when Leonardo da Vinci had finished his celebrated picture of the Last Supper, which still stands on the wall of a convent in the city of Milan, he introduced a friend to inspect the work privately, and give his judgment regarding it. "Exquisite!" exclaimed his friend; "that wine-cup seems to stand out from the table as solid glittering silver." Thereupon the artist quietly took a brush and blotted out the cup, saying: "I meant that the figure of Christ should first and mainly attract the observer's eye, and whatever diverts attention from him must be blotted out." Here is a devotion which, in a more enlightened age, we should do well to imitate. It is an aim of the ministry to get listless people aroused and interested. It is a great point gained when a multitude are gathered together round the preachers in Solomon's porch, greatly wondering at the word or the work of the Lord. But woe to the preacher who lacks the wisdom or the will to lead the aroused and interested listeners at such a crisis direct to Christ. (The Use of Miracles) Acts 3:12 But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, "Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? KJV Acts 3:12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? Men of Israel Acts 2:22; 13:26; Ro 9:4; 11:1 or why do you gaze at us Acts 10:25,26; 14:11-15; Ge 40:8; 41:16; Daniel 2:28-30; John 3:27,28; 7:18 as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk 2 Corinthians 3:5 Acts 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries CARPE DIEM! PETER SEIZES THE MOMENT When you are filled with the Spirit, your "spiritual radar" is better "equipped" to recognize a "divine moment," an opportunity given by God to join Him in what He is doing (See resource below). How often do we miss divine opportunities because we are controlled by self and not controlled and guided by the Spirit of Jesus! (A rhetorical question). Related Resource: God Invites You to Become Involved with Him in His Work - 11 page study based on Henry Blackaby's Experiencing God (Personal Testimony - The full study of Experiencing God had a major impact on my spiritual life and ministry, but the concept of "joining in" where God is working was life changing!) As J Hudson Taylor testified "God said to me, "I am going to evangelize China, and if you will walk with me, I will do it through you." What will God do through your life, if you walk with Him? See Ephesians 3:20+ for the answer! Wiersbe - As we study this section, we should note that the Jewish emphasis is very pronounced. Peter addressed Jewish men (Acts 3:12) and called them "children of the prophets and of the covenant" (Acts 3:25). He referred to the Jewish fathers (Acts 3:13) as well as to the prophets (Acts 3:18, 21-25). The phrase "times of restitution" (Acts 3:21) is definitely Jewish and refers to the messianic kingdom promised in the prophets. The message is still going out "to the Jew first" (Acts 3:26) and is presented in Jewish terms. (Borrow Be Dynamic). Matthew Henry on Peter in Solomon's Portico - let them come and hear a more excellent wisdom than Solomon's, for, behold, a greater than Solomon is here preached. But when Peter saw this - Saw what? He saw the amazed crowd surrounding himself, John and the healed man. Luke does not say what the crowd was saying but undoubtedly they wanted to know what had caused such a miracle. Either they asked verbally or asked visually, i.e., by their quizzical, perplexed facial expressions! Thus much like in Acts 2:12 (where the perplexed crowd asked "What does this mean?"), the supernatural sign prepared the stage for a supernatural sermon! Notice the providential hand of God working behind the scenes He is behind, (1) timing the miracle at just the right time when there would have been a large crowd for the afternoon time of prayer, (2) leading Peter to fix his gaze on a beggar he had doubtless passed many times before, (3) bringing about a visual and audible miracle that would have been obvious to all (they all had seen this lame man Sabbath after Sabbath, prayer time after prayer time, but today they see him leaping and hear him praising God), and (4) then drawing the crowd around Peter and John and the healed man who was clinging to them (if he had been off in some other part of the huge Temple grounds [several football fields in size] the crowd would have been drawn to him and not to Peter and John). And so in orchestrating these events, God had created the "perfect storm." (5) Finally, Peter controlled by the Spirit, sensed the time was now ripe to preach Jesus to the crowd. Oh, to have eyes and ears and most of all a heart surrendered and filled with the Spirit as was Peter, that we might not miss the divine appointments the Father has prepared in every believer's life. In Jesus' Name. Amen. Our "perfect storms" may not be preaching to thousands as with Peter, but when they are "storms" in God's good and acceptable and perfect will, they are just as pleasing to the Father and the reward in heaven will be commensurate (cf Ps 19:11, Lk 6:38+)! Tempus Fugit! Carpe Diem! Coram Deo! Wiersbe - In his sermon at Pentecost, Peter had to refute the accusation that the believers were drunk. In this sermon, he had to refute the notion that he and John had healed the man by their own power. (Borrow Be Dynamic). He replied to the people - Peter detected either by what they said or their actions that the crowd was focusing on he and John as the "miracle workers" and so he quickly corrected their focus to God and specifically to Jesus the true "Miracle Worker." This is a good pattern for all believers when we receive praise or commendation for something we have done in ministry. It is so tempting to take a small percent of the credit (just being honest!) The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold, And each is tested (Lxx uses dokimion and dokimazo = testing something for genuineness! Remember this next time you are praised!) by the praise accorded him. (Pr 27:21) The verb replied (apokrinomai) is used in situations that require an explanation, and Peter sensed this miracle was such a case. And what an explanation he proceeds to give his Jewish audience!
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Wiersbe - There must be conviction before a sinner can experience conversion. Unless a patient is convinced that he is sick, he will never accept the diagnosis or take the treatment. Peter turned the temple into a courtroom and laid all the evidence out for everybody to see. How could two ordinary fishermen perform such a great miracle unless God was with them? Nobody would dare deny the miracle because the beggar stood there before them all in “perfect soundness” (Acts 3:16; 4:14). To accept the miracle would have been to admit that Jesus Christ is indeed the living Son of God and that His name has power. (Borrow Be Dynamic). (Bolding added) But put to death the Prince of life - NET has "You killed the Originator of life, whom God raised from the dead." What a pithy accusation Peter levels against the Jews! Death to the very One Who was Originator of Life (Jn 1:3+) and Sustainer of Life (Col 1:17+, Heb 1:3+ = "upholds [present tense] all things by the word of His power"), "the Word of Life" (1 Jn 1:1), "the Bread of Life," (Jn 6:48), "the resurrection and the life," (Jn 11:25), "the life" (Jn 14:6), the very One in Whose Name all believers "may have life" (Jn 20:31). John
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Wiersbe - Calvary may have been man’s last word, but the empty tomb was God’s last word. He glorified His Son by raising Him from the dead and taking Him back to heaven. The enthroned Christ had sent His Holy Spirit and was working through His church. The healed beggar was proof that Jesus was alive. (Borrow Be Dynamic). Donald Grey Barnhouse said "The resurrection of Christ is our receipted bill."
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Wiersbe - Peter was actually calling for national repentance, for the nation through its leaders had denied its Messiah and condemned Him to die. The declaration is that, if the nation repented and believed, the Messiah would return and establish the promised kingdom. (ED: ALTHOUGH 2000 REPENTED) The nation did not repent—and certainly God knew this would happen—so the message eventually moved from the Jews to the Samaritans (Acts 8) and to the Gentiles (Acts 10). (Borrow Be Dynamic).(Bolding Added) David Thompson says "Biblical repentance means that one changes his thinking and mind about what will save him from his sin. To repent means that you come to terms with the fact that only Jesus Christ can save from sin and get you into a relationship with God. There needed to be a change of mind about Jesus Christ. There are some who think we should never preach repentance, but it is a Biblical doctrine and Biblical word. It needs to be preached, but it needs to be preached properly. George Whitefield, one of the most powerful evangelists to ever preach, used to preach “repentance” (a sermon from Whitefield) and he saw some amazing responses. This idea of repentance though is always in a context of stop rejecting Jesus Christ. In other words, one needs to change his mind and thinking about Jesus Christ’s saving work." (Sermon) Steven