Acts 3:11-26
Author of Life
11While the man clung to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and ran to them in the walkway called Solomon’s Colonnade.
12And when Peter saw this, he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why are you surprised by this? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?
13The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus. You handed Him over and rejected Him before Pilate, even though he had decided to release Him.
14You rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.
15You killed the Author of life, but God raised Him from the dead, and we are witnesses of this fact.
16By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know has been made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Him that has given him this complete healing in your presence.
17And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders.
18But in this way God has fulfilled what He foretold through all the prophets, saying that His Christ would suffer.
19Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away,
20that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus, the Christ, who has been appointed for you.
21Heaven must take Him in until the time comes for the restoration of all things, which God announced long ago through His holy prophets.
22For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to Him in everything He tells you.
23Everyone who does not listen to Him will be completely cut off from among his people.’
24Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have proclaimed these days.
25And you are sons of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers when He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all the families of the earth will be blessed.’
26When God raised up His Servant, He sent Him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”
Berean Standard Bible
The healed man holds on to Peter and John, and the crowd gathers. Peter refuses to let the crowd credit the apostles' power or godliness. He points to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who glorified Jesus.
You killed the Author of life, but God raised Him from the dead, and we are witnesses of this fact.
Peter names the crowd's denial of Jesus but also speaks of ignorance and the fulfillment of what God announced through the prophets. Then he calls them to repent so their sins may be wiped away.
The promise is connected to Abraham's family, but its blessing is meant to turn people away from their wickedness. God's covenant purpose is not a trophy for pride; it is a call to receive blessing and become changed.
Peter's speech refuses two easy explanations. The apostles are not miracle workers who should receive worship, and the crowd is not invited to excuse its rejection of Jesus. Peter names their responsibility while also announcing that God has fulfilled what he spoke through the prophets. The resurrection means the people must now decide what to do with the living Jesus they had rejected.
Repentance is described as turning back, not as performing a public emotion. The result is that sins may be wiped away and a season of refreshing may come from the Lord. The promise to Abraham reaches its goal as God sends his servant first to Israel, blessing them by turning each person from wicked ways. Grace is therefore not passive approval; it is God's kindness that redirects a life.
Questions
1 What did Peter say had not healed the man?
AnswerHe said the apostles' own power or godliness had not made him walk.
2 Who did Peter say God had glorified?
AnswerGod had glorified Jesus, whom the people had handed over and denied.
3 What did Peter call Jesus?
AnswerHe called Jesus the Author of life.
4 What did Peter call the people to do?
AnswerHe called them to repent and turn back so their sins could be wiped away.
What This Means for Us
Give Jesus credit for what you cannot manufacture, and let conviction lead to repentance rather than defensiveness. God's blessing is meant to turn us from wickedness, not make us feel superior.
Prayer
Author of life, turn us back when we have denied you or trusted ourselves. Forgive our sins and make your blessing visible in changed lives. Amen.