Acts 3:11-26
Author of Life
Read the passage
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
Read aloud
The healed man clings to Peter and John as an astonished crowd gathers. Peter asks why they are staring at the apostles as though their own power or godliness made him walk. The God of their fathers has glorified His servant Jesus, and this healing comes through Him.
Peter names the contrast plainly. His hearers rejected the Holy and Righteous One and killed the Author of life, but God raised Him from the dead. The apostles are witnesses. Jesus' name and the faith that comes through Him have given this man his strength.
Peter acknowledges that the people and their leaders acted in ignorance. He still calls them to repent and turn back so their sins may be wiped away. Ignorance does not make repentance unnecessary, and their guilt does not place forgiveness beyond reach.
The promise looks ahead as well. Jesus remains in heaven until the restoration of all things God announced through the prophets. Peter calls his hearers to listen to the prophet Moses promised, then recalls God's covenant with Abraham: all the families of the earth will be blessed through his offspring.
That blessing reaches them as God turns them from their wicked ways. Peter offers more than relief from feeling guilty. He announces forgiveness and a changed direction under the risen Jesus.
Questions
1 What did Peter say had not healed the man?
AnswerHe said their own power or godliness had not made the man walk; the God of Abraham had glorified His servant Jesus.
2 Who did Peter say God had glorified?
AnswerGod had glorified Jesus, whom the people had handed over and denied before Pilate even when Pilate wanted to release Him.
3 What did Peter call Jesus?
AnswerHe called Jesus the Author of life, whom the people had killed but whom God raised from the dead.
4 What did Peter call the people to do?
AnswerHe called them to repent and turn back to God so their sins could be wiped away and seasons of refreshing could come from the Lord.
What This Means for Us
Peter describes God's blessing as turning people from wickedness. A correction we would rather avoid may be part of the mercy we need. Forgiveness is not permission to protect the wrong we have done.
If Scripture has exposed a sin, name it before God. Then consider the response it requires: correct a lie, return what was taken, or seek help with a habit you keep excusing. The aim is to turn toward the Lord who offers forgiveness.
Our hope also reaches beyond today's repair. God has promised restoration through Jesus. We can trust Him with what remains broken while responding to what He calls us to change.
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.