Pastor's Sermon Notes: The Second Petrine Sermon (Acts 3:12-26)

The Second Petrine Sermon

Acts 3:12-26

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? ¹³ The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. ¹⁴ But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; ¹⁵ And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. ¹⁶ And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. ¹⁷ And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. ¹⁸ But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. ¹⁹ Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; ²⁰ And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: ²¹ Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. ²² For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. ²³ And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. ²⁴ Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. ²⁵ Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. ²⁶ Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

Introduction:

Reminder:  Title(s) of Acts? 

           

The Acts of the Ascended Christ through the Holy Spirit by His Apostles

Overview/Introduction of Chapter 3:

The healing in 3:1-11 sets the stage for this sermon

Dr. William C. Varner, Professor of Bible and Greek at The Master’s College, refers to the sermons in Acts as expressing what he refers to as Proclamational Theology (cited with permission from Dr. Varner).

Patterns:

1.  miracles → witness

2.  preaching to the Jews → Gospel rejected by the Jews → preaching to the Gentiles

3.  Jewish opposition to the Gospel and persecution of the Christians → the spread of the Christians and the Gospel

Significant events - Between the first two “Pentecosts” (Jewish in Acts 2, and Samaritan in Acts 8), and following the birth of the Church in Acts 2

Significant persons - Peter is at the forefront here, later Paul’s ministry will be the focus

Geographical movement - still in Jerusalem (Acts 1:8), soon to move to Judea and Samaria prior to the journeys to “the ends of the earth”

Outline:

I.  What Just Happened Here? (3:12-16)

II.  The Proper Response While Between Two Prophesied Works (3:17-21)

III.  The Blessed Work of the Promised Prophet (3:22-26)

I.  What Just Happened Here? (3:12-16)

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? ¹³ The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. ¹⁴ But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; ¹⁵ And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. ¹⁶ And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

“Somethings happening here, what it is ain’t exactly clear

There’s a man jumping round over there

Peter’s telling us we better beware

I think its time we stop, hey, what’s that sound

Everybody look what’s going down”

[Adapted from "For What It's Worth", by Stephen Stills, performed by Buffalo Springfield, recorded 5 DEC 1966,  released as a single JAN 1967, and later added to the re-release of their first album, Buffalo Springfield.]

The significant personages in this sermon:

the Apostles

the unnamed beggar crippled from birth who had just been miraculously healed

the Men of Israel

the God of our fathers

Pilate

murderer

Jesus Christ

1.  Two “Why” Questions (3:12)

2.  Three Divine Titles (3:13-15b)

3.  One Simple Explanation (3:16)

4.  The Role of the Apostles (3:15c)

1.  Two “Why” Questions (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?

1)  The Why of the Miracle

2)  The Why of the Apostles

            1)  The Why of the Miracle

And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people,

Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this?

            2)  The Why of the Apostles - Not our power or holiness

or why look ye so earnestly on us,

as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

2.  Three Divine Titles (3:13-15b)

¹³ The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. ¹⁴ But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; ¹⁵ And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead;

1)  His Son Jesus (3:13)

2)  The Holy One and the Just

3)  The Prince of Life (3:14b-15b)

1)  His Son [1] Jesus (3:13)

(1)  Glorified - The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus

(2)  Delivered - whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.

(3)  Denied - whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.

2)  The Holy One and the Just (3:14a) - Denied - But ye denied the Holy One and the Just

                        Contrast the sinfulness and the injustice of what was done by the Jews to Jesus,                            the Holy and Just Son of God

3)  The Prince of Life (3:14b-15b)

and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; ¹⁵ And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead;

Notice the movement chiastically and climactically from death to life to resurrection in these clauses where Christ is contrasted with a here nameless murderer.

(1)  Killed (3:15a) - And killed the Prince of life

(2)  Replaced A Murderer (3:14b) - and desired a murderer to be granted unto you

(3)  Raised From The Dead (3:15b) - whom God hath raised from the dead

3.  One Simple Explanation - His Name (3:16)

And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. [2]

            Faith in His Name

4.  The Role of the Apostles - We Are Witnesses (3:15c)

whereof we are witnesses

II.  The Proper Response While Between Two Prophesied Works (3:17-21)

¹⁷ And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. ¹⁸ But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. ¹⁹ Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; ²⁰ And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: ²¹ Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

1.  The Span of Salvation History (3:17-21)

2.  The Obligation of Salvation History (3:19)

1.  The Span of Salvation History (3:17-21)

1)  Christ Preached - which before was preached unto you

2)  Christ Suffered - those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled

3)  Christ Received - Whom the heaven must receive

4)  Christ Sent - until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began

2.  The Obligation of Salvation History (3:19)

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord

1)  The Response - Repent ye therefore, and be converted

2)  The Motivation - that your sins may be blotted out

3)  The Means - when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord [3]

III.  The Blessed Work of the Promised Prophet (3:22-26)

²² For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. ²³ And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. ²⁴ Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. ²⁵ Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. ²⁶ Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

1.  The Mosaic Prophecy Concerning the Prophet of prophets (3:22)

2.  The Mosaic Warning Concerning Hearing the Prophet of prophets (3:23)

3.  The Unanimous Testimony of the Prophets Concerning the Present Fulfillment by the Prophet of prophets (3:24)

4.  The Blessed Initial Inheritance of the Prophets’ Promises and the Abrahamic Blessing Fulfilled in the Prophet of prophets (3:25-26)

1.  The Mosaic Prophecy Concerning the Prophet of prophets (3:22)

For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.

Dt. 18:15-18 - 15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

16 According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.

17 And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken.

18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

2.  The Mosaic Warning Concerning Hearing the Prophet of prophets (3:23)

And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.

Dt. 18:19-20 - 19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.

Lev. 23:29 - For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.

3.  The Unanimous Testimony of the Prophets Concerning the Present Fulfillment by the Prophet of prophets (3:24)

Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.

4.  The Blessed Initial Inheritance of the Prophets’ Promises and the Abrahamic Blessing Fulfilled in the Prophet of prophets (3:25-26)

²⁵ Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. ²⁶ Unto you first God, having raised up his Son [4] Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

Gen. 22:18 - And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

Gen. 26:4 - And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;

Conclusion:

I.  What Just Happened Here? (3:12-16)

1.  Two “Why” Questions (3:12)

1)  The Why of the Miracle

2)  The Why of the Apostles

2.  Three Divine Titles (3:13-15b)

1)  His Son Jesus (3:13)

(1)  Glorified

(2)  Delivered

(3)  Denied

2)  The Holy One and the Just (3:14a) - Denied

3)  The Prince of Life (3:14b-15b)

(1)  Killed (3:15a)

(2)  Replaced A Murderer (3:14b)

            (3)  Raised From The Dead (3:15b)

3.  One Simple Explanation (3:16)

4.  The Role of the Apostles (3:15c)

II.  The Proper Response While Between Two Prophesied Works (3:17-21)

1.  The Span of Salvation History (3:17-21)

1)  Christ Preached

2)  Christ Suffered

3)  Christ Received

4)  Christ Sent

2.  The Obligation of Salvation History (3:19)

1)  The Response

2)  The Motivation

            3)  The Means

III.  The Blessed Work of the Promised Prophet (3:22-26)

1.  The Mosaic Prophecy Concerning the Prophet of prophets (3:22)

2.  The Mosaic Warning Concerning Hearing the Prophet of prophets (3:23)

3.  The Unanimous Testimony of the Prophets Concerning the Present Fulfillment by the Prophet of prophets (3:24)

4.  The Blessed Initial Inheritance of the Prophets’ Promises and the Abrahamic Blessing Fulfilled in the Prophet of prophets (3:25-26)

[Sermon preached 11 AUG 2013 by Pastor John T. “Jack” Jeffery at Wayside Gospel Chapel, Greentown, PA.]

[1] On “The Παῖς Christology” see William L. Lane, "The Speeches of the Book of Acts", in Jerusalem and Athens: Critical Discussions on the Philosophy and Apologetics of Cornelius Van Til, ed. E. R. Geehan (Phillipsburg, NJ:  Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co., 1971), pp. 267-270.

[2] On “The Question of an Aramaic Sub-structure” see William L. Lane, op. cit., pp. 265-267.

[3] On “The Tenor of Israel’s Hope” see William L. Lane, op. cit., pp. 270-272.

[4] On “The Παῖς Christology” see William L. Lane, op. cit., pp. 267-270.