Acts: Peter's second sermon

Peter gives second grand sermon | Acts 3:12-26: “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? 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. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. 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.

And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. 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; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: 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.

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. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. 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. 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.”

Peter asked of the people, if they really believed that he or John had healed the crippled man at the gate. Peter said God healed him. In this same speech, Peter began blame the Jews that they killed God (Jesus) when He was man on the earth, and decided to keep a murderer (Barabbas) instead of a healing savior.

Jesus fulfilled all of prophecy about Him (Psalm 22:1); therefore, Peter encourages the people to repent, so the Lord would save them from their iniquity. What Peter is telling them is that they need to change their mind to accept that Jesus is the Messiah, and then receive Salvation by faith in Christ Jesus. Salvation is not of works; therefore, by following Moses’ prophecy, they must know that one shall be saved by faith only in Jesus Christ. Those who reject Jesus Christ will find themselves in Hell (the text renders “destroyed”). Overall, the Jews must realize their heritage, repent from their wicked ways, and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (Romans 9:4).

The Jews have called Samuel the “master of the prophets.” Acts 3:24 mentions Samuel, who had referenced the coming of a great Savior in his books (2 Samuel 7:13). Also, the mention of Abraham in verse 25 (see Genesis 22:18; Galatians 3:16).

In Acts 3:19, the mention of “times of refreshing” or “seasons of refreshing.” This is referring to the time of comfort and refreshment for God’s People, when the world is mostly at peace, and many judgments have ended. In history, the following have recurred several times: A. Man is fallen in great sin; B. God sends judgment upon the sinful; C. Many people come to Salvation in Him; and D. The judgment ends when God is satisfied.