"The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins."
Acts 5:30-31
Part 1
In Acts 5, Peter and the other disciples are learning the cost of being a witness for the Lord. This is the second time that they have been arrested for preaching Christ. This did not slow them down in the least, and Peter used this as another opportunity to present Christ’s claims to the Jewish leaders. His message is very pointed as he tells them once again of Jesus.
“The God of our fathers raised up Jesus,”
It was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob who raised Jesus from the dead. The very God these leaders claimed to worship is the One who raised their enemy, Jesus, up from the grave. God honored the patriarchs, but He honored Jesus more because He resurrected Him.
“Whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.”
Peter made sure they understood their guilt in the crime of Jesus’ crucifixion. The Romans did the actual execution at the request of the Jewish leaders. Peter will not let the Sanhedrin off the hook for His death. The Greek word that Peter used for “ye slew,” means “to slay with one’s own hands.”1
What is the point Peter is making about Jesus being “hanged on a tree?” He is referring to the Old Testament curse.
“And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance,” (Deuteronomy 21:22-23).
Paul said it like this to the Galatians: “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree,” (Galatians 3:13). Imagine, God’s perfectly holy Son was made a curse for us when He carried our sins to Calvary. Admittedly, the just One died for the unjust ones! He was cursed that we might have life! He did this for you and me.
Come back tomorrow to learn about “repentance and forgiveness.”
1. M.R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament, electronic version in eSword.