"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
Yesterday we saw that it was God who raised Jesus from the dead, and how that Peter put the blame on the Jewish leaders for Jesus’ death.
“The God of our fathers raised up Jesus,”
“Whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.”
Part 2
“Him hath God exalted with his right hand.”
You murdered Him, but God exalted Him! “He was raised from the dead by his power, and borne to heaven, triumphant over all his enemies.”1 The “right hand” in the scriptures is the hand of “power.” Jesus was raised up by God’s power.
“To be a Prince and a Savior,”
The first word describes His “royalty,” the second, His saving character.
“A Prince” — “Ye demanded a murderer, but the Prince of life ye killed.”2 This is the only time Jesus is called a Prince, the word is usually translated as “author” or “captain” – Jesus is the “author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).
“A Savior” – the only One who can save. He is the “deliverer” or the “preserver.” The One who has come to earth to save (Luke 19:10). The Greek word translated as “save” means “to save, deliver, preserve, escape from death or danger, bring into a state of security or safety.”3 Jesus does all of these as our Savior.
“For to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.”
Repentance begins with a change of mind, but it continues in a life change.
“The word ‘repentance’ here is equivalent to ‘reformation’ and ‘a change of life.’”4
The person who has “repented” of his sins, lives differently.
Forgiveness of sins can only be given by God. To be forgiven is to be pardoned from the guilt of sin.
Since Peter is talking to the leaders of the Jews, he only mentions Israel here. These things are valid for the Gentiles also. “…Salvation to every one that believeth, to the Jew first and also to the Greek [non-Jews, or “Gentiles”], (Romans 1:16b).
God is the One who forgives our sins. Why not turn from your sin to the Savior today? This is the only way you can be forgiven.
1. Albert Barnes, Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible, the electronic version in eSword.
2. M.R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament, the electronic version in eSword. “The Greek brings out by the position of these words what Bengel calls “the magnificent antithesis” between a murderer and the Prince of life.”
3. Adam Clarke, Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible, the electronic version in eSword.
4. Albert Barnes, ibid.