In chapter 3 the Spirit addresses His testimony to the people by the mouth
of Peter. God still acted in patience towards His foolish people, and with
more than patience. He acts in grace towards them, as His people, in virtue
of the death and intercession of Christ-alas! in vain. Their unbelieving
leaders silenced the word. [see note #8]
The attention of the people is attracted by a miracle that restored
strength to a poor lame man, known to all who frequented the temple; and,
the multitude crowding to behold him, Peter preaches Christ to them. The
God of their fathers, said he, had glorified His servant Jesus, whom they
had denied, when Pilate would have set Him free. They had denied the Holy
One and the Just-desired a murderer-killed the Prince of Life; but God had
raised Him from the dead. And His name, through faith, had healed the
impotent man. Grace could esteem their act done as through ignorance, and
that as to their rulers also. We here see the Holy Ghost responding to the
intercession of Christ: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they
do!" Guilty of the ten thousand talents, the great King remits it them,
sending the message of mercy which calls them to repentance. To this Peter
invites them: "Repent ye, and be converted; so [see note #9]
that the time of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and
that he may send Jesus, whom the heaven must receive," he tells them, until
the time ordained of God for the restoration which should accomplish all
that the prophets had foretold. That is to say, he preaches repentance to
the Jews as a nation, declaring that, on their repentance, Jesus, who had
ascended up to heaven, would return; and the fulfilment of all the
blessings spoken of by the prophets should take place on their behalf. The
return of Jesus with this object depended (and still depends) on the
repentance of the Jews. Meanwhile He remains in heaven.
Moreover Jesus was the prophet announced by Moses: and whosoever would not
hear Him should be cut off from the people. His voice still sounded in
especial grace by the mouth of His disciples. All the prophets had spoken
of these days. They were the children of the prophets, the natural heirs of
the blessings which they had announced for Israel, as well as of the
promises made to Abraham of a seed in whom all nations should be blessed.
To them also in consequence, God, having raised up His servant Jesus,
[see note #10]
had sent Him to bless them, in turning away every one of them from his
iniquities.
