Acts 3:11-26; Psalm 8:2,5-9; Luke 24:35-48
Acts contains two proclamations by Peter, one to the Gentiles (10:34-43) and todays reading, to the Jews. The comparison is interesting. To the Gentiles, Peter is encouraging – God is impartial and favours every nation that ‘fears Him and does what is righteous’. A brief but thorough summary of what Christ did is given to the Gentiles and followed with “all who believe in Him receive forgiveness of sins through his name”
To the Jews, Peter relies on his shared knowledge with them, of their common history, referencing Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Moses ‘and in fact all the other prophets’ have foretold of the events in Jerusalem in recent times, and that the Jews are the heirs of this prophesy – it is for them. Moses spoke of a prophet being ‘raised up’ (Deuteronomy) and that phrase became a ‘key word’ used over and again in scripture to speak of the Son of Man, and the Son of God, who will be / was Raised Up! Even though it was the Jewish authorities’ actions that led to the crucifixion of Jesus the Son of Man, this could be repented for and salvation found because the Son of Man was Raised up on Easter Sunday.