There is another title ascribed to Jesus in this passage: the Prince of life. The word “Prince” literally means the originator or the beginning or the author of life. Jesus was and is the Creator of all things (Jn. 1:3). In Him was life, and the life was the light of men (Jn. 1:4). He came that we might have not only life but “abundant life” (Jn. 10:10). And yet, they killed the Author of life! Oh, what are we to do?
WE are to do nothing! It is God who did! He raised up Jesus from the dead. Peter had already said in his first sermon to the people of Israel, that concerning the “pains of death” it was not possible that He should be held by it (Ac. 2:24). It was impossible that He would be held by that grave because He is, the Prince of life.
Does this seem astounding? It should! You have never scene anything like this, for a person who was dead, demonstrably dead, a spear in the side with blood and water gushing out, confirmed by Roman soldiers and who reported back to Pilate that He was dead, to not only be seen alive but to be alive, never to die again! Jairus’ daughter, the only remaining son of the widow of Nain, Lazarus, as well as the boys raised by the power of God through Elijah and Elisha, and Dorcas brought back to life in Acts 9, these all died later. One event happens to the righteous and the wicked; to the good, the clean and the unclean; to him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As is the good, so is the sinner; He who takes an oath as he who fears an oath (Eccl. 9:2). It is appointed unto man once to die, and after that, the judgment (Heb. 9:27).
So Jesus, the Son of God, took on flesh, became the Son of Man as well, that He might die for us. I say “for us” because He Himself had no sin. He did not need to die as the penalty for His sin. Thus, God accepted His sacrifice, His blood, as payment for the sins of the world, that men who must die, could also have the hope and promise of eternal life.
This brought Peter back to the man who had been healed by the beautiful gate (v16). Peter had said this healing was not done by me. Rather, And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. As was true with Jesus’ miracles, so with this: it is a picture of the hope of eternal salvation. The Jews who rejected Christ can now receive Him, and they will become spiritually sound and whole.
But in all this, there is an invitation. It is not “automatic.” It came by faith in His name that the man was healed. It comes by faith in His name that any and all are saved. Peter extends this invitation as Jesus did, by a call to repentance. To repent, to turn from sin is to put one’s faith in Christ and to no longer trust in yourself for the life that can only come through the Prince of Life. Through His name, and faith in His name, you are converted … your sins (are) blotted out.
If Israel as a nation would put their faith in Christ, even after the previous betrayal and denial, they would become the saved nation and Jesus Christ would come again to establish His kingdom, the time of refreshing and times of restoration spoken of in this passage. As the story continues, into Acts 4, there is still the same rejection at work in the leaders of Israel. But for individual Jews who believed, another 2000 of them (Ac. 4:4), each was blessed and turned from their sins (3:26). For Israel this was either/or! There is no “in between” or “fence-riding.” For Moses truly said to the fathers, “The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people (3:22-23). God has given complete clarity on the matter: He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him (John 3:36). And again, There is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved (Rom. 10:12-13).
There is an invitation extended to this day to call on the Lord, to repent and believe in the Prince of Life, the Holy One and the Just, the Servant who has shed His blood for the forgiveness of sins and been raised from the dead that we might have everlasting life. I plead with you, from your heart, accept the invitation. Receive Jesus by faith! Confess Him as your Lord and Savior!
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