Acts 3:14

14 He was holy and good, but you rejected him, and instead you asked Pilate to do you the favor of turning loose a murderer. ¹

Acts 3:14 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 3:14

But ye denied the Holy One, and the just
Who is "holy" both in his divine and human nature, and the fountain of holiness to his people; see ( Psalms 16:10 ) and who is "just" or "righteous", both in his person, and in the discharge of his office, and has wrought a righteousness for his people, which is imputed to them. These characters may have a particular regard to the purity of Christ, as man, and to the innocence of his life, and the harmlessness of his actions, in opposition to the unjust charges of his enemies, and the base treatment he met with from them who denied him to be the Christ, the Redeemer and Saviour: and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
when it was put to their choice, who they would have released, Christ or Barabbas; they requested it as a favour, and desired they might be gratified in having Barabbas, a thief, and a robber, who, with others, had raised an insurrection, and committed murder in it, released, and Christ crucified. They desired an act of grace for him, and a sentence of condemnation to a most shameful and painful death on Christ.

Acts 3:14 In-Context

12 When Peter saw the people, he said to them, "Fellow Israelites, why are you surprised at this, and why do you stare at us? Do you think that it was by means of our own power or godliness that we made this man walk?

13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has given divine glory to his Servant Jesus. But you handed him over to the authorities, and you rejected him in Pilate's presence, even after Pilate had decided to set him free.

14 He was holy and good, but you rejected him, and instead you asked Pilate to do you the favor of turning loose a murderer.

15 You killed the one who leads to life, but God raised him from death - and we are witnesses to this.

16 It was the power of his name that gave strength to this lame man. What you see and know was done by faith in his name; it was faith in Jesus that has made him well, as you can all see.

Cross References

• 1. 3.14Matthew 27.15-23;Mark 15.6-14;Luke 23.13-23;John 19.12-15.