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Act 3:14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto
you;
Although Jesus was holy before God and just (innocent) before men, the people had asked for
Barabas, a known gangster, to be released in Jesus’ place. A guilty man (Barabas) released for
the life of an innocent one (Jesus) was a type of what would happen for those in the crowd who
will put their trust in Jesus.
Act 3:15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are
witnesses.
Jesus is the Prince of eternal life (Hebrews 2:10). He was not only raised from the dead, but
firstborn from the dead. The people present that day were witnesses to His death, and they now
stood in the presence of witnesses to His resurrection.
FAITH IN THE NAME
Act 3:16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and
know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you
all.
Peter is now giving them the method to receive any blessing from God, whether it be salvation,
healing, or temporal needs. We receive by faith and even that faith is not of ourselves, it is the
gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-9). Both the ability to receive and the gift come from God. This is
grace.
Grace diverts attention away from Peter, John, and even the man who was healed. All attention
is now focused on the Lord of their ancestors. Peter is giving them an opportunity to make Him
their Lord too.
Peter explains to the crowd that the once lame man had received “perfect soundness.” Whatever
else might have been wrong with the man as a result of his lameness is made perfectly sound
when he was healed.
3:16 Healing in Jesus’ Incomparable Name, DIVINE HEALING. Immediately after the
Spirit’s outpouring At Pentecost, it is stated, “many wonders and signs were done through
the apostles.” Chapter 3 gives the account of the healing of a man who was lame from
birth, a fact well known by everyone in Jerusalem. Peter attributed the healing to no
unique human powers, but to faith in the name of Jesus.
Note how the invoking of the name of “Jesus Christ of Nazareth” (verse 6; 4:10) rings from
the apostles’ lips. The appeals to Jesus’ name as the unmistakable Messiah (Christ), who

