How does Peter connect the covenant promises of Genesis to Jesus in Acts 3:13?
Peter connects by invoking the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of Israel’s fathers, and declaring that this covenant God glorified His Son Jesus. The Genesis promises repeated to the patriarchs, including salvation to the ends of the earth, are claimed by Peter as now centered in Jesus, whom Israel delivered up and denied before Pilate.
Les explains that Peter is speaking to the nation of Israel and points them to verse 13, where Peter names the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of their fathers—showing how Jewish the appeal is. Those three names marked the beginning of Israel as a nation, and God repeated the covenant promises almost word for word to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. That covenant included that Abraham would become a great nation and that through this man salvation would go to the ends of the earth. Peter then claims those Genesis covenant promises, saying this same God has glorified His Son Jesus, whom Israel delivered up and denied in Pilate’s presence when Pilate was determined to let him go. Les notes Pilate did not want to condemn him, but Israel insisted.
The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.
More Questions
What does Peter mean by 'the God of our fathers hath glorified His Son Jesus' in Acts 3?
Peter is saying that the same God—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and of the fathers—has glorified His Son Jesus.
What does 'the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob' tell us about the apostles in Acts 3?
In Acts 3, Peter's reference to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob shows that their heritage going back to Abraham and the covenant men Isaac and Jacob was the engine of everything the apostles were doing.
Who does Peter blame for delivering Jesus up in Acts 3:13?
In Acts 3:13 Peter is laying the blame for Jesus' death on Israel, saying 'whom you delivered up.'
Does Peter in Acts 3 accuse the nation of Israel of delivering Jesus up and denying Him?
Peter in Acts 3 does point the finger at the nation of Israel, saying, 'You delivered up' Jesus and 'you denied Him' when Pilate was determined to let Him go.