Yes, Peter teaches that Christ is the chief cornerstone rejected by Israel's builders, yet He is the essential stone that holds God's kingdom together.
In Acts 4:11, Peter applies Psalm 118:22 to Jesus, showing that Israel's leaders, the builders, rejected the very stone that was to be the cornerstone of God's kingdom. Les Feldick illustrates this with the legend of a chief cornerstone in temple construction that was cast aside and became a stumbling stone, exactly as Christ became to Israel. This rejection, though, fulfills prophecy and sets the stage for Christ's future role as the headstone.
Acts 4:11 — Peter directly quotes Psalm 118:22, saying 'This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.'
In Acts 4:11, Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, declares to the Jewish rulers and elders: 'This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.' This quote comes from Psalm 118:22, a psalm of praise that speaks of the stone the builders rejected becoming the chief cornerstone. In the Old Testament, the cornerstone was the foundational, load-bearing stone that aligned and held the entire structure together. By quoting this, Peter identifies Jesus as that stone, rejected by the very leaders who should have recognized Him. The rejection led to His crucifixion, but His resurrection made Him the head of the corner, the most important stone in God's spiritual building.
Les Feldick explains that when Peter spoke of Christ as the chief cornerstone, he was referencing a well-known Old Testament analogy. Christ was to be the stone that held the whole nation of Israel and God's kingdom together, just as the top stone in an arch supports the entire structure. Yet Israel rejected Him, casting Him aside like a builder who throws an unrecognized stone into a vacant lot. That rejected stone became a stone of stumbling, causing the nation to trip and fall. Les emphasizes that this is not just a past event; Jerusalem itself remains a stone of stumbling to the nations today. He also points out that the rejection was prophesied in Psalm 118:22 and that the full fulfillment—Christ becoming the headstone—is still future. For Les, this analogy underscores that Christ is the rock of our salvation, the only foundation, and that those who believe on Him will not be disappointed.
Les uses the illustration of a stone arch in ancient architecture. The topmost stone, placed in a V shape, is the one that holds the entire arch together because all other stones rest against it. In the same way, Christ was to be that central, supporting stone for Israel and God's kingdom. But just as a builder might not recognize the chief cornerstone if it came early and dump it in a vacant lot, Israel rejected Christ and cast Him aside.
According to the legend Les shares, the rejected stone was thrown into a vacant lot where weeds grew around it. People who took a shortcut through the lot would stumble over it. Les applies this to Israel: because they rejected Christ, He became a stone of stumbling to them. This pattern is also reflected in Jerusalem, which remains a stumbling stone to all nations.
Jesus is the rock, the stone of our salvation. When Peter said 'thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church,' the rock was Christ. He alone holds the church together. As believers, we are living stones built into a spiritual house, with Christ as the cornerstone.
Les explains that the first part of Psalm 118:22, 'the stone which the builders refused,' was fulfilled at Christ's crucifixion. But the second part, 'is become the headstone of the corner,' has not yet happened. There is a break in the verse: the rejection is past, but the exaltation is still future. This tells us that Israel's rejection of Christ was not the end of the story—God will one day make Christ the headstone.
The Danger of Following Traditions
Les warns that many people rely on their church's teachings rather than the Bible itself, which can lead them astray, just as Israel's leaders rejected the chief cornerstone because they didn't recognize Him.
Christ as the Stumbling Stone to Israel
Les explains that Israel threw Christ, the chief cornerstone, into a vacant lot, and He became a stumbling stone to the nation—just as Jerusalem remains a stumbling stone to all nations today.
Christ is the Rock
Les reminds us that throughout Scripture, Christ is the rock and the stone, and He was the one upon whom the church is built. Peter was using an Old Testament analogy to identify Jesus as the chief cornerstone.
The Legend of the Rejected Cornerstone
Les shares a non-scriptural legend about the chief cornerstone of Solomon's temple being brought early, rejected by builders, and dumped in a vacant lot—an apt picture of how Israel treated Christ.
Living Stones Built on Christ
Les connects Peter's 'living stone' language to Christ, the stone disallowed by men but chosen by God, and explains how believers are living stones built into a spiritual house.
The Stumbling Block in the Vacant Lot
Les repeats the legend of the rejected cornerstone that became a stumbling block in a vacant lot, emphasizing it as a perfect picture of what happened to Christ and what continues to happen in Israel's history.
Psalm 118:22: Already Fulfilled and Yet Future
Les notes that Psalm 118:22 has a two-part fulfillment: the rejection was fulfilled at the cross, but the becoming the headstone is still future—so there is a break in the middle of the verse.
The Promise of No Disappointment
Les, quoting Peter, explains that whoever believes on the chief cornerstone will not be disappointed—bringing assurance to believers, yet warning that many will be disappointed when they discover they were not on the right path.
Acts 4:11: This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
Peter's direct quotation of Psalm 118:22 when addressing Israel's leaders.
Psalm 118:22: The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
The Old Testament prophecy Peter quotes to show Christ as the rejected cornerstone.
1 Peter 2:4-7: To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner.
Peter's fuller explanation of Christ as the living cornerstone and believers as living stones.
Peter was quoting Psalm 118:22 to show that Jesus was the stone Israel's builders rejected, yet God made Him the head of the corner. He is the essential stone that holds God's spiritual house together.
Just as the top stone of an arch holds the entire structure together, Christ was to be the chief cornerstone that held Israel and God's kingdom together. But Israel rejected Him, casting Him aside.
In the legend Les shares, it was thrown into a vacant lot, became overgrown with weeds, and caused people to stumble. This illustrates how Christ became a stumbling stone to Israel because they rejected Him.
No. Les explains that the rejection was fulfilled at the cross, but Christ becoming the headstone is still future. There is a break in the middle of the verse—the rejection happened, but the exaltation is yet to come.
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