30”The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. 31He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
Not letting up, the apostles again go for the jugular. We, of course, don’t know the tone of voice they used, whether they thundered at the religious leaders or calmly, straightforwardly told the truth. After all, if they were going to disobey the Sanhedrin’s orders not to preach Jesus, then an explanation was the least they could offer. However, it seems highly unlikely they were passive about this, or even reticent. The words themselves speak of the apostles’ certitude in preaching the message—the same message they had been preaching since the Day of Pentecost (see Acts 2:22–23, 3:13–15). The apostles are being the faithful witnesses that Jesus commissioned them to be (Acts 1:8).
This wasn’t only Peter and John anymore, for the Sanhedrin hauled all the apostles before their inquisition: “Peter and the apostles answered . . .” (Acts 5:29). Luke conveys a summary of what they said, assuming what would seem obvious, that the apostles were not all speaking verbatim, or so briefly.
The contents of what they said are pointed. 1) This is not a new religion or a “new” God, but the “God of our fathers.” The apostles were preaching the message of Christ within the flow of Jewish history and being faithful to the God of Abraham, Isaac, etc., that is, “our fathers.” 2) It was that God who raised Jesus from the dead. 3) The religious leaders were responsible for leading the people in putting Him to death. 4) Jesus is now exalted to the position of privilege at the right hand of the God of Israel. 5) He is Prince and Savior. 6) God’s purpose in all this is that Israel might repent for getting it all wrong about God and His ways. 7) God desires to forgive them, not condemn them. 8) The apostles are the witnesses of these things, appointed by God. 9) The Holy Spirit of God is now given to those who obey Christ, not just to special people at certain and limited times.
That is a mouthful! And that is a faithful proclamation on the part of Jesus’ officially designated witnesses. The religious leaders needed to hear the truth in order to have an opportunity to repent and be forgiven. The same is true today: people need to know they are sinners in order to repent and be forgiven. Israel needed to own up to their affront against the God they claimed to serve.
Lord, instill in me a greater confidence in the message of the risen Lord.
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