8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people, 9if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, 10let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health. 11He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief cornerstone.”
Peter will not let the nation off the hook; he does not soften the seriousness of what they have done. He keeps the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and their guilt in front and center. That he is addressing the nation as a whole is clear from his address to the “Rulers and elders . . . let it be known to all of you and to all the people . . . Jesus Christ . . . whom you crucified . . .” The fate of the nation is on the line because of their rejection of Jesus Christ, who had presented Himself as the king riding into Jerusalem on a donkey (see Matt. 21:1–11) as prophesied.
Six times we see this phrase, “filled with the Holy Spirit,” in the book of Acts, each time describing momentary empowerment of God for a specific situation. Its only other use in the NT it in Ephesians 5:18, where all Christians are commanded to be “filled with the Spirit” in contrast to being “drunk with wine.” This means Christians should submit to the control of the Spirit in our lives and not be controlled by other things. In Acts, the sense is more of the Spirit taking control at specific times in a life of ongoing obedience to the Spirit. This is one of those times. Peter speaks boldly, as one leading a spiritual coup against the leaders of Israel—not by his power but under the control of the Spirit.
The healing of the man the day before, and their overnight “stay” in jail, had done nothing to dampen the apostles’ spiritual energy! So this third speech of Peter’s does not abate, and with laser-like focus, he turns the spotlight on Jesus Christ. The miracle is the showcase of Jesus’ supernatural credentials as the Messiah. He quotes from Psalm 118:22 to add prophetic support to God’s foreknowledge that the Messiah would be rejected, and Peter makes it absolutely clear that it applies to them. He doesn’t quote the next verse in the psalm, but every Jew would have known how it went: not only will the rejected stone become the chief cornerstone (Peter is implying this refers to Christ), but also, “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes” (Ps. 118:23). Israel failed big time! Hugely! They rejected the plan of God (Yahweh), the God whom Abraham, Moses, David, and all prophets worshiped!
Heavenly Father, may I never resist Your will and plan for my life.
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