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11 Peter Speaks to the People.[a] While he continued to cling to Peter and John, all the people came running in amazement toward them in Solomon’s Portico, as it is called. 12 When Peter saw the people assembling, he addressed them:

“Men of Israel, why are you so surprised at this? Why do you stare at us, as though we had enabled this man to walk by our own power or holiness? 13 The God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified his servant[b] Jesus whom you handed over and disowned in the presence of Pilate after he had decided to release him. 14 You rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 The author of life[c] you put to death, but God raised him from the dead. Of this we are witnesses.

16 “By faith in his name, this man whom you see here and who is known to you has been made strong. Faith in him has made him completely well in the presence of all of you.

17 “Now I am aware, brethren, that you acted out of ignorance as did your rulers. 18 God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the Prophets, revealing that his Christ would suffer. 19 Repent, therefore, and be converted so that your sins may be wiped away, 20 that a time of refreshment may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, that is, Jesus. 21 He must remain in heaven until the time comes for the universal restoration announced by God in ages past through his holy Prophets. 22 For Moses said,

‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me
    from among your own people.
To him shall you listen
    in whatever he tells you.
23 Everyone who refuses to listen to that prophet
    will be cut off from the people.’

24 “Furthermore, all the Prophets who have spoken, from Samuel onward, predicted these days.

25 “You are the heirs of the Prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors when he told Abraham, ‘And in your descendants all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ 26 When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each one of you from your wicked ways.”

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 3:11 The discourse that follows embodies the kerygma (i.e., the essentials of Christian preaching) as intended for a Jewish audience.
  2. Acts 3:13 Servant: the Greek word can also be translated as “son” or “child” (see Acts 3:26; 4:25, 27, 30). However, scholars believe that the word “servant” fits in better with the underlying idea of Jesus as the suffering Servant of the Lord (Isa 52:13—53:12).
  3. Acts 3:15 Author of life: this may also be rendered as the “prince of life” or the “pioneer of life”—indicating Jesus as the originator of salvation.