Acts 3:17, “And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.”
Peter stood before a crowd in Jerusalem, men who only weeks before had shouted for Jesus to be crucified. In this sermon, he reminded them what they had done. He said, “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.” (Acts 3:13)
Peter laid out three piercing truths.
1. They Delivered Jesus to Be Killed
The Jewish leaders handed over the very One sent to save them. Instead of receiving Him, they pushed Him away and turned Him over to Rome to die. Pilate wanted to release Him, but they cried, “Crucify Him!” (Luke 23:21).
It’s easy to read that and think, “I would never have done that.” But the truth is, we all have. It was our sins that delivered Jesus to the cross. Isaiah 53:5 says, “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities.”
2. They Denied Jesus
Peter said, “Ye denied the Holy One and the Just” (Acts 3:14). The people rejected the Messiah they had been waiting for. Even Peter himself denied Jesus three times that night.
We’ve all been guilty of this too. Some denied Him when they first heard the gospel, refusing to believe. Others deny Him by silence, afraid to stand up for truth when it costs something. Jesus said in Matthew 10:33, “Whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”
3. They Desired a Murderer in His Place
This might be the hardest part to grasp. When given the choice between Jesus and Barabbas, a violent criminal, they chose Barabbas. Sin always makes foolish choices. When man rejects Christ, he will always choose something far worse in His place.
We’ve done the same. Every time we choose sin over obedience, every time we follow our flesh instead of the Spirit, we desire something wicked in the place of Jesus. Romans 6:16 says, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey.”
Peter didn’t stop at their guilt. He pointed them to grace. He said in verse 19, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.”
The same Savior they rejected is still willing to save. He took the punishment we deserved, rose from the dead, and offers forgiveness to anyone who will turn to Him.
When Peter finished preaching, something powerful happened. Acts 4:4 tells us that about five thousand people believed that day. One short message, full of conviction and grace, and thousands were saved.
We have all delivered Him to death through sin, denied Him through silence, and desired sin in His place. But through His mercy, He still invites us!
He was rejected so we could be received.
He died so we could live.
And He still saves all who call upon His name.
