Peter is making clear that his faith in Jesus didn't just begin with Jesus. It began with God's promise to the Patriarchs, the great Jewish fathers. The God who blessed them also raised Jesus from the dead! These Jewish opponents threatening the early believers had made sure that Jesus had been executed in the most heinous and degrading way possible for a faithful Jew - he was nailed to a cross, hung on a pole in front of a jeering mob, something that was both illegal and a sign of being cursed under Jewish Law (
Deuteronomy 21:23;
Galatians 3:13). But God raised Jesus from the dead and exalted him and made him our Savior and our
Lord (
Acts 5:31). Praise God! No wonder Peter was bold in his defense.
Thank you, Father, for showing your power over evil, sin, hate, jealousy, scandals, curses, and death. In the name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior, I offer my praise and thanksgiving as I commit to boldly proclaiming Jesus as my resurrected Lord and Savior. Amen.
![Illustration of Acts 5:30 — [Peter continued the apostles' defense for proclaiming Jesus as Messiah and Lord:] "The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead — whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree."](https://img.heartlight.org/overlazy/creations/2597.jpg "Illustration of Acts 5:30 — [Peter continued the apostles' defense for proclaiming Jesus as Messiah and Lord:] \"The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead — whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.\"")
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