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* THE KING’ S BUSINESS
glorified Him. He had raised Him from the dead and exalted Him to His own right hand (cf. John 17:5; Matt. 28:18; John 13:3; Eph. 1:20-23; Phil. 2:9-11). How awful man’s treatment o f Jesus appears- when it is looked at over against God’s treatment o f H im ! Perhaps it was his rec ollection o f his own denial o f their Master that led Peter to dwell so sadly on their denial o f Him. The same monstrous choice that the Jews made in desiring a murderer instead o f “the Prince o f Life” is repeated by all who reject Jesus and accept Satan. W e should note carefully the titles that Peter gives to Jesus: (1) “His Son,” (2) “The Holy One.” This latter title is used o f Jehovah and Jehovah only in the Old Testament thought, and shows that Jesus occupies in the New Tes tament thought the position that Jehovah occupies in the Old Testament thought. (3) “ The Just,” or better, “ The Righteous One” (as in the Revised Version). (4) “ The Prince o f Life” (v. 15). While verse 16 is not one o f the verses the Committee has appointed to print, it is really the heart o f the chapter. It was not Peter’s “ own power” (v. 12), but .the power o f Jesus’ name that had made this man strong and that had “given him this perfect soundness” that they all could see. There is one condi tion upon which the name o f Jesus exer cises its Divine power, that condition is “ faith in His name.” Why was the ninth hour set apart for prayer ? Ex. 29:39. What other times were there for prayer? Aqts 10:9; Psa. 55:17; Dan. 6:10. What is the basis o f prayer? John 14:6. (2 ) The Poor Petitioner, vs. 2, 3. O f whom is the blind man a type? Matt. 23:25, 26. Who blinds the minds o f men? Matt. 12:22; 2. Cor. 4:4. What is Satan’s purpose in blinding the eyes o f men? John 12:40.
show the Jews that it was not some new God that he preached, but the God o f their fathers. The one doctrine that he empha sized was that o f the resurrection o f Jesus. This was the one doctrine which Peter and the other Apostles 'constantly preached- to the Jews (cf. 1:22; 2:24, 32 ; 3:15, 26; 4:33; 10:40, 41; 13:30, 34; 17:31). The sin that Peter especially pointed out was the sin o f rejecting and denying the One whom God had so exalted (cf. ch. 2:22, 23, 36; 4:10; 5:30; 7:52). There .are four counts in Peter’s terrible indictment o f his hearers: (1) Ye delivered up God’s ser vant Jesus. (2) Ye denied the Holy One and the Just. (3) Ye desired a murderer instead o f Him. (4) Ye killed the Prince o f Life. He used four very significant titles for Jesus: (1) God’s Servant (R .V .). The word translated “ servant” could be translated “child” or “son” as in the Authorized Version, but the undoubted reference is to the Servant o f Jehovah so often spoken o f in Old Testament prophecy (Isa. 42:1; 52:13; 53:11; see also Matt. 12:18 where the Authorized Version as well as the Revised translates the same word used here, ( “servant” ). (2). The Holy One. (3) The Righteous One. (4) The Prince o f Life. And this was the One they had delivered up, denied and killed, and this is the One men reject, deny and trample under foot today. But while the Jews had thus misused Jesus, God had (1 ) Partners in Prayer, v. 1. Were Peter and John partners in busi ness ? Luke 5:10. Were they called as partners in disciple- ship ? Matt. 4:18-22. In what special instances were they assoc iated with Christ? Mark 5:37; Luke 9:28; Matt. 26:37; Luke 22:8. To what place were they sent together as witnesses? Acts 8:14. What was Christ’s order for service? Luke 10:1.
LESSON OUTLINE
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