22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know—23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it
Verses 22-24 set forth God’s plan for the nation Israel to show the implications of Scripture on them. God was at this time in the process of transition from dealing with the nation to making the church His primary way of life for His people.
There are three authentications that Jesus was the Messiah in the section running from verses 22 to 36: His miracles (v.22), His Resurrection (vv. 23-32), and His Ascension (vv. 33-35).
2:22
“Men of Israel, hear these words:
Peter addressed his sermon to the nation Israel.
Jesus of Nazareth,
Nazareth, a simple Galilean village, was the hometown of Jesus.
a Man attested by God to you
The word “attested” carries the idea of proof (Acts 25:7). As Luke said in Acts 1:3, Jesus presented Himself alive (resurrected) by many infallible proofs.
by miracles, wonders, and signs
“Miracles” is the general word for a miracle. “Wonders” depicts the amazing things Jesus did, a miracle that elicits awe. “Signs” refers to miracles that point to something. “Signs” means to point to the authenticity of Jesus, signifying that Jesus was the Messiah. These signs were testament that the age of God had begun. Christ showed enough credibility for the Jews to believe in Him, but they crucified Him anyway.
which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know—
These words establish the credibility of Jesus as the Messiah. His miracles confirmed that He was the coming One. The Jews “require a sign” (1 Co 1:22). The purpose of speaking in foreign languages without studying for them was to prove to Jews that Jesus was the Messiah (1 Co 14:21-22).
2:23
Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God,
Jesus delivered to death on the Cross was in God’s plan (Isa 53:12; 1 Pe 1:20-21). His Crucifixion was no accident; it was God’s set purpose. He determined it from eternity. God did not improvise His plan for man; it was no coincidence that He provided Christ as the Savior. The Crucifixion of Jesus was no accident because it was in God’s eternal plan (Acts 3:18; 4:28; 13:29).
you [Israel] have taken by lawless hands [Romans], have crucified, and put to death;
Peter indicted the nation Israel for rejecting her Messiah. He also balanced both the human and divine sides of the Crucifixion of Christ. The secondary cause of Jesus’ death was due to man; God was the primary cause.
2:24
whom God raised up, having loosed the pains [agony] of death,
God did not abandon Jesus at the Cross, because He raised Him from the dead and its agony.
because it was not possible that He should be held by it [death].
The grave was not able to hold Jesus by death, for He rose from the dead.
PRINCIPLE:
It is crucial that Israel come to know that God rejected them as a nation during the establishment of the church.
APPLICATION:
God told Israel through Peter of a new prophetic construct and change in economy; God would launch the concept of the church and suspend dealing with the nation Israel as His primary economy for a time.
Note that Peter strictly addressed his sermon to Jews. His message, in part, was that of the Millennial kingdom of the Messiah directed at Israel (Acts 2:14, 22, 29, 36). Israel had rejected her Messiah, who presented Himself with “miracles, wonders, and signs” authenticating His right to rule the nation Israel (Acts 2:22-24). He directed his message especially at Israel. It was a message of the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ.
