Luke the physician wrote how Peter told the people who gathered together after the lame man at the temple was healed, “The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Son Jesus; whom you delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go”, and in chapter three and verse fourteen of the book of Acts Luke shared how Peter told the people, “you denied the Holy One and the Just” where we read:
But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
The verse begins, “But you denied the Holy One and the Just, ...” Luke began with the words, “but you denied” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover you, Jewish people who rushed toward Peter and John in the temple abnegated, abjured, rejected and refused” “the Holy One” or “the most holy, sacred, pure, morally blameless and religiously and ceremonially consecrated One” “and the Just” which means “and the righteous, virtuous, innocent, faultless and guiltless”. Luke shared how Peter told the Jewish people who rushed toward him in the temple that they “refused and rejected” God's “Sacred and Righteous” One who was Jesus.
The verse continues, “... and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;” Luke added the words, “and desired a murderer” or “and wanted, craved, required and begged for one who committed homicide (Barabbas)” “to be granted unto you” which means “to be given, bestowed, and freely delivered to you, Jewish people”. Luke shared how “Peter” reminded the Jewish people how they craved a “murderer” instead of Jesus.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Peter” told the Jewish people who rushed toward him and John in the temple that they “refused and rejected” Jesus who was “God's” “Holy One and the Just”, and they desired “Barabbas” who was a murderer to be released to them instead. This must have reminded the Jewish people of the time they cried out for “Pilate” to “crucify” Jesus and set “Barabbas” free, and now they knew their error. God reveals the “sin” within every person if they allow Him, and then He speaks to them through His Holy Spirit to encourage them to believe and trust in His Son Jesus as their “Lord and Savior”. Those who consider the fault of these Jewish people should realize their own errors as well, and when they do, let them “repent of their sins, ask God for His forgiveness and receive His Holy and Just One – Jesus – into their lives.
Next time Luke shares how Peter tells the people they, “killed the Prince of life, whom God has raised from the dead”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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