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. But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you. And killed the Prince of life, whom God has raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. And his name through faith in his name has made this man strong, whom you see and know: yes, the faith which is by him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all”, and in chapter three and verse seventeen of the book of Acts Luke shared how Peter told the people, “I know that through ignorance you did it” where we read:
And now, brethren, I know that through ignorance you did it, as did also your rulers.
The verse begins, “And now, brethren, I know that through ignorance you did it, ...” Luke began with the words, “and now” which means “and at this present time”, “brethren” or “fellow people of the same national ancestor and belonging to the same people”, “I know that through ignorance” which means “I, Peter, understand, perceive and and discern” “you did it” or “you, fellow people of the same nation, performed and produced the killing of Jesus by lack of knowledge of divine things and moral blindness”. Luke shared how “Peter” told his “fellow brothers of the same nation” that he understood that they “killed” Jesus by a “lack of knowledge of divine things”.
The verse goes on to say, “... as did also your rulers.” Luke continued with the words, “as did also” or “just like, even so and indeed performed and produced” “your rulers” which means “your, the people who gathered themselves to Peter and John in the temple and their leaders, chiefs and princes”. Luke shared how Peter included the “chiefs and princes” among the “people of the same nation” as responsible for “killing” Jesus as well.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Peter” told the people who rushed toward him and John in the temple they and their “rulers” “killed” Jesus by their “lack of knowledge of divine things”. Though these people were “guilty” of “killing” the Son of God, Peter was giving them an opportunity to be convicted of their sin so they could turn to Jesus for forgiveness. God desires to have a loving personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and though their “sins” have “killed” Jesus, He is willing to forgive them when they yield themselves to Him as their “Savior and Lord”. Those who are wise will understand their “divine ignorance and moral blindness” and submit themselves to Jesus who is able to save them for all eternity.
Next time Luke shares how Peter says, “those things, which God before had showed by the mouth of all his prophets”, 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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