Two fishermen, uneducated by the Jewish religious
establishment but empowered by the Holy Spirit, met a beggar at a Temple gate
for a divine appointment. After healing
him by his faith in Jesus, they spoke to the amazed and growing crowd.
Yes, they were guilty as Jews of killing their own Messiah,
but Peter, after “announcing their crime, presenting the evidence, and
explaining the nature of their sin, then offered them pardon,” my commentary said.
“The prosecuting attorney became the defense attorney and the pardoning
judge.” It likely helped greatly that he
said in verse 17, “I know you did those things to Jesus because neither you nor your leaders understood what you were doing.” He told them that this was a sin of ignorance. Jesus had prayed, “Father, forgive them, for
they don’t know what they are doing.” They knew what that meant, for in
Numbers there was a clear distinction drawn between willful sin and sins of ignorance. “The person who sinned unwittingly and
without deliberate intent was given opportunity to repent and seek God’s
forgiveness,” my commentary said.
Knowing they had
this chance at mercy and grace from God, they listened as he told them that
they needed to repent of their sins –
being sorry enough to quit them – and to then turn to Jesus in saving faith for having taken the punishment meant
for them. It wasn’t enough to simply regret getting caught or to feel terrible about what they’d
done. “It was admitting that what God
says is true, and because it is true, to change our mind about our
sins and about the Savior.”
Father, thank You for having worked this miracle in my own
heart. Help me to show others the
miracle of Your offer of spiritual healing through repentance and belief in
Your Son’s sacrifice for them.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
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