Meaning of Acts 3:26

This verse, spoken by the Apostle Peter in Jerusalem, asserts that God's redemptive plan, initiated through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, was first and foremost directed toward the Jewish people. The "servant" referred to is Jesus, raised by God, and His initial mission was to offer a spiritual blessing to them. This blessing is defined as a turning away from wickedness, implying a call to repentance and a renewed relationship with God. Peter is emphasizing that the offer of salvation and its accompanying blessings are not exclusive but rather begin with those who had a prior covenant relationship with God, fulfilling promises made to Israel.

Context and Background

The sermon in Acts 3 follows the miraculous healing of a lame man at the temple gate (Acts 3:1-10). Peter, empowered by the Holy Spirit, seizes this opportunity to preach about Jesus, whom the Jewish authorities had rejected and crucified, but whom God had raised from the dead. The audience is composed of Jews and proselytes who witnessed the healing and are astonished by it. Peter is addressing them directly, urging them to understand the divine power behind the miracle and its connection to the Messiah. He has just declared that it was "the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead" that made the man well (Acts 3:13-16). This verse is the culmination of that exhortation, presenting the purpose of Jesus' coming to them.

Key Themes and Messages

• Divine Initiative and Purpose: The verse highlights that God is the active agent, raising up His servant, Jesus. This emphasizes that salvation is not a human endeavor but a divine provision.
• Messianic Mission: Jesus is presented as God's "servant," a term often used in the Old Testament for prophets and especially for the suffering servant in Isaiah. His mission is to bring blessing.
• Blessing through Repentance: The specific nature of the blessing is a turning from wicked ways. This links divine favor and prosperity not to outward observance alone, but to an inward transformation and obedience.
• Prioritizing Israel: The phrase "first to you" signifies a deliberate order in God's redemptive outreach, beginning with His chosen people, as prophesied.

Spiritual Significance and Application

The spiritual significance lies in the understanding that God's plan for humanity begins with a call to righteousness. The "wicked ways" represent a state of sin and separation from God. The blessing offered is not merely material prosperity but a profound spiritual renewal that comes through acknowledging sin and turning back to God. For believers today, this verse underscores the transformative power of Christ's resurrection and the ongoing call to repentance and holiness. It teaches that true blessing is intrinsically tied to obedience and a life lived in accordance with God's will.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

This verse is a pivotal point in the unfolding of the New Testament. It demonstrates the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies regarding the Messiah who would bring salvation and a new covenant. The emphasis on turning from wicked ways echoes the prophetic calls for repentance found throughout the Old Testament (e.g., Isaiah 58:6-9, Jeremiah 4:1-4). Furthermore, it sets the stage for the subsequent expansion of the Gospel message to the Gentiles, as the "first" offer to Israel, though met with mixed reception, paves the way for the universal scope of salvation revealed later in Acts.

Analogies

Consider a skilled physician who, after developing a life-saving cure, first offers it to the community most affected by the disease, believing that their recovery will then enable them to share the cure more effectively with others. Similarly, God, through Jesus, first offered the cure for sin to the Jewish people, who were intimately familiar with God's law and promises, so that they might be blessed and then become instruments of that blessing to the world. Another analogy could be that of a king sending his royal decree of pardon and a path to restoration to a rebellious province first, before extending it to all the kingdom.

Relation to Other Verses

• Isaiah 61:1-3: This prophecy speaks of the Spirit of the Lord being upon the Messiah to "proclaim good news to the poor," "bind up the brokenhearted," and "grant to those who mourn in Zion to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." Peter's message of blessing through turning from wicked ways aligns with this Messianic purpose.
• Luke 24:47: Jesus Himself commissioned His disciples to preach "repentance and forgiveness of sins in his name to all nations, beginning with Jerusalem." Acts 3:26 directly echoes this command, showing the initial implementation of Christ's commission.
• Romans 1:16: Paul states, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." This verse reinforces the concept of salvation being offered to the Jew first, as Peter articulates in Acts.
• Jeremiah 31:33-34: This passage describes the New Covenant where God promises, "I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts... and I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." The turning from wicked ways is a direct consequence of this internal transformation promised in the New Covenant, inaugurated by Christ.