Peter calls Jesus "servant" (pais), deliberately echoing Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah as God's chosen servant. This connects Jesus's miraculous healing power directly to God's redemptive plan, contrasting their rejection of him with God's ultimate exaltation.
The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Peter has just healed a man lame from birth in Jesus' name, causing the crowd to stare in amazement. He uses this moment to address them directly, reminding them that the power comes from the God of their ancestors, not from the apostles themselves. Peter then boldly confronts them with their complicity in Jesus' death, highlighting how they rejected and handed over the very One whom Pilate himself recognized as innocent.
Peter starts by invoking the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Why go all the way back to the patriarchs when addressing the crowd in Jerusalem?
Continuity in God's Covenant
Peter grounds his message in the God who made profound promises to their ancestors. This wasn't a new god or a new plan; it was the continuation of the covenant God established with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This emphasizes that Jesus isn't an afterthought but the fulfillment of a long-standing divine purpose.
Connecting Past and Present
By calling God 'the God of our fathers,' Peter connects the present miracle and Jesus' glorification to the historical faith of Israel. It’s a way of saying, 'The God who was faithful to Abraham is the same God who is now acting through Jesus.' This helps the crowd understand that Jesus' work isn't outside their heritage but is deeply rooted in it.
The text calls Jesus 'his servant' and mentions He was 'glorified.' What does this really mean, especially when contrasted with the crowd's actions?
The Messiah as God's Servant
The Greek word used here, 'pais,' can mean 'son' or 'servant.' Peter uses it here to echo Old Testament prophecies, particularly from Isaiah, which describe the Messiah as God's chosen 'Servant.' This highlights Jesus' humble obedience and his mission to serve humanity, even to the point of suffering.
Glorification Amidst Rejection
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Peter boldly declares that God 'glorified his servant Jesus' right after accusing the crowd of delivering and denying Him. This is a powerful paradox. Despite their rejection and Pilate's wavering, God elevated Jesus. This glorification isn't just about the resurrection; it's about God publicly honoring Jesus through the miraculous healing Peter and John just performed, proving His divine approval.
Peter directly confronts the crowd about their role in Jesus' death, contrasting it sharply with Pilate's decision. What's the significance of this comparison?
The Weight of Their Choice
Peter emphasizes that the crowd actively 'delivered up' and 'denied' Jesus. This wasn't passive participation; it was a deliberate choice to reject Him. The crowd’s insistence on releasing a murderer instead of Jesus reveals their active opposition to Him.
Pilate's Innocence Magnifies Guilt
By pointing out that Pilate, a Roman governor, 'had decided to release him' after finding no guilt, Peter dramatically increases the culpability of the Jewish leaders and the crowd. Pilate, an outsider, recognized Jesus' innocence, yet they, God's chosen people, vehemently demanded His crucifixion. Their decision went against the judgment of secular authority, highlighting their profound spiritual blindness and rebellion.
Understand the original words
doxazō · Greek Verb
The act of exalting, manifesting the glory of, or confirming the divine status of someone; specifically refers to God vindicating Jesus through the resurrection.
pais · Greek Noun
A title for the Messiah, often associated with the 'Suffering Servant' prophecy in Isaiah, emphasizing Christ’s role as the obedient agent of God’s redemptive plan.
arneomai · Greek Verb
To reject, disown, or refuse to acknowledge the true identity and authority of someone, specifically used of Israel's rejection of Jesus.
hagios kai dikaios · Greek Adjective/Noun phrase
A title affirming Christ's sinless, divine nature and His perfect adherence to God's standard of holiness and justice.
Peter's bold proclamation directly confronts his audience by linking the miraculous healing to Jesus, whom they themselves rejected and handed over for execution, highlighting the profound irony of God glorifying the very One they scorned.
c. 2000 BC
God's Covenant with Abraham
God establishes a foundational covenant with Abraham, promising him descendants and blessing through his lineage.
c. 1750 BC
God's Covenant with Isaac and Jacob
The covenant promises are reaffirmed and passed down to Isaac and then Jacob (Israel), emphasizing God's faithfulness to His chosen people.
c. 30 AD
Jesus' Crucifixion
Jesus is arrested, tried, and crucified under the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, despite Pilate's initial judgment of innocence.
c. 30 AD
Jesus' Resurrection
God raises Jesus from the dead, validating His claims and demonstrating His power over death.
c. 33 AD— this verse
Healing of the Lame Man
Peter and John, filled with the Holy Spirit, heal a man lame from birth in the name of Jesus at the temple gate.
c. 33 AD
Peter's Sermon on the Temple Mount
Peter preaches to the gathered crowd, explaining that Jesus, the Servant of God, performed the miracle and boldly accusing them of denying and delivering Him to Pilate.
This verse is a key Old Testament prophecy that scholars connect to the term 'servant' (pais) used for Jesus in Acts 3:13, highlighting Jesus as God's chosen servant for redemption.
Exodus 3:6Peter begins by invoking the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, echoing Moses' encounter with God at the burning bush, emphasizing continuity with God's covenant promises to their fathers.
John 19:15The text highlights the contrast between the Jewish leaders' denial of Jesus as king in favor of Caesar and Pilate's inclination to release him, underscoring their rejection of Jesus as their rightful ruler.
Matthew 12:18This verse, where Matthew quotes Isaiah 42:1, directly applies the prophecy of God's 'servant' to Jesus, reinforcing the theological connection Peter makes in Acts 3:13.
Deuteronomy 13:3This Old Testament passage warns against following prophets who lead people away from the true God, which Peter implicitly addresses by grounding Jesus' authority in the God of their fathers, not a new or false teaching.
vincentActs 3:13: "The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go."
His son (παῖδα)Rightly, servant, as Rev. See on Luke 1:54. The A. V. renders, in Matthew 12:18, servant, quoting from Isaiah 42:1; but elsewhere, where applied to Jesus, son or child, which Rev. in every case has changed to servant. The word is continually used, like the Latin pue…
cambridgeActs 3:13: "The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go."
13 . hath glorified his Son Jesus ] The Greek is not υἱός but παῖς , and should be rendered Servant , and this would carry the mind back, as St Peter no doubt intended, to Isaiah 42:1 , “Behold my servant whom I uphold,” a passage which St Matthew ( Matthew 12:18 ) applies to Jesus…
Peter calls Jesus "servant" (pais), deliberately echoing Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah as God's chosen servant. This connects Jesus's miraculous healing power directly to God's redemptive plan, contrasting their rejection of him with God's ultimate exaltation.
Peter has just healed a man lame from birth in Jesus' name, causing the crowd to stare in amazement. He uses this moment to address them directly, reminding them that the power comes from the God of their ancestors, not from the apostles themselves. Peter then boldly confronts them with their complicity in Jesus' death, highlighting how they rejected and handed over the very One whom Pilate himself recognized as innocent.
Peter has just healed a man lame from birth in Jesus' name, causing the crowd to stare in amazement. He uses this moment to address them directly, reminding them that the power comes from the God of their ancestors, not from the apostles themselves. Peter then boldly confronts them with their complicity in Jesus' death, highlighting how they rejected and handed over the very One whom Pilate himself recognized as innocent.
"The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. But you denied the Holy and…" — Peter calls Jesus "servant" (pais), deliberately echoing Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah as God's chosen servant. This connects Jesus's miraculous healing power directly to God's redemptiv…
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Last reviewed October 2026
