Acts 3:14-15
But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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It’s not just that they rejected Jesus; they actively demanded a known murderer, Barabbas, be released instead. This highlights their shocking preference for a proven criminal over the sinless Son of God, showing how deeply their hearts had turned away from what is good and true.
Peter is preaching to a crowd in Jerusalem shortly after healing a man who had been lame from birth. He's addressing the crowd's astonishment and emphasizing that the miracle was done through the power of Jesus, whom they delivered up and denied. He's contrasting Jesus' holiness and justice with the murderer Barabbas, whom they demanded be released instead.
Why would a crowd choose a known murderer over the one hailed as the 'Holy and Righteous One'? Peter lays bare a shocking spiritual transaction.
Peter confronts the crowd with a stark choice they made, one that echoes through all of history. They 'denied the Holy and Righteous One' – Jesus – and instead 'desired a murderer to be granted' to them. This wasn't just a political decision; it was a profound spiritual rejection.
A Holy Choice Rejected
Jesus was undeniably set apart, declared 'Holy' by the very demons who recognized His divine nature. He was also 'Righteous,' innocent before God and man, even Pilate acknowledged His lack of crime. To deny Him was to reject God's perfect Son.
A Murderer Embraced
Barabbas, on the other hand, was a known criminal, a murderer who had committed sedition. The crowd, influenced by religious leaders, actively asked for him to be released. The Greek word used suggests a strong desire or even a demand. This wasn't a passive acceptance; it was an active preference for rebellion and violence over holiness and truth.
The terms Peter uses weren't random; they pointed back to ancient promises and expectations. What did 'The Holy One' and 'The Just One' signify to Jewish ears?
Peter’s language of 'the Holy One' and 'the Just' wasn't just descriptive; it resonated with deep Old Testament themes. These titles were implicitly understood by his audience to refer to the promised Messiah.
The Holy One of God
This title, 'the Holy One,' was often associated with God's unique set-apartness and His Messiah. Even the demonic spirits recognized Jesus with this title, showing its divine significance. It spoke of Jesus’ perfect character and His divine mission.
The Just One, Free from Crime
'The Just One' pointed to His innocence and righteousness, especially in the context of a legal trial. Despite the false charges, Jesus was legally innocent. His rejection as 'Just' meant they were rejecting God’s perfect standard of righteousness itself. This choice for a murderer over the Just One was a profound perversion.
Understand the original words
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.
archēgos · Greek Noun
The originator, pioneer, or source of something; used here to identify Jesus as the source of eternal life and the resurrection.
martys · Greek Noun
Individuals who have personally seen or experienced an event and are tasked with providing authoritative testimony to the truth of that event, particularly the resurrection of Christ.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Ministry and Crucifixion
Jesus of Nazareth conducts his public ministry, teaching, healing, and proclaiming the Kingdom of God. Despite his innocence, he is arrested, tried, and crucified under Roman authority.
c. AD 30— this verse
Pilate Frees Barabbas, Condemns Jesus
During the Passover festival, Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, offers the crowd a choice between releasing Jesus or Barabbas, a known murderer and insurrectionist. The crowd demands Barabbas' release and Jesus' crucifixion.
c. AD 30
Resurrection of Jesus
According to Christian belief, Jesus is raised from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion, appearing to his followers over a period of 40 days.
c. AD 30-33
Early Church Growth in Jerusalem
Following Jesus' ascension, the apostles begin preaching and performing miracles in his name, drawing large crowds in Jerusalem and leading to the formation of the early Christian community.
c. AD 33
This psalm, quoted by Peter, speaks of God not abandoning 'your Holy One' to the grave, directly connecting to Jesus as the promised 'Holy One' who would not see corruption.
Matthew 27:16-26This passage recounts the Passover crowd choosing to release the murderer Barabbas instead of Jesus, directly fulfilling the accusation Peter makes in Acts 3:14.
Isaiah 53:11Isaiah prophesies that the 'righteous servant' will 'make many to be accounted righteous' by bearing their iniquities, mirroring Jesus' role as the Just One whose sacrifice is rejected by those who prefer sin.
Mark 1:24Even the demons recognized Jesus as 'the Holy One of God,' highlighting the tragic irony that those who claimed to follow God's law denied His Son's inherent holiness.
vincentActs 3:14: "But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;"
Desired (ᾐτήσασθε)Or demanded. See on Luke 11:9.A murderer (ἄνδρα φονέα)Lit., a man who was a murderer.To be granted (χαρισθῆναι)By way of favor (χάρις).
cambridgeActs 3:14: "But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;"
14 . But ye denied the Holy One and the Just ] Whom even the demoniac ( Mark 1:24 ) had confessed to be “the Holy One of God.” desired a murderer ] Barabbas, who had committed murder, Mark 15:7 ; Luke 23:19 .
It’s not just that they rejected Jesus; they actively demanded a known murderer, Barabbas, be released instead. This highlights their shocking preference for a proven criminal over the sinless Son of God, showing how deeply their hearts had turned away from what is good and true.
Peter is preaching to a crowd in Jerusalem shortly after healing a man who had been lame from birth. He's addressing the crowd's astonishment and emphasizing that the miracle was done through the power of Jesus, whom they delivered up and denied. He's contrasting Jesus' holiness and justice with the murderer Barabbas, whom they demanded be released instead.
Peter is preaching to a crowd in Jerusalem shortly after healing a man who had been lame from birth. He's addressing the crowd's astonishment and emphasizing that the miracle was done through the power of Jesus, whom they delivered up and denied. He's contrasting Jesus' holiness and justice with the murderer Barabbas, whom they demanded be released instead.
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Peter's Sermon After the Healing
Peter preaches to the crowds in Jerusalem, referencing the recent healing of a lame man. He confronts the people about their role in Jesus' death and their rejection of him in favor of Barabbas.
"But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses." — It’s not just that they rejected Jesus; they actively demanded a known murderer, Barabbas, be released instead. This highlights their shocking preference for a proven criminal over the sinless Son…
