This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The leaders Peter is addressing saw themselves as the "builders" of God's people, yet their rejection of Jesus proves they missed the whole point of their building project. By casting him aside, they inadvertently highlighted him as the essential "cornerstone" that God Himself chose to build His eternal kingdom upon.
This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Peter and John have just healed a man who had been lame for decades, and now they're being interrogated by the very religious leaders who had Jesus crucified. The leaders are astonished by the healing, and Peter boldly declares that it was done in the name of Jesus, the one they rejected but whom God raised from the dead. Peter then quotes from Psalm 118, pointing out that Jesus is the "stone" the "builders" (the religious authorities) cast aside, yet He has become the essential cornerstone of God's plan.
You know, sometimes the very people who should know better are the ones who miss God's obvious move. That's exactly what Peter is calling out here.
The 'Builders' Who Missed It
Peter, standing before the religious leaders of Israel (the 'rulers,' 'elders,' and 'scribes'), uses a powerful image from Psalm 118. He calls them the 'builders.' In ancient times, architects and builders were crucial. They were responsible for the structural integrity of a building, choosing the foundational stones.
But these 'builders,' in their pride and blindness, rejected Jesus. They saw Him as a threat, a disruption, not the cornerstone God intended.
God's Ultimate Approval
Yet, the verse declares that this rejected stone has become the cornerstone. This isn't just a poetic turn of phrase; it's a theological declaration. It means that what humans discard, God can exalt. What they scorn, He uses to build His eternal kingdom. God's purposes will always triumph over human opposition.
What makes a building stand strong? It's that one crucial stone that holds everything together. Peter is saying Jesus is that stone for God's kingdom.
More Than Just a Stone
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In ancient architecture, the cornerstone (or 'head of the corner') was absolutely vital. It was often the first stone laid, and it determined the angle and position of the other stones. It bonded two walls together, providing stability and strength to the entire structure.
Jesus: The Unifier and Foundation
Peter applies this to Jesus. He is the one stone that connects and holds together God's building – the Church. He is the foundation upon which everything else rests.
This means Jesus isn't just part of God's plan; He is the central, indispensable element. Without Him, there is no stability, no true building. This cornerstone is what makes the Church, composed of both Jews and Gentiles, a unified structure.
Understand the original words
Iēsous · Greek Noun
The personal name of the incarnate Son of God, meaning 'Yahweh is salvation,' identifying Him as the Messiah and the only means of redemption for humanity.
lithos · Greek Noun
A metaphor for Christ's rejection by Jewish leadership, while simultaneously affirming His foundational, essential role in God's redemptive plan and the structure of the Church.
oikodomōn · Greek Noun
A term describing leaders or authorities responsible for building or directing God’s people, here highlighting their failure to recognize the Messiah.
kephalēn gōnias · Greek Noun phrase
A primary architectural stone that determines the orientation and alignment of a building, symbolizing Christ as the supreme, foundational authority upon which the entire Church is built.
This verse dramatically highlights the irony of the religious leaders' rejection of Jesus. They saw themselves as the 'builders' of God's people, yet by rejecting Jesus, they fulfilled prophecy and unknowingly elevated Him to the most crucial position—the cornerstone of God's spiritual building.
c. 1000 BC
David Chosen King
The prophet Samuel anoints David as king of Israel, despite David being the youngest son and not the obvious choice. This event foreshadows a leader chosen by God but initially overlooked by many.
c. 740 BC
Isaiah Prophesies Cornerstone
The prophet Isaiah foretells a 'precious cornerstone, a sure foundation' that God will lay in Zion, a key prophetic passage later applied to Jesus.
c. 1000 BC - 400 BC
Psalm 118 Written and Used
Psalm 118, a song of thanksgiving, is composed and used in Temple worship. Verse 22, 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,' becomes a significant verse.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Ministry and Rejection
Jesus, the 'stone,' conducts his ministry, performs miracles, and teaches. He is repeatedly rejected by the religious leaders, the 'builders' of the religious establishment.
c. AD 30
Crucifixion of Jesus
Despite the religious leaders' rejection, Jesus is crucified. This act of ultimate rejection is seen as fulfilling the prophecy of the rejected stone.
c. AD 30-33
Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus
God raises Jesus from the dead, vindicating Him and demonstrating His power over death and the rejection of human authorities.
c. AD 33— this verse
Peter's Bold Proclamation
In the Jewish Sanhedrin, Peter declares that Jesus, whom they rejected and crucified, has been raised by God and is the prophesied cornerstone, the only means of salvation.
This is the foundational Old Testament passage that Peter directly quotes, highlighting the prophecy of the rejected stone becoming the cornerstone.
Matthew 21:42Jesus himself quotes Psalm 118:22, applying it to himself and warning the religious leaders, setting the stage for Peter's bold declaration.
1 Peter 2:6-8Peter echoes this same theme, referring to Jesus as a 'cornerstone' and also a 'stone of stumbling' for those who reject Him, reinforcing the dual nature of Christ's reception.
Ephesians 2:20This passage further develops the 'cornerstone' imagery, describing the church as built on the foundation of apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone, uniting all.
Isaiah 28:16This prophecy foretells God laying a cornerstone in Zion, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation, which is a foundational text for understanding Jesus' role as the chosen foundation despite rejection.
barnesActs 4:11: "This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner."
This is the stone - This passage is found in Psalm 118:22 . It is quoted, also, by our Saviour as applicable to himself. See the notes on Matthew 21:42 . The ancient Jews applied this to David. In the Targum on Psalm 118:22 , this passage is rendered, "The child who was among the sons of Jesse, and was worthy to be constituted king, the builders rejected." The New Testament writers, h…
wesleyActs 4:11: "This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner."
4:11 Psalm 118:22.
The leaders Peter is addressing saw themselves as the "builders" of God's people, yet their rejection of Jesus proves they missed the whole point of their building project. By casting him aside, they inadvertently highlighted him as the essential "cornerstone" that God Himself chose to build His eternal kingdom upon.
Peter and John have just healed a man who had been lame for decades, and now they're being interrogated by the very religious leaders who had Jesus crucified. The leaders are astonished by the healing, and Peter boldly declares that it was done in the name of Jesus, the one they rejected but whom God raised from the dead. Peter then quotes from Psalm 118, pointing out that Jesus is the "stone" the "builders" (the religious authorities) cast aside, yet He has become the essential cornerstone of God's plan.
Peter and John have just healed a man who had been lame for decades, and now they're being interrogated by the very religious leaders who had Jesus crucified. The leaders are astonished by the healing, and Peter boldly declares that it was done in the name of Jesus, the one they rejected but whom God raised from the dead. Peter then quotes from Psalm 118, pointing out that Jesus is the "stone" the "builders" (the religious authorities) cast aside, yet He has become the essential cornerstone of God's plan.
"This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone." — The leaders Peter is addressing saw themselves as the "builders" of God's people, yet their rejection of Jesus proves they missed the whole point of their building project. By casting him aside, they…
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Last reviewed October 2026