As we continue to follow the NT references that shed light on and help create a framework for properly understanding OT prophecies, we come to Acts 3. This second sermon of Peter's takes place on the heels of the healing of a well-known man, who was over 40 years old, who had been lame from birth. Many people were amazed and astonished by this miraculous sign of the real presence of kingdom of Christ performed at the word of Peter and John in Jesus' name. Peter capitalized on this opportunity to preach the gospel to the multitude of Jewish people gathered at the temple that day. The result was that about another 2,000 people were added to the new community consisting of those who believed in Jesus as the promised Messiah. Jerusalem was thrown into spiritual/social upheaval in those days.
17"Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. 19Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. 21He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. 22For Moses said, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. 23Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people.' 24"Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have foretold these days. 25And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, 'Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.' 26When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways."
Remember that Peter had just come off 40 days of talks with the resurrected Christ in which many OT prophecies were undoubtedly rehearsed (see Acts 1:3). There are some astounding points to Peter's little sermon.
1. He begins by referring to the fact that "all the prophets" referred to a "suffering Messiah" and that, ironically, God actually used their ignorance of this to fulfill the prophecies.
2. He refers to the second "sending" of Christ, but says that, for now, "he must remain in heaven" (i.e. at the Father's right hand a la Psalm 110) until a point in the future also foretold by the OT prophets when God will "restore everything"--or "until" the Father makes Christ's "enemies (think primarily of the spirit behind the unbelief in and rejection of Jesus as the Christ, rather than individual human beings!) his footstool".
3. That Samuel and all the prophets after him referred to the very days in which they were (and we are still) now living--that is, during the time of Christ's first coming and the era of earth's history that the surrounding events (his incarnation, mission, death, burial, resurrection, ascension, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the initiation of the new inter-racial community of those called out by God through their faith in Jesus as the Messiah.
4. That these events were now inaugurating and signaling the fulfillment and fullness of "the covenant" God made long ago with Abraham to export the good news of God and His appointed Christ to all the ethnic groups of the earth (see Gal 3:8) and...that these Jewish folks from Jerusalem were graciously being invited directly by God to repent of their sins, put their faith in Jesus as the Christ and, by this, lead the way to this wonderful international explosion of grace and truth.
Christ will return, but in the meantime, there is a Divine mission underway and we are all invited through the good news of Jesus to become players in the grand drama--God's Big God-Story.
But when this priest (i.e. Jesus) had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool....
Hebrews 10:12-13
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