Acts 3 15

Acts 3:15 kjv

And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

Acts 3:15 nkjv

and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.

Acts 3:15 niv

You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.

Acts 3:15 esv

and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.

Acts 3:15 nlt

You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact!

Acts 3 verses

Acts 3 15 Meaning

Acts 3:15 delivers a profound and sharp accusation to the Jewish audience, asserting their culpability in putting to death Jesus, whom Peter proclaims as the very "Author of life." This grave human act, however, is dramatically overturned by God's powerful intervention in raising Jesus from the dead. The verse culminates with the apostles declaring themselves irrefutable eyewitnesses to this pivotal resurrection event, emphasizing its factual basis and divine significance. It encapsulates the core Christian message of human rejection, divine vindication, and the living testimony of the apostles.

Acts 3 15 Context

Acts chapter 3 details the miraculous healing of a man lame from birth at the Temple's Beautiful Gate by Peter and John, performed in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. This extraordinary event garnered immediate attention, drawing a multitude of astonished onlookers. Seizing this providential moment, Peter addresses the assembled crowd in Solomon's Portico. Acts 3:15 forms a crucial part of this sermon, where Peter elucidates that the power for the miracle stems from the very Jesus whom they rejected and crucified. He contrasts human culpability with divine sovereignty, presenting Jesus not only as the healer but as the promised Messiah, validating his claims through God's resurrection of Christ.

Acts 3 15 Word analysis

• and you killed: (καὶ ἀπεκτείνατε - kai apektainate). This is a strong, accusatory verb signifying a deliberate act of putting someone to death. It places direct responsibility on Peter's Jewish audience for their role in Jesus' crucifixion, particularly their assent and calls for His death.

• the Author of life: (τὸν ἀρχηγὸν τῆς ζωῆς - ton archēgon tēs zōēs).

  • Archēgos: A profound theological title. It denotes a "leader," "prince," "founder," "originator," or "pioneer." It emphasizes Jesus’ role as the very source and bringer of true life. He doesn't merely bestow life but initiates and is life itself. This title connects Him to the work of salvation (Heb 2:10) and faith (Heb 12:2), portraying Him as the inaugurator of a new way of living.
  • of life: (τῆς ζωῆς - tēs zōēs). Refers to divine, spiritual, and eternal life, distinct from mere biological existence. By identifying Jesus as the "Author of life," Peter highlights the staggering irony and severity of their sin—they killed the very one from whom all true life emanates.

• whom God raised: (ὃν ὁ θεὸς ἤγειρεν - hon ho theos ēgeiren). This explicitly states God the Father's active role in Jesus' resurrection. It asserts divine action that nullifies and reverses human condemnation. God's raising of Jesus from the dead is the ultimate vindication of Jesus' claims and His righteousness, proving His messianic identity and triumph over death.

• from the dead: (ἐκ νεκρῶν - ek nekrōn). A standard New Testament phrase indicating a complete and verifiable resurrection from physical death, not a mere revival or spiritual awakening. It emphasizes that Jesus truly died and was truly brought back to life.

• Of this we are witnesses: (οὗ ἡμεῖς μάρτυρές ἐσμεν - hou hēmeis martyres esmen).

  • Witnesses: (μάρτυρες - martyres). Crucial for apostolic authority. The apostles proclaimed not abstract theology but observable, historical facts. They were firsthand observers of the resurrected Christ, giving their message an undeniable factual basis and credibility. This direct witness empowered their preaching.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "and you killed the Author of life": This powerful oxymoron underscores the profound paradox and heinousness of their act. To extinguish the very source of existence is the ultimate act of rebellion against God and creation. This phrase aims to convict the audience of their grievous sin.
  • "whom God raised from the dead": This clause serves as a direct, divine refutation of the previous human action. Humanity chose death for Jesus, but God chose life. This demonstrates God's supreme power over sin and death, transforming the ultimate act of human wickedness into the cornerstone of salvation and hope. It also establishes God's ultimate validation of Jesus as His Son and Messiah.
  • "Of this we are witnesses": This provides the evidentiary foundation for the apostles' audacious claims. Their testimony is not hearsay or speculation, but based on direct encounter with the resurrected Christ. This firsthand eyewitness account lends unimpeachable authority and factual weight to their preaching, asserting the reality of the resurrection to the very people who crucified Him.

Acts 3 15 Bonus section

The profound tension embedded in Acts 3:15—human evil against divine good—is a recurring theme in the biblical narrative, vividly illustrated in Joseph's life where his brothers' malevolent intentions were overruled by God for widespread good (Gen 50:20). Similarly, the crucifixion, meant for Christ's demise, became the providential act that birthed universal salvation, solely through God's resurrection power. Peter's consistent use of the title "Archēgos" (Author/Leader/Pioneer) for Jesus not only establishes His authority over life and salvation but also implicitly corrects the common Jewish expectation of a purely political Messiah, highlighting Jesus' role as a spiritual and eternal leader who opens a new way for humanity. This verse directly challenges the human understanding of divine justice and power, demonstrating God's capacity to transcend human wickedness and orchestrate His redemptive plan through unforeseen means.

Acts 3 15 Commentary

Acts 3:15 stands as a quintessential summation of Peter's sermon, dynamically weaving together humanity's egregious sin with God's majestic power. The identification of Jesus as the "Author of life" (Archēgos tēs Zōēs) reveals the incomprehensible magnitude of their transgression; they destroyed the very wellspring of existence, both physical and eternal. Yet, Peter immediately counters this despairing truth with the triumphant reality of God's intervention. By "raising Him from the dead," God not only reversed the human verdict but eternally affirmed Jesus' divine identity and purpose, demonstrating His sovereignty over all human acts, even the most heinous. This divine act transformed an apparent defeat into the victory of redemption. The apostles’ solemn declaration, "Of this we are witnesses," grounds this profound theological truth in historical fact. Their personal experience of the resurrected Christ provides irrefutable evidence, validating their bold proclamation and calling the audience to repentance based on an undeniable reality.