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JUNE 18
to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s,
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greatly amazed. So when Peter saw it, he
responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do
you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, 3:15 killed…God raised…we are witnesses.
as though by our own power or godliness we Peter’s confident and forceful declaration
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had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, (1 Cor. 15:3–7) was a clear defense of and pro-
Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified vided further evidence for Christ’s resurrec-
His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and tion. Peter’s claim was undeniable; the Jews
denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was never showed any evidence, such as Jesus’
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determined to let Him go. But you denied the corpse,to disprove it.Prince of life. The Greek
word for “prince”means originator, pioneer, or
beginner of something. Both Hebrews 2:10
and 12:2 translate it “author.”It describes Jesus
as the Divine Originator of life (Ps. 36:9; Heb.
3:13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 2:10; 12:2; 1 John 5:11,20).
A description of God familiar to Peter’s Jewish
audience (Ex. 3:6,15; 1 Kin. 18:36; 1 Chr. 29:18;
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2Chr. 30:6; Matt. 22:32). He used this formula, from the presence of the Lord, and that He
which stressed God’s covenant faithfulness, to may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to
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demonstrate that he declared the same God you before, whom heaven must receive until
and Messiah whom the prophets had pro- the times of restoration of all things, which
claimed. His Servant Jesus. Peter depicted God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy
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Jesus as God’s personal representative. This is prophets since the world began. For Moses
an unusual New Testament title for Jesus,used truly said to the fathers, ‘The LORD your God
only 4 other places (v. 26; 4:27,30; Matt. 12:18), will raise up for you a Prophet like me from
but a more familiar Old Testament name for your brethren. Him you shall hear in all
Messiah (Is. 42:1–4,19; 49:5–7; 52:13–53:12;
Matt. 20:28; John 6:38; 8:28; 13:1–7).
Pilate…determined to let Him go. Pontius
Pilate,the Roman governor at Jesus’trial,came
from a national tradition that strongly sup- 3:19 Repent…be converted.“Converted”is a
ported justice. He knew Jesus’ crucifixion frequent New Testament word that relates to
would be unjust and therefore declared Him sinners turning to God (9:35; 14:15; 26:18,20;
innocent 6 times (Luke 23:4,14,15,22; John Luke 1:16,17; 2 Cor. 3:16; 1 Pet. 2:25). your
18:38;19:4,6) and repeatedly sought to release sins…blotted out. Ps. 51:9; Is. 43:25; 44:22.
Him (Luke 23:13–22; John 19:12,13). Blotted out compares forgiveness to the com-
plete wiping away of ink from the surface of a
document (Col. 2:14).
Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murder-
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er to be granted to you, and killed the Prince of
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life, whom God raised from the dead, of which things, whatever He says to you. And it shall
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we are witnesses. And His name, through faith be that every soul who will not hear that
in His name, has made this man strong, whom Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from
you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes among the people.’ Yes, and all the prophets,
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through Him has given him this perfect sound- from Samuel and those who follow, as many as
ness in the presence of you all. have spoken, have also foretold these days.
17 “Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it 25 You are sons of the prophets, and of the
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in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But covenant which God made with our fathers,
those things which God foretold by the mouth saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the
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of all His prophets, that the Christ would suf- families of the earth shall be blessed.’ To you
fer, He has thus fulfilled. Repent therefore first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus,
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and be converted, that your sins may be blot- sent Him to bless you, in turning away every
ted out, so that times of refreshing may come one of you from your iniquities.”
DAY 18: How did Judah and Jerusalem finally fall?
Responding to King Zedekiah’s rebellion in 2 Kings 24:20, Nebuchadnezzar sent his whole
army to lay siege against the city of Jerusalem (2 Kin.25:1).The siege began in January 588 B.C. and
lasted until July 586 B.C. In August 586 B.C., one month after the Babylonian breakthrough of
Jerusalem’s walls (vv.2–4),Nebuzaradan,the commander of Nebuchadnezzar’s own imperial guard,

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