And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering. (12) And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? (13) The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. (14) But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; (15) And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. (16) And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
Reader! I charge it upon your heart, while I desire to feel the full impression of it upon my own, that in attending to this very precious Sermon of Peter's, we do not overlook the ministry in it, of God the Holy Ghost. It is delightful to behold the animation of the servant in the Lord's cause: but never to forget from whence the whole energy is derived, in the master. And I pray the Reader to call to mind, the particular area of the times, when this miracle, and preaching took place. The Son of God, having finished redemption-work, had just before returned to heaven. And God the Holy Ghost was now come down, in a more open manifestation of himself, to carry on the glorious cause. His special act, therefore, as the Original and Almighty Architect of the Church, was to build up the tabernacle of David which was fallen down, and close up the breaches thereof, Amos 9:11. Hence, the whole ministers to his glory. And it is blessed, yea, very blessed, at every verse we pass over, in this wonderful account, to watch, and mark, the footsteps of the Holy Ghost; and like the Prophet on the watch tower, to be on the lookout, for the Lord's manifestations, in what we read, of his grace in our hearts, Habakkuk 2:1-2
Let the Reader not fail to observe, with what energy and power, under the influence of God the Spirit, Peter opened his animated discourse. He begins with humbly declining all pretensions to himself, and his partner John, of any merit or worth, from the deed Wrought in the cripple; and strives to call off the attention of the people, in the astonishment which they had expressed, from them, as instruments; in order to fix their views on Jesus, as the Author, And having thus called forth their notice, he begins with a text from their own Scriptures, which they were supposed all of them to be well acquainted with, in relation to the Covenant. The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob: the God (said he) of our fathers. Nothing could have been more happily chosen, by way of arresting their attention. And no higher proof could be needed in testimony, that the Lord the Spirit both directed the Apostle's mind, to the choice of this scripture; and gave to the Apostle's mouth, ability to unfold, and explain it to the people. While the Apostle was speaking to them of Abraham's God, and the God of their fathers; he could be setting forth no strange gods, or new gods, as Moses charged some of old with, newly come up, which neither they, nor their fathers knew, Abraham's God, in his threefold character of Persons, was well known, and well proclaimed in the scriptures of eternal truth. Here therefore Peter takes his stand, and demands their attention.
Having thus paved the way by a foundation for discourse, which as the Israel of God they could not but acknowledge, it was the very principles of their religion to stand upon: Peter next advanced to the one great subject of all his, and all the Apostles' preaching; namely, the Lord Jesus Christ in his Person, Godhead, Offices, Characters, and Relations: and to set him forth as God had set him forth, in the word of his grace. The God of our fathers, (said he), Abraham's God in Covenant, hath glorified his Son Jesus. Reader! pause over the blessed words, for they are most blessed. The whole design of Jehovah, from beginning to end, and from one eternity to another, through all the time-state of the Church, is to glorify his Son Jesus. The Bible is to this one end, and is full to this, and this only purpose. Every Promise centers but in Him; yea, Jesus himself is but as one promise, for every other is comprehended, and folded up in this One, 2 Corinthians 1:20. Every Precept, both under the law, and the Gospel, tends but to exalt Christ Jesus, For by him the whole have been fulfilled, and he is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth, Romans 10:4. And as they relate to his people in him, the whole is comprehended in looking to Christ, and believing on him, John 6:28-29. Every Ordinance is intended to minister but to him: indeed Christ himself is the One great Ordinance of Jehovah; for there is salvation in no other, neither is there any other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved, Acts 4:12. Reader! what saith the experience of your heart to these things? You see, that the great will and purpose of Jehovah, is, to glorify his Son Jesus. Is this your will and purpose also? Do you make him, what Jehovah hath made him, the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: the Author and Finisher of faith? Oh! how sweet is it, when a poor sinner discovers, that He, who is Jehovah's salvation to the ends of the earth, is his salvation also. He is the praise of all his saints; the people near to him! Revelation 1:11; Revelation 1:11; Hebrews 12:2; Isaiah 49:6; Psalms 148:14
It is well worthy the observation of the Reader, with what firmness the Apostle chargeth the men of Israel, with the crucifixion of Jesus. He hesitateth not to bring it home to their consciences. And what I admire in this short, but sweet sermon of Peter's, is, that while he bears testimony to the human nature of Christ, in the proof arising from his death; he most decidedly proves his (divine nature in the strong terms by which he calls them: the Holy One, and the Prince (or Giver) of life. And in relation to the miracle wrought, he refers the whole into his Almighty name. And his name (saith Peter) through faith in his name hath made this man strong whom ye see and know. Reader! do not overlook in this place that faith, upon all occasions, hath for its whole object and dependence, the Person of Christ. I beg the Reader to consult a few of the many scriptures which speak of Christ, as the Holy One, and the Holy One of Israel: for they can refer to no other, Deuteronomy 33:8; Psalms 89:19; Psalms 89:19; Isaiah 49:7; Isaiah 49:7; Daniel 4:13; Hebrews 1:12; Mark 2:24.