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It is a law of mind to look through its dominant sentiments, and to subordinate all outward things to its dominant purposes. The apostles were full of thoughts pertaining to Christ, and they looked at all events through this medium.

I. PETER TRACES THE MIRACLE TO ITS TRUE AUTHOR.

1. Negatively. He disclaims the authorship — a remarkable demonstration of his honesty. Had he taken the credit his social power would have been regnant at once, and would have had an immense following. And the people were willing to give it him.

2. Positively. He shows —

(1) That their God had wrought the miracle. "The God of Abraham."(2) That their God had wrought it in order to glorify His Son — not merely to restore the invalid — and to attest the Messiahship of Him whom they had put to death.

II. HE CONNECTS THE MIRACLE WITH THE NAME OF CHRIST. He had unbounded faith in Jesus, and had therefore power to perform works that should demonstrate His Divine authority; and the effects produced on the bodies of men were only faint types of the results which faith in Christ will produce on souls. Jesus is here presented —

1. In the titles that belong to Him.

(1)  "Holy One and Just."

(2)  "Prince of Life."

2. In the history of their conduct.

(1)  They delivered Him up.

(2)  They denied Him, their Messiah, in the presence of a heathen scoffer.

(3)  This was done in opposition to the tyrant's wish.

(4)  They preferred a murderer.

(5)  They killed Him.

3. In His relation to God. God had —

(1)  Glorified Him.

(2)  Raised Him from the dead.

(3)  Overruled their conduct towards Him.Observe —

(a) It was the purpose of the Father that Christ should suffer as announced in prophecy (Psalm 22; Isaiah 53:3-10; Daniel 9:26).

(b) That the conduct of the Jews was made to subserve this purpose. So perfect is the control which the Monarch of the universe has over His creatures, that He makes the greatest rebels work out His grandest plans.

(c) The Jews were ignorant of what they were doing. This was said not to extenuate their guilt, but to convict them of their folly and impotence.

III. HE DEVELOPS THE CHRISTIAN PLAN OF RESTITUTION (vers. 19-26). Which —

1. Aims at a thorough spiritual reformation as a necessary condition. This includes —

(1)  A change of heart. "Repent," etc.

(2)  Forgiveness of sins. "That your sins may be blotted out."

(3)  Invigoration of being. "When the times of refreshing shall come."

2. Is ever under the direction of God. "From the presence of the Lord" "i.e., by His providence. Observe —

(1) That the invigorating influence of the scheme is from God. The times of refreshing are from His presence.

(2) That the chief Agent of this scheme is from God. "He shall send Jesus."(3) That the revelation of this scheme is from God. "Which God hath spoken," etc.

3. Shall realise its end before the final advent of Christ. "Whom the heavens must receive," etc. Christ is now in heaven, but His work proceeds on earth, and when His work is accomplished He will come again, and not before. Pre-millennialism is a delusion.

4. Is the grand burden of prophetic truth. Observe —

(1) The cases of prophetic reference to Christ.

(a) Moses (ver. 22; cf. Deuteronomy 18:15-19, LXX.).

(b) Samuel (ver. 24). Moses and Samuel are the most distinguished names in Jewish history; but they are mentioned as samples.

(c) All the prophets. We may not be able to trace references to Christ in each, yet in the majority of the prophetic books there are notes of hope struck from the harp of future ages, flashes of light from that bright day which Abraham saw afar.

(2) The reason for these references (ver. 25).

5. Was first to be presented to the Jews (ver. 26). Christ was sent —

(1) To bless, not to curse. Justly might we have expected malediction.

(2) To bless with the greatest blessing. Iniquity is the greatest curse; to men from that is the greatest boon.

(3) To bless the greatest sinners first.

(D. Thomas, D. D.)

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KJV: 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.

WEB: As the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.