Acts 3:26 Study Bible: God, having raised up his Servant, sent him to you first, to bless you, in turning away everyone of you from your wickedness."

◄ Acts 3:26 ►

When God raised up His Servant, He sent Him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways."

When God raised up His Servant
This phrase refers to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, whom God raised from the dead. The term "Servant" is significant, echoing the "Suffering Servant" in Isaiah 52:13-53:12, a prophecy about the Messiah who would suffer for the sins of the people. The resurrection is central to Christian faith, affirming Jesus as the Messiah and validating His teachings and sacrifice. The concept of God raising up a servant also connects to the Old Testament, where God often raised leaders to deliver Israel, such as Moses and David.

He sent Him first to you
The "you" here refers to the Jewish people, emphasizing that Jesus' ministry was initially directed towards Israel. This aligns with Jesus' own statements during His earthly ministry, such as in Matthew 15:24, where He says He was sent "only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." This priority reflects God's covenantal relationship with Israel, as they were chosen to be a light to the nations (Isaiah 49:6). The early church, as seen in Acts, began its mission in Jerusalem before spreading to the Gentiles.

to bless you
The blessing mentioned is spiritual in nature, focusing on salvation and the forgiveness of sins. This echoes the Abrahamic covenant in Genesis 12:3, where God promises that through Abraham's offspring, all nations would be blessed. Jesus, as a descendant of Abraham, fulfills this promise, offering the ultimate blessing of reconciliation with God. The concept of blessing also ties into the Jewish understanding of shalom, which encompasses peace, wholeness, and well-being.

by turning each of you from your wicked ways
Repentance is a key theme here, indicating a turning away from sin and towards God. This call to repentance is consistent with the messages of the prophets in the Old Testament, who urged Israel to return to God (e.g., Joel 2:12-13). In the New Testament, John the Baptist and Jesus both began their ministries with a call to repentance (Matthew 3:2, 4:17). The phrase underscores the personal responsibility of each individual to respond to God's offer of salvation and transformation through Jesus Christ.

Persons / Places / Events

1. God
The sovereign Creator who orchestrates the plan of salvation and raises Jesus from the dead.

2. His Servant
Refers to Jesus Christ, the Messiah, who fulfills the prophecies of the Old Testament.

3. Peter
The apostle delivering this message to the Jewish audience in Jerusalem.

4. Jewish Audience
The initial recipients of the Gospel message, highlighting the priority of the Jews in God's redemptive plan.

5. Jerusalem
The city where this event takes place, significant as the center of Jewish worship and the starting point of the Christian mission.

Teaching Points

Priority of the Gospel to the Jews
God's redemptive plan began with the Jewish people, fulfilling His promises to the patriarchs.

The Role of Jesus as the Servant
Jesus is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, serving as the ultimate servant who brings salvation.

Repentance as a Blessing
Turning from wicked ways is not just a command but a blessing, as it leads to a restored relationship with God.

The Universality of the Gospel
While the message was first delivered to the Jews, it is intended for all people, emphasizing the inclusivity of God's salvation plan.

The Transformative Power of the Gospel
The Gospel has the power to change lives, turning individuals away from sin and towards righteousness.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does understanding Jesus as "His servant" deepen our appreciation of His role in God's redemptive plan?

2. In what ways does the priority of the Gospel to the Jews challenge or affirm your understanding of God's promises in the Old Testament?

3. How can we view repentance as a blessing in our own lives, and what practical steps can we take to turn from our "wicked ways"?

4. How does the message of Acts 3:26 encourage us to share the Gospel with both Jews and Gentiles today?

5. Reflect on a time when the transformative power of the Gospel was evident in your life or the life of someone you know. How can this testimony be used to encourage others?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Isaiah 53
The prophecy of the suffering servant, which Jesus fulfills, emphasizing His role as the one who bears the sins of many.

Luke 24:47
Jesus instructs that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem, aligning with the message in Acts 3:26.

Romans 1:16
Paul speaks of the Gospel being the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Gentile, reflecting the order mentioned in Acts 3:26.

Malachi 4:2
The prophecy of the Sun of Righteousness rising with healing, which can be seen as a foreshadowing of the blessing mentioned in Acts 3:26.

Sermons

Christ and His Blessing	T. Manton.	Acts 3:26
Christ and His Blessing		Acts 3:26
Christ's Errand of Mercy	T. L. Cuyler.	Acts 3:26
Christ's Mission to the Jews	R. Tuck	Acts 3:26
God's Plan for Making Us Happy	J. W. Norton, D. D.	Acts 3:26
Sent to Bless You	W. Birch.	Acts 3:26
The Blessed Mission	H. Allon, D. D.	Acts 3:26
The Blessedness of Conversion	T. Webster, B. D.	Acts 3:26
The Blessing of Christ in the Heart		Acts 3:26
The Generous Mission of Christ	T. De Witt Talmage.	Acts 3:26
The Gospel Blessing	Dean Vaughan.	Acts 3:26
The Gospel Turns Men from Sin	J. B. Walker.	Acts 3:26
The Mission of Jesus Christ	R.A. Redford	Acts 3:26
The Return of the Affections to God	G. T. Noel, M. A.	Acts 3:26
The Servant of the Lord and His Blessing	A. Maclaren, D. D	Acts 3:26
A Great Sermon to a Wondering Multitude	R.A. Redford	Acts 3:11-26
A Greater Miracle	J. Parker, D. D.	Acts 3:11-26
Credit Due to Christ	H. W. Beecher.	Acts 3:11-26
Glory Due to Christ	J. Spencer.	Acts 3:11-26
Glory to be Given to God	H. W. Beecher.	Acts 3:11-26
Misapprehensions Removed	A. Hudson.	Acts 3:11-26
Peter's Address	J. T. McCrory.	Acts 3:11-26
Peter's Address	Monday Club	Acts 3:11-26
Peter's Address	J. Bennett, D. D.	Acts 3:11-26
Peter's Sermon	C. S. Robinson, D. D.	Acts 3:11-26
Peter's Speech	J. Parker, D. D.	Acts 3:11-26
Show Me the Doctor		Acts 3:11-26
Solomon's Porch	Dean Plumptre.	Acts 3:11-26
Solomon's Porch -- a Hallowed Spot for Peter	G. T. Stokes, D. D.	Acts 3:11-26
The Miracle At the Beautiful Gate as a Text	D. Thomas, D. D.	Acts 3:11-26
The Threefold Testimony of Peter Concerning Christ	Lisco.	Acts 3:11-26
The Work of the Holy Spirit in the Conversion of Men	R. W. Dale, LL. D.	Acts 3:11-26
Trite Courage	H. C. Trumbull, D. D.	Acts 3:11-26
Witness of Peter to Jesus	E. Johnson	Acts 3:11-26
Reasons for Repentance	W. Hudson.	Acts 3:22-26
The Greatness of Jesus Christ	W. Clarkson	Acts 3:22-26
The Promised Prophet	R. M. Edgar, M. A.	Acts 3:22-26
The Prophet Like unto Moses	J. Orr, B. D.	Acts 3:22-26
The Resemblance Between Christ and Moses	W. Denton, M. A.	Acts 3:22-26
Samuel	Homilist	Acts 3:25-26
The Children of the Covenant, the Saviour's First Care	E. Payson, D. D.	Acts 3:25-26

People

Isaac, Israelites, Jacob, John, Peter, Pilate, Samuel, Solomon

Places

Beautiful Gate, Nazareth, Solomon's Colonnade

Topics

Bless, Blessing, Causing, Child, Evil, Grave, Iniquities, Raised, Raising, Servant, Sins, Turn, Turning, Wicked, Wickedness

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Acts 3:26

     2030   Christ, holiness
     2327   Christ, as servant
     7160   servants of the Lord
     7942   ministry

Acts 3:1-26

7469 temple, Herod's

Acts 3:11-26

7755 preaching, importance

Acts 3:19-26

8466 reformation

Acts 3:21-26

5467 promises, divine

Acts 3:23-26

1340 consistency

Acts 3:24-26

5048 opportunities, and salvation

Acts 3:25-26

1335 blessing
1352 covenant, the new

Library

March 19 Morning
God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in the turning away every one of you from his iniquities.--ACTS 3:26. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercies hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.--Saved by his life. Our Saviour Jesus Christ . . . who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.--As …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

The Healing Power of the Name
'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.' --ACTS iii. 16. Peter said, 'Why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?' eagerly disclaiming being anything else than a medium through which Another's power operated. Jesus Christ said, 'That ye may know that the Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

The Servant of the Lord
'Unto you first God, having raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you, In turning away every one of you from his iniquities.' --ACTS iii. 26. So ended Peter's bold address to the wondering crowd gathered in the Temple courts around him, with his companion John and the lame man whom they had healed. A glance at his words will show how extraordinarily outspoken and courageous they are. He charges home on his hearers the guilt of Christ's death, unfalteringly proclaims His Messiahship, bears witness …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

'Then Shall the Lame Man Leap as an Hart'
'Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 2. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; 3. Who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked an alms. 4. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him, with John, said, Look on us. 5. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

'The Prince of Life'
'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.' --ACTS iii. 14, 15. This early sermon of Peter's, to the people, is marked by a comparative absence of the highest view of Christ's person and work. It is open to us to take one of two explanations of that fact. We may either say that the Apostle was but learning the full significance of the marvellous events that …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

Watching the Horizon
"Thy Kingdom Come." "Thou art coming! We are waiting With a hope that cannot fail; Asking not the day or hour, Resting on Thy word of power, Anchored safe within the veil. Time appointed may be long, But the vision must be sure: Certainty shall make us strong, Joyful patience must endure. "O the joy to see Thee reigning, Thee, my own beloved Lord! Every tongue Thy name confessing, Worship, honour, glory, blessing, Brought to Thee with glad accord! Thee, my Master and my Friend, Vindicated and enthroned! …
by S. D. Gordon—Quiet Talks on the Crowned Christ of Revelation

Upon Our Lord's SermonOn the Mount
Discourse 1 "And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: And when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: For they shall be comforted." Matt. 5:1-4. 1. Our Lord had now "gone about all Galilee," (Matt. 4:23, ) beginning at the time "when John was cast into prison," (Matt. 4:12, ) not only "teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel …
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

Apostolic Exhortation
It is noteworthy that Peter, in addressing this crowd, came at once to the very essence and bowels of his message. He did not beat the bush; he did not shoot his arrow far afield, but he hit the very centre of the target. He preached not merely the gospel of good news, but Christ, the person of Christ; Christ crucified--crucified by them, Christ risen, Christ glorified of his Father. Depend upon it, this is the very strength of the Christian ministry, when it is saturated with the name and person …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 14: 1868

Gladden -- the Prince of Life
Washington Gladden, Congregational divine, was born at Pottsgrove, Pa., in 1836. After graduating at Williams College he was ordained pastor, and occupied pulpits in Brooklyn, Morrisania, N.Y., and Springfield, Mass., until 1882, when he assumed charge of the First Congregational Church of Columbus, Ohio. He has also occupied editorial positions, and has published many books on social and civil reform and the practical application of Christian truth to popular and common life. His style, whether …
Grenville Kleiser—The world's great sermons, Volume 8

That the Christian Miracles are not Recited, or Appealed To, by Early Christian Writers Themselves So Fully or Frequently as Might have Been Expected.
I shall consider this objection, first, as it applies to the letters of the apostles preserved in the New Testament; and secondly, as it applies to the remaining writings of other early Christians. The epistles of the apostles are either hortatory or argumentative. So far as they were occupied in delivering lessons of duty, rules of public order, admonitions against certain prevailing corruptions, against vice, or any particular species of it, or in fortifying and encouraging the constancy of the …
William Paley—Evidences of Christianity

Thoughts Upon Worldly Riches. Sect. I.
HE that seriously considers the Constitution of the Christian Religion, observing the Excellency of its Doctrines, the Clearness of its Precepts, the Severity of its Threatnings, together with the Faithfulness of its Promises, and the Certainty of its Principles to trust to; such a one may justly be astonished, and admire what should be the reason that they who profess this not only the most excellent, but only true Religion in the World, should notwithstanding be generally as wicked, debauched and …
William Beveridge—Private Thoughts Upon a Christian Life

Whether Christ's Resurrection Ought to have Been Manifested to All?
Objection 1: It would seem that Christ's Resurrection ought to have been manifested to all. For just as a public penalty is due for public sin, according to 1 Tim. 5:20: "Them that sin reprove before all," so is a public reward due for public merit. But, as Augustine says (Tract. civ in Joan.), "the glory of the Resurrection is the reward of the humility of the Passion." Therefore, since Christ's Passion was manifested to all while He suffered in public, it seems that the glory of the Resurrection …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether Christ's Persecutors Knew who He Was?
Objection 1: It would seem that Christ's persecutors did know who He was. For it is written (Mat. 21:38) that the husbandmen seeing the son said within themselves: "This is the heir; come, let us kill him." On this Jerome remarks: "Our Lord proves most manifestly by these words that the rulers of the Jews crucified the Son of God, not from ignorance, but out of envy: for they understood that it was He to whom the Father says by the Prophet: 'Ask of Me, and I will give Thee the Gentiles for Thy inheritance.'" …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Christ Rightly and Properly Said to have Merited Grace and Salvation for Us.
1. Christ not only the minister, but also the author and prince of salvation. Divine grace not obscured by this mode of expression. The merit of Christ not opposed to the mercy of God, but depends upon it. 2. The compatibility of the two proved by various passages of Scripture. 3. Christ by his obedience truly merited divine grace for us. 4. This grace obtained by the shedding of Christ's blood, and his obedience even unto death. 5. In this way he paid our ransom. 6. The presumptuous manner in which …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

An Ox in the Congregation
Friday, July 10.--I rode to London and preached at Short's Gardens on "the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth" [Acts 3:6]. Sunday, 12. While I was showing, at Charles' Square, what it is "to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God" [see Micah 6:8], a great shout began. Many of the rabble had brought an ox, which they were vehemently laboring to drive among the people. But their labor was in vain; for in spite of them all, he ran round and round, one way and the other, and at length …
John Wesley—The Journal of John Wesley

Christ Teaching by Miracles
We have seen how many valuable lessons our Saviour taught while on earth by the parables which he used. But we teach by our lives, as well as by our lips. It has passed into a proverb, and we all admit the truth of it, that "Actions speak louder than words." If our words and our actions contradict each other, people will believe our actions sooner than our words. But when both agree together, then the effect is very great. This was true with our blessed Lord. There was an entire agreement between …
Richard Newton—The Life of Jesus Christ for the Young

The "Times of Restitution" Can be Ushered in Only by the Second Advent of Christ.
"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the Times of Refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the Times of Restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began" (Acts 3:19-21). The "Times of Restitution" here promised to Israel on the condition of their national repentance is one of the names …
Arthur W. Pink—The Redeemer's Return

Christ and Pilate: the True King and his Counterfeit
'And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate. 2. And Pilate asked Him, Art Thou the King of the Jews? And He answering said unto him, Thou sayest it. 3. And the chief priests accused Him of many things: but He answered nothing. 4. And Pilate asked Him again, saying, Answerest Thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against Thee. 6. But Jesus yet …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Essay which Brings up the Rear in this Very Guilty Volume is from The...
The Essay which brings up the rear in this very guilty volume is from the pen of the "Rev. Benjamin Jowett, M.A., [Fellow and Tutor of Balliol College, and] Regius Professor of Greek in the University of Oxford,"--"a gentleman whose high personal character and general respectability seem to give a weight to his words, which assuredly they do not carry of themselves [143] ." His performance is entitled "On the Interpretation of Scripture:" being, in reality, nothing else but a laborious denial of …
John William Burgon—Inspiration and Interpretation

Some Surprising Results of the Break.
The Surprised Jew: a clash of wills--thousands of believing Jews--the church displacing kingdom--two-fold division of men formerly--now three-fold--church different in organization from kingdom--the Baptist puzzled--Jesus did not fill out Hebrew prophecy--two characteristics, personal and official--personal details fulfilled--official not because of rejection--out of situation grew four gospels--Mark--Matthew's the gap gospel--Paul's audiences--Luke's gospel--these three tell of rejection mainly--John's …
S. D. Gordon—Quiet Talks about Jesus

Wilt Thou be Made Whole?
"Jesus saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool. Jesus saith unto him, Rise and walk. Immediately the man was made whole, and walked."--JOHN v. 6-9. "Peter said, In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.... The faith which is by Him hath given this man this perfect soundness in the presence of you all."--ACTS iii. 6, 16. "Peter said, AEneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise. And he arose immediately."--ACTS …
Andrew Murray—The Ministry of Intercession

The Disciple, -- Master, what is the Real Meaning of Service? is it that We...
The Disciple,--Master, what is the real meaning of service? Is it that we serve the Creator and then His creatures for His sake? Is the help of man, who is after all but a mere worm, of any value to God in caring for His great family, or does God stand in need of the help of man in protecting or preserving any of His creatures? The Master,--1. Service means the activity of the spiritual life and is the natural offering prompted by love. God, who is Love, is ever active in the care of His creation, …
Sadhu Sundar Singh—At The Master's Feet

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