Ignorance

Acts 3:13-21

Oh the multitude of directions I could go with this title! However, keeping true to our text, there is only one direction to look at. That is ignorance to who Jesus is. Anyone who engages in Biblical discussions knows that there is a tremendous amount of ignorance about who Jesus is. Many people imagine Him to be who they want Him to be, rather than how the Bible describes Him. The prevailing thought it is that Jesus is a big gentle teddy bear that loves accepts everyone just how they are. This could not be farther from the truth!

In the text, Peter addresses this ignorance of who Jesus is. The people had cried for the crucifixion of Jesus because He was not who they wanted Him to be. They wanted a mighty king who would come and conquer Rome and deliver them. Jesus came to deliver from sin, not world systems. Like most people today, they read the scriptures and heard what they wanted to hear. It was this that Peter addressed in his message.

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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. 17 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. 18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. 19 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; 20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: 21 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 3:13-21

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Through ignorance they had rejected Jesus. Through ignorance they had crucified Him. Through ignorance they had continued on with life as usual. Through ignorance they were under condemnation for their sins. Through ignorance much of the world today is in the same condition.

Peter called them on their actions. Peter brought their ignorance to light. Once their ignorance was exposed, they were no longer ignorant. They knew that they had done wrong. They knew that they had shed innocent blood. Ignorance was no longer an excuse. So, the people had a decision to make. What would they do with Christ?

We learn in chapter 4 that many of them repented. Luke tells us "Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand" (Acts 4:4). Most scholars believe that this is an additional 2,000 people added to the 3,000 who were saved in chapter 2. Regardless, that is a lot of people who had to come to grips with their condition as sinners before God because of the murder of His Son. Praise God there was/is forgiveness for sins!

Today, many many people are ignorant to the fact that just like the Jews who were present for the execution of Jesus, we too are guilty of His death. That is because our sins are the reason He came and died on the cross. However, ignorance is not a defense in any court of law. We will all fall on our knees before Him in judgment one day. It will be as either Savior or Judge.

Christians, we need to be like Peter and John. We need to boldly proclaim the name of Jesus. We need to boldly condemn sin. We need to boldly warn of the judgment for sin. We need to boldly proclaim the message of salvation. We need to boldly call people to repentance.

Father, help me to be bold in proclaiming the name of Jesus. May I tell of sin, judgment, and salvation through your Son. I pray that people would be saved and lives would be changes.