“Lord Jesus, we thank You, that though man put You to death on the cross, yet, this was according to Your determined purpose and Your foreknowledge. You are God, who is sovereign. Even though we are evil people, we have hope and we can obtain Your mercy. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.”
Acts 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;
Peter and John are speaking with the religious leaders.
Acts 4:10-11 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. (11) This is the ‘STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED BY YOU BUILDERS, WHICH HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE.’
Peter and John were quoting _Psalms 118:22-23 and Isaiah 28:16_. By quoting the OT they brought the guilt of murdering Jesus to their feet. These leaders had no way to escape the evil which they had committed.
Acts 5:30-33 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. (31) Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. (32) And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.” (33) When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them.
Why were the leaders, livid with rage against Peter and John? They knew that what Peter and John were telling them was foretold by the prophets.
Peter and John, were not going to spare them. In a razor edge counter, they nailed it on them, the wickedness which they had done.
Even at this point, these religious leaders could have owned up their guilt, repented and sought God’s forgiveness. Instead, they took their evil to the next level, plotting to kill the apostles.
Acts 3:13-15 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. (14) But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, (15) and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.
Here, Peter and John spoke to the general crowd of Jews. They ALL had denied the Holy One and asked for a murderer to be released. They were now held responsible for the evil deed, they had committed.
This is what took place before Pilate.
Matthew 27:24-26 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.” (25) And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.” (26) Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.
This guilt of accepting the murder of Jesus on themselves and saying, “His blood be on us and on our children.”, is an unimaginable level of wickedness.
Ultimately, taking a step back, what is God’s greater purpose?
Romans 11:30-36 For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, (31) even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. (32) For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all. (33) Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! (34) “FOR WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD? OR WHO HAS BECOME HIS COUNSELOR?” (35) “OR WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM AND IT SHALL BE REPAID TO HIM?” (36) For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
The Gentiles were once disobedient to God. Yet, because of the disobedience of the Jews, Jesus went to the cross. It was because Jesus went to the cross, the Gentiles obtained God’s mercy.
When the Jews realise that the Gentiles have obtained mercy and have come into the family of God, they are also drawn to Jesus and there at the cross, they too obtain God’s mercy.
God has committed both Jews and Gentiles to disobedience so that He can show His mercy on all.
This is where Paul is not able to hold himself back anymore, but he erupts into praise at the greatness of God’s wisdom.
I Peter 1:18-21 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, (19) but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. (20) He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world*, but was manifest in these last times for you (21) who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
Today, we have obtained mercy, because God has foreordained, before the foundation of the world, His plan to show His mercy on all.