This week, we studied how Peter made room for those guilty of crucifying Jesus to be forgiven since they acted in ignorance. In fact, from the cross, Jesus himself said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). Bottom line: They were ignorant. Peter referenced verses in the Law of Moses to remind them that forgiveness was an option, and the way to be forgiven would be to repent and turn to Christ.
Remember: Peter’s ultimate goal was redemption for his fellow Jews who had—in complete ignorance—killed the prophesied Messiah. Rejecting this message would result in culpability for the crime.
We also learned that the term “suffering messiah” is nonexistent in the Old Testament. Instead, the prophecies about the “suffering servant” (cf. Isaiah 53) were understood to be messianic in nature. We also discussed the probable existence of a collection of messianic prophecies and allusions in the Hebrew Scriptures that was circulating among the Jews in the years leading up to the time of Christ.
Peter’s sermon explained (in Pesher mode…again) that Jesus is the prophesied suffering servant, and therefore, the Messiah.
>> Click to read this week’s passage in KJV, HCSB, ESV, NIV: Acts 3:1-26 <<
Acts 3:17-21 ~ Ignorant No More
Ignorance as a forgivable sin;
* Recorded: LIVE. This audio has been edited for class member privacy, time, and content.
PowerPoint Presentation
There was no PowerPoint this week.
Books Referenced in Class:
No attempt has been made to secure a uniform theological or critical approach to the biblical text: contributors have been invited for their scholarly distinction, not for their adherence to any one school of thought. C. K. Barrett is Emeritus Professor of Divinity, University of Durham, UK.
In addition there is detailed attention to major theological and historical issues, including the question of the relationship of Acts to the Pauline letters, the question of early Christian history and how the church grew and developed, the relationship between early Judaism and early Christianity, and the relationship between Christianity and the officials of the Roman Empire. (Description from Amazon.com)
Flavius Josephus was a first-century Pharisee, Jewish historian, Roman consultant, and writer. He documented aspects of life during the time of Christ, giving us extensive writings on ancient Jewish history in existence. By studying Josephus’ works, readers gain a behind-the-scenes look at biblical figures including Abraham, Moses, John the Baptist, and James the brother of Jesus, plus insights into the Dead Sea Scrolls community, Sadducees and Pharisees, the Jewish Revolt, and more. (Description from Amazon.com)
Features include:
- The War of the Jews—an account of the Jewish revolt against Rome up to the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem
- The Antiquities of the Jews—a history of the Jews from Creation to the Roman occupation of Palestine
- The Life of Flavius Josephus—the autobiography of Josephus, who fought against Rome and later served the empire
- Against Apion—a defense of the origin of Judaism in the face of Greco-Roman slanders
- Discourse to the Greeks Concerning Hades—a text Whiston attributed to Josephus
- Index of parallels between Josephus’s Antiquities and the Old Testament including the Apocrypha
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