Acts 3:14

14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,

Acts 3:14 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 3:14

But ye denied the Holy One, and the just
Who is "holy" both in his divine and human nature, and the fountain of holiness to his people; see ( Psalms 16:10 ) and who is "just" or "righteous", both in his person, and in the discharge of his office, and has wrought a righteousness for his people, which is imputed to them. These characters may have a particular regard to the purity of Christ, as man, and to the innocence of his life, and the harmlessness of his actions, in opposition to the unjust charges of his enemies, and the base treatment he met with from them who denied him to be the Christ, the Redeemer and Saviour: and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
when it was put to their choice, who they would have released, Christ or Barabbas; they requested it as a favour, and desired they might be gratified in having Barabbas, a thief, and a robber, who, with others, had raised an insurrection, and committed murder in it, released, and Christ crucified. They desired an act of grace for him, and a sentence of condemnation to a most shameful and painful death on Christ.

Acts 3:14 In-Context

12 When Kefa saw it, he answered to the people, "You men of Yisra'el, why do you marvel at this man? Why do you fasten your eyes on us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him walk?

13 The God of Avraham, Yitzchak, and Ya`akov, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Servant Yeshua, whom you delivered up, and denied before the face of Pilate, when he had determined to release him.

14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,

15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, whereof we are witnesses.

16 By faith in his name has his name made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which is through him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.