Acts 3:14

14 You rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released 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 And when Peter saw this, he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why are you surprised by this? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?

13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus. You handed Him over and rejected Him before Pilate, even though he had decided to release Him.

14 You rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.

15 You killed the Author of life, but God raised Him from the dead, and we are witnesses of this fact.

16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know has been made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Him that has given him this complete healing in your presence.