Acts (Part 24) - Acts 3:14

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Acts (Part 24) - Acts 3:14 1. Act 3:14 – But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; A. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, i. The Jews denied Jesus in the presence of Pilate (see comments on Act 3:13). ii. Jesus is the Holy One. a. Holy adj. - 1. Kept or regarded as inviolate from ordinary use, and appropriated or set apart for religious use or observance; consecrated, dedicated, sacred. 2. ... Of a character that evokes human veneration and reverence; and thus, in Christian use, Free from all contamination of sin and evil, morally and spiritually perfect and unsullied, possessing the infinite moral perfection which Christianity attributes to the Divine character. Cf. sense 4. 4. Conformed to the will of God, entirely devoted to God: in earlier times often connoting the practice of asceticism and religious observances; now usually: Morally and spiritually unstained; free from sinful affection; of godly character and life; sanctified, saintly; sinless. b. Holy One - A holy person; used as a title of God or Christ; one dedicated to or consecrated by God. c. Being called the Holy One shows that Jesus is God (Act 2:27; Isa 40:25; Isa 47:4). d. Jesus is holy in every sense of the word. (i) Jesus is holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate (set apart) from sinners (Heb 7:26). (ii) Jesus is sinless (1Pe 2:22; 2Co 5:21; 1Jo 3:5). (iii)Jesus is without blemish and without spot (morally perfect) (1Pe 1:19). (iv) Jesus was wholly devoted to God (Joh 6:38; Joh 8:29). e. This title of Jesus shows us that He is holy, set apart, sinless, morally perfect, and totally devoted to God. iii. Jesus is the just (1Pe 3:18). a. Just adj. – 1. That does what is morally right, righteous. just before (with) God or, simply, just: Righteous in the sight of God; justified. b. Jesus is the Just One (Act 7:52; Act 22:14). (i) Jesus alone is righteous and sinless on His own account (Mat 27:4). (ii) Our righteousness is through Jesus, not ourselves (Tit 3:3-7). c. Jesus is “the just LORD” (Zep 3:5). d. Jesus’ ways are just (Rev 15:3). e. Even Jesus' enemies knew that He was just (Mat 27:19, 24). iv. Consider the characteristics of the just: a. God blesses his house (Pro 3:33). b. His path is illuminated by God (Pro 4:18). c. Blessings are upon his head (Pro 10:6). d. His memory is blessed (Pro 10:7). e. His tongue (speech) is as choice silver (Pro 10:20). f. His mouth brings forth wisdom (Pro 10:31).  g. He will be delivered through knowledge (Pro 11:9). h. He will come out of trouble (Pro 12:13). i. No evil shall happen to him (Pro 12:21). j. The sinner’s wealth is laid up for him (Pro 13:22). k. He walks in his integrity (Pro 20:7). l. It is joy for him to do judgment (Pro 21:15). m. He seeks the soul of the upright (Pro 29:10). n. An unjust man is an abomination to him (Pro 29:27). o. His way is uprightness (Isa 26:7). p. He walks in the ways of the LORD (Hos 14:9). q. He lives by faith (Hab 2:4; Rom 1:17; Gal 3:11; Heb 10:38). r. These are the characteristics of our Lord Jesus Christ. B. and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; i. When given the opportunity to have Jesus released, they instead desired that the murderer Barabbas be released to them (Luk 23:13-25). ii. They would rather have had a dangerous criminal in their midst than the holy, harmless Son of God (Heb 7:26).