Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.
29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
The Gospel is an offense to natural minded sinners, but particularly those of religious profession who are twice blinded because of the blindness of their hearts. Many continue to hold tenaciously to their religious experiences, testimonies, professions and ceremonies rather than rest in and hope on the Person of the LORD Jesus Christ and His finished work of salvation accomplished at the cross alone.
Such were these who defied Peter and the other apostles to preach in the name of Jesus of Nazareth (a name of derision for them) and His doctrine (salvation accomplished by His blood shed unto death alone as THE LAMB of God). So what would cause such an arrogant, evil attack on the LORD’S servants and the Gospel that they preach? How is it the same today for any who are yet in an unregenerate state of mind and heart against God? Colossians 1:21?
The Gospel is an offense because we by nature do not want accountability to a Sovereign God-v. 28. These religious rulers understood the implications of the apostles’ preaching and their own blood guiltiness for crucifying the LORD Jesus, whom the very God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob believed and revered. The connection between the God of the Old Testament and the raising up of Jesus of Nazareth cannot be denied. They are one and the same, since the LORD Jesus exclaimed that no man would take His life. He would lay it down of Himself and raise it up again, such was the commandment that He had received of His Father, John 10:18. There if the God of their Fathers raised Him up, but He raised Himself, would they not be one and the same God. God in the flesh is an offense.
The Gospel is an offense because it condemns men for their wicked, evil deeds, and yet gives God all the glory in all that transpires.The apostles preached the God of their Fathers (Jehovah God) raised up Jesus whom ‘ye slew and hanged on a tree.’ Sinners today want to hold God accountable for their evil deeds, but God is holy, just and good in how He saves sinners, putting their sins to the account of His Son, all the while condemning those who willfully crucified Him. This is the mystery of providence that offends men and yet, ‘To God be the glory,’ Acts 2:23.
The Gospel is an offence because it attributes every aspect of salvation to the covenant God, and the glory to the LORD Jesus alone as the author and finisher of salvation, vv. 31,32- Repentance, forgiveness of sins and the testimony of the Spirit of God are His gifts that Christ purchased. Man has no say, either ‘yay’ or ‘nay’, but is brought in sovereign power to rest in, hope in, trust in, and persevere in this Wonderful Savior who worked out salvation for every sinner that HE came to save.
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