October 6, 2025 - Acts 3:15 - "The Prince of Life"

Acts 3:15

"And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses."

Here Peter, having healed the lame man at the temple gate, stands before the Sanhedrin and preaches Christ. And not just any Christ, but Christ crucified and risen, the Prince of Life. This title demands our attention. It is no vague compliment, no ornamental title. It reveals the LORD Jesus Christ as the Author, Giver, and Sustainer of all life—both physical and eternal.

This lame man sat begging at the gate called Beautiful. Religious men passed by, giving alms, but they could not help him. Peter fastened his eyes upon him and said, “Look on us.” The man expected silver and gold—but Peter had none. Instead, he gave what he did have: “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” Not just a healing, but a manifestation of life granted through the risen Christ. This man, who once begged, now leapt and praised God. Why? Because life had been imparted to him—life in the name of Jesus. It wasn’t Peter’s power. He makes that clear: “Why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?” The glory belongs to Jesus of Nazareth, the One they had denied, delivered up, and crucified. They chose a murderer and killed the Prince of Life. Yet—God raised Him from the dead.

This is the heart of Peter’s sermon. He does not preach himself. He does not even focus on the healed man. His whole message centers on Christ—the Prince of Life. That word Prince in the Greek means originator, author, initiator. It is the same word used in Hebrews 12:2: “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” He is not merely the giver of life—He is Life itself. "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men" (John 1:4). Dead sinners cannot come to life by their own power. The spiritually dead need more than light—they need eyes to see. And that only Christ can give. Just as He created all things in Genesis 1:3—""And God said, Let there be light: and there was light."—so also He must speak life and light into dead souls. Paul confirms this in Colossians 1:16: “All things were created by Him and for Him.” And again, in John 10:10, Jesus declares, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” He came because there was no life apart from Him. If He had not come, we would have remained dead in trespasses and sins.

But how does this life come? Through His death. Here is the irony—the Prince of Life was killed, rejected, despised, and crucified. And yet, even that was according to God’s determinate counsel and foreknowledge (Acts 2:23). Not one act against Him was outside of God’s sovereign purpose. The crucifixion was no tragedy—it was the planned redemption of God’s elect.

Peter lays the blame clearly on them: “Ye denied the Holy One and the Just.” And yet, in that rejection, we see substitution. A murderer set free, and Christ slain. This is not just a historical exchange—it is the very heart of the Gospel. Christ took the place of guilty sinners. If He paid my debt, then I killed the Prince of Life. It was my sin that nailed Him to the cross. And yet, it was also God’s love that put Him there, for the salvation of those He gave to His Son from all eternity. And then, God raised Him from the dead. Why? Because satisfaction had been made. Justification was accomplished. Romans 4:25 says He “was delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification.” The resurrection was the proof that the debt was paid in full. Without the resurrection, we’d follow a martyr—not a Savior. But He is risen, and we have life in His name.

Peter says, “His name, through faith in His name, hath made this man strong.” Where did that faith originate? Peter is clear: it is “the faith which is by Him.” Christ not only gives life—He gives the faith to believe in Christ Who is Life. He is the Author and Sustainer of our faith from beginning to end. This Gospel is not an invitation. It is a command. Peter says in Acts 3:19, “Repent ye therefore and be converted.” True repentance and conversion come only when sins have already been blotted out. And those whose sins Christ has borne—He will call, He will grant repentance, and they shall turn to Him.

The Prince of Life died, but now He lives again. And those who are crucified with Him (Galatians 2:20) now live by the faith of the Son of God. We are His witnesses—not of a mere story, but of a risen LORD. And as He has given us eyes to see, we proclaim Him, the Prince of Life—crucified, risen, reigning. Let every soul whom He has made alive cry out in praise: All my hope, all my life, all my faith—lies in Christ, the Prince of Life.