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Selected Verse: Acts 3:15 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Ac 3:15 |
King James |
And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
| killed the Prince of life--Glorious paradox, but how piercing to the conscience of the auditors. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
And killed the Prince of life - The word rendered "prince" denotes properly "a military leader or commander." Hence, in Heb 2:10, it is translated "captain:" "It became him ...to make the "Captain of their salvation" perfect through sufferings." As a captain or commander leads on to victory and is said to obtain it, so the word comes to denote one who is the "cause," the "author," the "procurer," etc. In this sense it is used, Act 5:31, "Him hath God exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel," etc. In Heb 12:2 it is properly rendered author, "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith." The word "author," or "giver," would express the meaning of the word here. It also implies that he has dominion over life; an idea, indeed, which is essentially connected with that of his being the author of it. The word "life" here is used in a large sense, as denoting "all manner of life." In this sense it is used in reference to Christ in Joh 1:4, "In him was life." Compare Joh 5:26; Jo1 5:11; Co1 15:45. Jesus is here called the Prince of life in contrast with him whom the Jews demanded in his place, Barabbas. He was a murderer Luk 23:19; Mar 15:7, one who had destroyed life, and yet they demanded that he whose character it was to destroy life should be released, and the Author of life be put to death.
Whom God hath raised ... - Act 2:24, Act 2:32. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
The Prince of life (ἀρχηγὸν τῆς ζωῆς)
The Greek brings out by the position of these words what Bengel calls "the magnificent antithesis" between a murderer and the Prince of life. "Ye demanded a murderer, but the Prince of life ye killed." This is the only place where the phrase occurs. Ἀρχηγός, though sometimes rendered prince, means, primarily, beginning, and thence originator, author. Better here as Rev., in margin, author, and so by Rev. at Heb 2:10; Heb 12:2. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
And killed the Prince of life - Τον αρχηγον της ζωης, The author of this life: not only implying that all life proceeds from Jesus Christ as its source, but that the life-giving influence of that religion which they were now proclaiming came all through him. Αρχηγος signifies a prime leader or author, a captain, from αρχη, the beginning, head, or chief; and αγω, I lead. In Heb 2:10, Christ is called Αρχηγος της σωτηριας, the Captain of salvation. He teaches the doctrine of life and salvation, leads the way in which men should walk, and has purchased the eternal life and glory which are to be enjoyed at the end of the way. So the Jews preferred a son of death, a destroyer of life, to the Author and Procurer of life and immortality!
Whereof we are witnesses - They had now wrought a most striking miracle in the name of Christ, and immediately proposed themselves as witnesses of his resurrection from the dead; the miracle which they had thus wrought being an unimpeachable proof of this resurrection. |
32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
7 And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.
19 (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)
45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
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.
10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.