Verse 30: “The God of our fathers raised Yeshua whom you killed hanging upon the tree.”

The God of our fathers: The patriarchs – Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They were men of faith and men of the promise. The patriarchs were men who altered their lives and behaved differently. They behaved faithfully because they were pursuing the promises of God.

Raised Yeshua: This is an example of a great promise from God – resurrection. Messiah taught that no one took His life, but He laid it down freely out of obedience to His Heavenly Father. He also said that He had the power to take it up again (John 10v18). However, the Scripture does not emphasize that He took up His life but emphasizes instead that God (the Father) raised Him from the dead (1 Corinthians 6v14).

God the Father raising God the Son testifies of the Father’s acceptance of Messiah’s work – His sacrificial, substitutionary death on our behalf – as perfectly sufficient.

Hanging upon the tree: A reference to the crucifixion. In the Torah we find a Biblical truth: ‘Cursed is the one who is hung on the tree’ (Deuteronomy 21v23). This verse references for us that Messiah died because He was accursed. He was not cursed by God because of anything that He had done (He is the perfect Son of God and was without sin), but the Scripture tells us that He became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5v21). Sin receives the judgement of God and leads to death. When Messiah hung on the cross He took the curse, and judgment, so that we could find blessing.

Verse 31: “This One (Messiah) God exalted as Prince and Saviour to His right hand. He gives repentance to Israel and the forgiveness of sins.”

God exalted: Messiah, according to Philippians 2v6-8, emptied Himself and took on the nature of a servant. At the last supper He washed His disciples feet (John 13v4-12) demonstrating His servanthood. He took off His outer garment, a garment of honour, in order to wash their feet – a symbolic reminder of Him removing Himself from His position in the heavens, taking off that role, so to speak. He never ceased being God or divine, but He did not function in that role while on earth.

Having served God, His Father, perfectly, God exalted Him, raised Him up (Philippians 2v9-11).

He gives repentance: Messiah, hanging on the tree, was an invitation that one could receive by faith. When we realise that Messiah is both our Prince and Saviour it brings about repentance. We repent for the purpose of the forgiveness of our sins. True Biblical repentance is a desire to turn away from sin.

To Israel: Israel, in this sense, is being used as a Kingdom people.

Verse 32: “We are His witnesses of these words, and the Holy Spirit, whom He (God) has given in order to obey Him.”

These words: The word used here is Rhema (a spoken word). These words have a unique potential and produce literal outcomes. This outcome is connected to the logos word – which is God’s plan. This, therefore, is a spoken revelation in order to bring about a fulfilment of God’s plan.

The Holy Spirit: He is the One that has the authority to take these Rhema words and make them into a reality.

In order to obey Him: It is when we understand the proclamation of God that we are able to submit and, therefore, the fulfilment of His will can be brought about.

Note: The previous verse (5v31) spoke about salvation. In this verse (5v32) we see the outcome of salvation – obedience that brings about the fulfilment of God’s will.

In this world we have a calling. That calling is to obey the proclamation of God in order that, by obedience, these things will be fulfilled. Obedience is where a faithful person demonstrates the love of God.