Peter seizes the moment and asks the people about their amazement (NIV has surprise, which may be too weak) and their staring (see comment at 3:4). If they think the miracle was produced by power resident in the apostles or by godliness—the superior practice of the duty one owes to God (compare 10:2)—they are mistaken.

Peter prepares the way for his Deuteronomy and Genesis quotes by declaring that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (compare Ex 3:6, 15) has in this healing glorified his servant Jesus. The title servant is an allusion to Messiah as the servant of the Lord featured in the servant songs of Isaiah. In particular it points to Messiah's suffering servant role in Isaiah 53. Boldly Peter alleges that the people handed [Jesus] over (compare Lk 9:44; 18:32; 22:21-22; 23:25; NIV adds to be killed) and disowned him by rejecting Pilate's judgment that he was innocent (Lk 23:13-25). Disowning the Holy and Righteous One, they asked that a murderer be released to them.

With a striking phrase, Peter asserts that "the crown prince" (NIV says author) of life has been deprived of life. Life in Luke can be a synonym for salvation (Acts 5:20; 11:18; 13:46, 48).

Today we are so jaded by constant exposure to violence through the news media that in our entertainment we demand ever more grisly acts of violence. Can we still be shocked by this "greatest crime in human history" (Barclay 1976:33) which Peter lays before his listeners? We must be, for only then will we be able to receive that great good news that Peter immediately declares: God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this (compare 1:22; 2:32; 4:10; 10:40-41; 13:30-31).

By faith (both the apostles' and the beggar's—compare 14:8-10) in the name of Jesus (that is, Jesus himself present in his resurrection power; compare 1 Kings 8:27-30), this man . . . was made strong. Literally, the Greek says, "Based on faith in his name this one . . . his name strengthened." "Faith is the manner and Jesus' name is the cause of the man's restoration" (Kistemaker 1990:130). In the end all is from Jesus, for faith is present not only as a human activity (faith in the name of Jesus) but also as a divine gift (faith . . . through him). And today the economy is the same. There is no room for relying on manipulative, magical technique. All Jesus asks us to bring is humble dependence lived out in prayer and faith (Jas 5:14).