Days and years are passing and making the moment still less—may a disengaged heart have a welcome for the last sand.
What a different character is given to the resurrection in the sermon in Acts 2 and in that in Acts 3 In Acts Peter lifts up the risen Christ as Moses brought in the budding rod in Num. 17 for the confusion of the people. It is there a startling object full of judgment on a rebellious people. And Israel cry out under the sense of this, “men and brethren, what shall we do?” as Israel had cried out in Num. 17 Peter declares that the same risen, ascended Christ would return to make His foes His footstool. In Acts 3 he publishes the name of the same risen Jesus for the healing of these people. That name is set for salvation, not for judgment. And instead of the risen, ascended Christ returning to make his foes His footstool, He is declared to be waiting in the heavens till he brings refreshing and restoration with Him. And under this preaching the people do not cry out, but “many of them which heard the word believed, and the number of the men was about five thousand:” for Peter had declared that Jesus was preached for blessing (see iii. 26; iv. 4).
In the second chapter, the resurrection is rather that of the One who had suffered like a martyr at man's hand, and then it was judgment on map, In the third it is rather the resurrection of Him who had been offered up as the Lamb of God, and thus it was healing or salvation.
But what a truth it is to carry abroad, to bear onward into the midst of the human family, to use it like the pillar that was all darkness and judgment to Egypt, and light and deliverance to Israel. For indeed, no more surely was that pillar like darkness and light, than this resurrection is judgment (Acts 10:42; 17:3142And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. (Acts 10:42)
31Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:31)) and salvation (Acts 10:43; 13:37-3943To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:43)
37But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption. 38Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:37‑39)); and thus it is the great thing for the evangelist to use.