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These opening words have a more evangelical note than those of Acts 1: 11, yet they
are but the necessary prelude to the blessings in store for Israel. This is no gospel
message to the "unsaved" as such. Further, this repentance, conversion, and blotting out
of sins are
"so that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and He may send
Jesus Christ, Which before was preached unto you: Whom heaven must receive until the
times of restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy
prophets since (the) age" (Acts 3: 20, 21).
If the opening reference of Acts 1: 11 be connected with the "restoration" of the
kingdom to Israel, this second reference is intimately connected with the "restoration" of
all things that had been spoken by God through the prophets. This restoration is so
clearly defined in the prophets (see series entitled "Studies in the Prophets" in
Volume XVII), as to preclude anything distinctly applicable to the "church", and
provides a most definite answer to the apostles' question: "Wilt Thou at this time restore
again the kingdom to Israel?"
The closing verses of Acts 3: but add their quota in confirmation of this same fact:--
"For Moses . . . . . all the prophets from Samuel . . . . . ye are the children of the
prophets, and of the covenant, which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham,
And in thy seed shall all families of the earth be blessed. Unto you first God, having
raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his
iniquities" (Acts 3: 22-26).
As an immediate outcome of the healing of the lame man at the gate of the temple,
Peter uttered the words we have just considered in 3: 19-26. Being further opposed by
the rulers, Peter urges the typical nature of this miracle--it was the nation's restoration in
miniature:--
"This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head
of the corner. Neither is there THE HEALING (i.e., the national one) in any other . . . . ."
(Acts 4: 11, 12).
Here we have further light upon 3: 19, 20. The heavens must receive Him until the
time of restoration, because He was set at nought and will not return until the time for
Israel's healing has come.
A reference to the Psalms here quoted by Peter will show that he had the second
coming in view:--
"The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner . . . . .
Hosannah (save now) . . . . . Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord; we have
blessed you out of the house of the Lord" (Psa. 118: 22-26).
This quotation, moreover, will show the connection between Matt. 23: 38, 39 and
24: 1, 2, a connection obvious to those who were familiar with O.T. Scripture, as the
disciples were, but to the less instructed apparently without true sequence.