Acts 3:14 Meaning and Explanation
“But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →They denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked instead for a murderer to be released to them.
What Does Acts 3:14 Mean?
Peter recalls a specific morning. Offered the release of Jesus, the crowd in Pilate's court demanded Barabbas, a man imprisoned for insurrection and murder (Luke 23:18-25). The titles make the trade unbearable: the Holy One, the Just — exchanged for a killer.
Yet inside that terrible swap lies the shape of the gospel. The guilty man walked free because the innocent One took the cross prepared for him; Barabbas was the first sinner who could say that Jesus died in his place. Peter does not soften the crowd's choice, but neither does he leave it hopeless. The very exchange they made in malice, God was weaving into mercy — and every reader stands nearer to Barabbas than we like to admit.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 3:14
What does Acts 3:14 mean?
They denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked instead for a murderer to be released to them.