Acts 2:36
Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Acts 2:36
Peter’s statement marks a pointed proclamation: God has made Jesus, whom the crowd had rejected and crucified, both Lord and Christ (Messiah). The term "Lord" (Kurios) signals divinity and sovereign authority; "Christ" affirms Jesus as the anointed one anticipated by Israel. The rhetorical aim is to demonstrate that Jesus’ execution was not a detour but part of God’s salvific plan, now vindicated through resurrection and exaltation. He grounds this claim in biblical expectation, using Psalm 110 and the broader scriptural narrative. The immediate audience—Israelite hearers familiar with the Law and Prophets—are shown the necessity of repentance and response to the crucified-and-raised Messiah. This verse functions as the central hinge of Acts 2: God’s exalted plan centers on Jesus; therefore, response is mandatory: acknowledgment, repentance, and allegiance.
The verse crystallizes the coincidence of Jesus’ messianic identity with divine authority. It asserts both the humanity of Jesus (crucified by his own people) and his exalted status by God, thus confirming the incarnational and salvific center of Christian faith. It also reframes the crucifixion: not a Roman tragedy alone, but a divine act of judgment and mercy that ends in kingship. Theologically, it articulates the early church’s Christology: Jesus is the rightful Lord who also fulfills Israel’s messianic hope. It sets the stage for Pentecost’s outpouring of the Spirit as the community’s life under this lordship.
Today, this calls for personal and communal response. Recognize Jesus as Lord in all life areas—decisions, priorities, values. Accept him as Messiah, trusting his saving work. It invites confession of sin: “the one we crucified” becomes the one we follow. In church life, it motivates evangelism and discipleship—proclaiming the risen Lord and forming communities that live under his rule. Practically, it can translate into reframing conflict, choosing reconciliation over defensiveness, and pursuing justice through the lens of Christ’s lordship.
Cross-References: Psalm 110:1; Romans 10:9-11; Philippians 2:9-11; 1 Corinthians 1:24; Colossians 1:15-20