Act 3:25-26 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 25. Ye are the children of the prophets . Greek, "�e are the sons of the prophets." The meaning is, not that they were literally the descendants of the prophets, but that they were their disciples , pupils, followers . They professed to follow the prophets as their teachers and guides . Teachers among the Jews were often spoken of under the appellation of fathers , and disciples as sons , . . As they were the professed disciples of the prophets, they should listen to them. As they lived among the people to whom the prophets were sent, and to whom the promises were made, they should avail themselves of the offer of mercy, and embrace the Messiah. And of the covenant . Ye are the sons of the covenant; that is, you are of the posterity of Abraham, with whom the covenant was made. The word "sons" was often thus used to denote those to whom any favour appertained, whether by inheritance, or in any other way. Thus, , "the children (sons) of the kingdom." : "The son of perdition." The word covenant denotes, properly, a compact or agreement between equals, or those who have a right to make such a compact, and to choose or refuse the terms. When applied to God and man, it denotes a firm promise on the part of God; a pledge to be regarded with all the sacredness of a compact, that he will do certain things on certain conditions. It is called a covenant only to designate its sacredness and the certainty of its fulfillment; not that man had any right to reject any of the terms or stipulations. As man has no such right--as he is bound to receive all that his Maker proposes--so, strictly and literally, there has been no compact or covenant between God and man. The promise to which Peter refers in the passage before us is in . In thy seed . Thy posterity. See . This promise, the apostle Paul affirms, had express reference to the Messiah, . The word seed is used sometimes to denote an individual, and the apostle affirms that there was special reference to Christ in the promise made to Abraham. All the kindreds . The word translated kindreds πατριαι denotes those who have a common father or ancestor , and is applied to families . It is also referred to those larger communities which descended from the same ancestor, and thus refers to nations, . Here it evidently refers to all nations . Be blessed . Be made happy. (a) "are the children" (*) "children" "sons" (b) "in thy seed"

Acts 3:25-26

Verse 25. Ye are the children of the prophets. Greek, "�e are the sons of the prophets." The meaning is, not that they were literally the descendants of the prophets, but that they were their disciples, pupils, followers. They professed to follow the prophets as their teachers and guides. Teachers among the Jews were often spoken of under the appellation of fathers, and disciples as sons, Mt 12:27. Mt 1:1. As they were the professed disciples of the prophets, they should listen to them. As they lived among the people to whom the prophets were sent, and to whom the promises were made, they should avail themselves of the offer of mercy, and embrace the Messiah.

And of the covenant. Ye are the sons of the covenant; that is, you are of the posterity of Abraham, with whom the covenant was made. The word "sons" was often thus used to denote those to whom any favour appertained, whether by inheritance, or in any other way. Thus, Mt 8:12, "the children (sons) of the kingdom." Jn 17:12: "The son of perdition." The word covenant denotes, properly, a compact or agreement between equals, or those who have a right to make such a compact, and to choose or refuse the terms. When applied to God and man, it denotes a firm promise on the part of God; a pledge to be regarded with all the sacredness of a compact, that he will do certain things on certain conditions. It is called a covenant only to designate its sacredness and the certainty of its fulfillment; not that man had any right to reject any of the terms or stipulations. As man has no such right--as he is bound to receive all that his Maker proposes--so, strictly and literally, there has been no compact or covenant between God and man. The promise to which Peter refers in the passage before us is in Gen 22:18, 12:3.

In thy seed. Thy posterity. See Rom 4:13,16. This promise, the apostle Paul affirms, had express reference to the Messiah, Gal 3:16. The word seed is used sometimes to denote an individual, Gen 4:25 and the apostle Gal 3:16 affirms that there was special reference to Christ in the promise made to Abraham.

All the kindreds. The word translated kindreds πατριαι denotes those who have a common father or ancestor, and is applied to families. It is also referred to those larger communities which descended from the same ancestor, and thus refers to nations, Eph 3:15. Here it evidently refers to all nations.

Be blessed. Be made happy.

(a) "are the children" Rom 9:4, 15:8 (*) "children" "sons" (b) "in thy seed" Gen 22:18 Verse 26. Unto you first. To you who are Jews. This was the direction that the gospel should be first preached to the Jews, beginning at Jerusalem, Lk 24:47. Jesus himself also confined his ministry entirely to the Jews.

Having raised up. This expression does not refer to his having raised him from the dead, but is used in the same sense as in Acts 3:22, where God promised that he would raise up a prophet, and send him to teach the people. Peter means that God had appointed his Son Jesus, or had commissioned him to go and preach to the people to turn them away from their sins.

To bless you. To make you happy; to fulfil the promise made to Abraham.

In turning away. That is, by his preaching, example, death, etc. The highest blessing that can be conferred on men is to be turned from sin. It is the source of all woes; and if men are turned from that, they will be happy. Christ blesses no one in sin, or while loving sin, but by turning them from sin. This was the object which he had in view in coming, Isa 59:20, Mt 1:21. The design of Peter in these remarks was to show them that the Messiah had come, and that now they might look for happiness, pardon, and mercy through him. As the Jews might, so may all; and as Jesus while living sought to turn away men from their sins, so he does still, and still designs to bless all nations by the gospel which he had himself preached, and to establish which he died. All may therefore come and be blessed; and all may rejoice in the prospect that these blessings shall yet be bestowed on all the kindreds of the earth. May the happy day soon come!