Acts 3:18Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

"Thus," he says, "He fulfilled it." Do you see how he attributes everything to God?

And lest they should say, "How does He now glorify Him, if He did not help Him then?" he brings forward the prophets, who testify that it had to be so.

It is remarkable that, both above and here, he nowhere brings an explicit testimony. There he said, "by the determined counsel and foreknowledge."

Here he says, "Jesus Christ, who was appointed for you." He brings no testimony because each of the latter passages, together with strong accusations, also announces punishment for the criminals.

It is said, "They assigned Him a grave with the wicked, but He was buried with the rich" (Isa 53:9). Again he says, "as He foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that Christ should suffer, He thus fulfilled."

By this he shows the importance of the decree, because all spoke of it, not only one. Thus, although this was done in ignorance, it was not accomplished against God's will.

See the wisdom of God, who directs even the crimes of others toward what must be. "He fulfilled."

So they would not think that anything still remained, he added this word. He shows that everything was fulfilled which Christ had to suffer.

How then did he say, "He fulfilled" what Christ had to suffer? He said, "He fulfilled," not, "it was fulfilled."

He shows that God fulfilled what Christ had to suffer, but has not yet fulfilled what must take place afterward.

For example: "And I will give the wicked for His burial and the rich for His death" (Isa 53:9). But for their consolation it is said that they did this in ignorance, yet God thus fulfilled it.

This is at the same time an answer to the words of all of them, the Jews, which they spoke in reproach against Him even at the cross.

They said: "Let God deliver Him, if He desires Him" (Mt 27:43), and, "If Thou art the Son of God, come down from the cross" (Mt 27:40), and similar things.

Peter said only one thing short of this: "Foolish men, these were empty words." For if it had to be so, and if all the prophets testify to it, then the crucifixion clearly occurred not through Christ's weakness.

Rather, it occurred through His ineffable might, His exceeding authority, and His boundless love for mankind.

Should you not learn whether this too was written (Jn 19:34; Zech 12:10)? You have heard that He was crucified in a garden.

Should you not learn whether this too was written (Jn 19:41; Gen 3:8)? You have heard that He was sold for thirty pieces of silver.

Should you not examine which prophet spoke about this (Mt 26:15; Zech 11:12-13)? You have heard that He was given vinegar to drink.

Examine where this too was written (Mk 15:36; Ps 68:22). You have heard that His body was laid in a stone tomb, and a stone was placed upon it.

Should you not have prophetic testimony for this also (Mt 27:60; Isa 51:1; Lam 3:53)? You have heard that He was crucified with robbers.

Should you not learn whether this too was written (Mt 27:38; Isa 53:12)? You have heard that He was buried.

Should you not learn whether the burial too was precisely written (Isa 53:9)? You have heard that He rose.

Should you not learn whether we deceive you in teaching this (Lk 24:34; Ps 11:6; Ps 15:10, and others)?

For our "word" and our "preaching" are "not in persuasive words of human wisdom" (1 Cor 2:4). We do not now offer refined speculations for solution.

We do not arm ourselves with words against words, so as to refute them. Rather, "we preach Christ crucified" (1 Cor 1:23), after He had already been preached beforehand by the prophets.

And you, having received the testimonies, imprint them upon your heart. Since they are many, and little time remains, hear now some of the more important ones, as many as possible.

Having received them as a foundation, take care to seek out the rest yourself. Your hand must not only be stretched out to receive, but also ready for labor.

God grants all things. For "if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives" (Jas 1:5), and he will receive.

May He, through our prayers, grant us who speak strength also to fulfill this in deeds, and grant you who hear to believe.

"Thus He fulfilled." In this deed of the Jews, their delivery of the Messiah to suffering and death, the will and decree of God concerning the redemption of humanity was fulfilled.

This redemption was accomplished by the sufferings and death of the Messiah. Christ's enemies, while independent and responsible actors in history, were in this case, as in others, instruments for fulfilling God's will (cf. Chrysostom).

By seeing the predictions and the faithfulness of their fulfillment, one may be convinced of the truth of God's predetermination, foretold by the prophets.

Some interpreters suppose that the apostle also cited these prophecies here, and that the writer of Acts omitted them as commonly known to Christians.

But one may also admit that the apostle made only a general reference here. For the writer, as an exact portrayer of the apostolic deeds, would not have failed to hint at this.

According to blessed Theophylact, "the apostle does not bring a direct testimony because, together with the announcement of accusations and punishments against the Jews, all the testimonies had been spoken to them."

"For example: They assigned Him a grave with the wicked, but He was buried with the rich (Isa 53:9). For their consolation, it is said that they did this in ignorance, but God fulfilled it thus."

"This is at the same time an answer to their words, which they spoke even at the Cross: Let God now deliver Him (Mt 27:43)."

"Peter said only one thing short of this: foolish men, if it had to be so, and if all the prophets testify to it, then the crucifixion clearly occurred not through Christ's weakness."

"Rather, it occurred through ineffable might, through exceeding authority, and through boundless love for mankind."