The Position – Prince Acts 5:31
The Book of Acts – Chapter Five Another Restatement Acts 5:22-32 15 | The Position – Prince | Acts 5:31 “Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins” (Acts 5:31). What do we do when anyone or anything threatens our life? What if the threat is not from natural causes such as a tornado or hurricane, but the source is in the mystical, unseen, spiritual world? Could Paul be correct? “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). The threat to our lives is not in the physical but in the spiritual! Do we consistently try to solve our problems with physical answers when the real battle is in the spiritual realm? We must always recognize the spiritual realm manifesting in the physical realm. Therefore, spiritual solutions are the only possibility for effectively altering the physical! The physical versus the spiritual was the continual conflict Jesus had with the leaders of Israel. While the intent of God throughout the Old Testament was relationship, the leaders became dominated by the law’s physical aspect. Jesus made strong statements. “For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence” (Matthew 23:25). “For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness” (Matthew 23:27). The apostles experienced the same conflict with these leaders. The leaders of Israel lost physical control over the situation. The crowds in Jerusalem applauded the movement of God through the early Church. The multitude acclaimed Jesus as their Savior and Lord, and the same Divine movement captured other cities outside Jerusalem. The Sanhedrin only had one approach to solve their problem, physical action! They placed the apostles in jail only to find them released through some unknown spiritual source. They threatened the apostles with the only leverage they had, the physical. Peter answered the council from a spiritual perspective. He said, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). If we are to obey God, we must be constantly aware of God’s unseen spiritual direction and movement. Peter and the other apostles believed the movement of God focused on Jesus. The Trinity God did nothing outside of Jesus. Peter boldly proclaimed, “the resurrection.” “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree” (Acts 5:30). The Trinity God took the degradation imposed by the leaders and restored Jesus, “the restoration.” Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins” (Acts 5:31). The Trinity God gave consistent testimony through witnesses of these facts in Jesus, “the representation.” “And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him” (Acts 5:32). Peter made a bold, declarative statement to the council, referring to “the restoration.” “Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins” (Acts 5:31). The action of God’s exaltation focused on “Him,” Jesus! In the Greek language, this word is an accusative, direct object. Jesus receives the action of the exaltation. Two secondary direct objects give content to Jesus; they are “Prince” and “Savior.” But Peter provides us with the location of the exaltation, which is equally significant. It is “His right hand.” In the Greek language, this is a dative, an indirect object. Peter suggests three vital elements to Jesus’ exaltation. There is the PLACE of the exaltation, “to His right hand.” The POSITION of the exaltation is highlighted in “to be Prince.” The PURPOSE of the exaltation is equally essential, “and Savior.” The Position “to be Prince” Jesus has a position of high honor and exaltation in the Kingdom! He is the “Prince,” a translation of the Greek word “archegos.” “Archegos” is only used four times in the New Testament, a combination of the Greek word “arche,” which means beginning or rule, and “ago,” which means to lead. In our passage, Peter proclaims Jesus as “Prince” for the second time. After participating in the miracle healing of the lame beggar, Peter explained to the crowd at Solomon’s Porch that Jesus was the only source of the miracle. Boldly he described Jesus as the One they delivered to Pilate, denied His release to embrace Barabbas, “and killed the Prince (archegos) of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses” (Acts 3:15). Jesus is the One who led the way to life! The Book of Hebrews author used “archegos” twice, proposing that God became man to taste death for every person (Hebrews 2:9), charting the course of accomplishment. “For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain (archegos) of their salvation perfect through sufferings” (Hebrews 2:10). He calls us to run the race that is set before us, “looking unto Jesus, the author (archegos) and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). Each use of “archegos” references Jesus, and Jesus alone fulfills the true meaning of this word. Luke highlights the crucifixion in connection with this position, and he states the resurrection in three passages and Jesus’ exhalation to the right hand of the Father in two references. Those statements establish the context by which we must understand the position. The death, resurrection, and exaltation of Jesus bring Him to the position of “Prince.” His faithfulness in fulfilling the Trinity God’s redemptive plan caused the application of this position to Him. We must investigate the content of this position. Causing Peter’s statement presents a double accusative in the Greek language. He said, “Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins” (Acts 5:31). The subject is “God.” The main verb is “has exalted.” The primary accusative or direct object receiving the action of the exaltation is “Him.” It is challenging yet very necessary to distinguish between what a person may accomplish and the person’s essence. Someone may do a great act that brings them honor, yet their motive is wrong. The honor does not fall upon the person but upon the accomplishment. Jesus is not honored for what He did but for who He is! What He did is essential, but only because it expresses who He is! The wordage in the Book of Revelation is explosive, consistently referring to Jesus as “the Lamb,” expressing what He did. But it is much more, for it speaks to a description of who He is! The word “lamb” is used thirty-two times in the New Testament, and I was amazed to discover only one of those times refers to an animal (Mark 14:12). Jesus is the focus of the word’s use. It is also striking that it is used twenty-eight times in the Book of Revelation! The new song sung in heaven is about “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain” (Revelation 5:12). Several references are about “the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:14; 12:11). Indeed contained within the reference is the physical activity of the crucifixion, but it is so much more than just what Jesus did; it is who Jesus is! Jesus is the completion of all the Trinity God desired for His human creation. One Man, the Lamb, fulfilled the destiny of man. He is the first human Man who merged with the nature and the Person of God! He is the prototype of what every Kingdom person will be! He is the “cause” of the new category, “sons of God!” Jesus did not manufacture a solution to our fallen estate and provide it for us apart from Himself. He is not a supply clerk of the great salvation offered to us by God. Everything God dreams for us is in the Person of Jesus. Jesus is the reason I cannot contribute to salvation through my works. In the whole experience of salvation, Jesus alone is the “cause.” We must be careful about our language, never stating salvation in the first person. The moment we say, “I experience salvation because I believe,” we have gone astray. If we say, “I repented,” or “I have been faithful,” we have violated the heart of Jesus. We must always state salvation in the third person, for “Jesus” is the cause. Repentance only takes place because He draws me into Himself. I see who I am in relation to who He is! I am enabled to believe because He touched my life. I find confidence and security in His presence. Outside of His Person, nothing happens. God exalted Jesus to His right hand, placing honor and glory upon who Jesus is! Should we obey God, or should we obey man? We must obey God because He has become “the Prince,” the “cause” of our destiny. Jesus is the essence of my salvation! Creating While the position of “Prince” may contain the idea of “cause,” it is only a start! The Greek word “arches” comes from the primary word “arche,” meaning “beginning or rule,” and “ago,” meaning “to lead.” The focus is the concept of the originator, founder, leader, chief, first, or prince. It moves beyond simply being the cause. One may be the cause of something but not the beginning. “Arche,” like “archegos,” denotes the founder as the first cause, ruler, or dispenser. The person of Jesus is not only the “cause” of our salvation, but He is the first human being to step into the position of being filled with God! He is the prototype! In testifying about the miracle healing of the lame beggar, Peter declared Jesus “the Prince (archegos) of life” (Acts 3:15). He painted an ironic picture of the Jews demanding the release of Barabbas, a murderer, at the same time killing “the Prince of life.” Jesus not only causes life in the believer by His presence, but He is the beginning or the originator of the existence of that life. In addressing the Church of the Laodiceans, Jesus presented Himself as “the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning (Arche) of the creation of God” (Revelation 3:14). He is the Founder, the First Cause, Ruler, or Dispenser of the crowning creation of the Trinity. He is an Agent of the cause but does not have a cause, excluding Himself from being a product of that beginning. Thus His exaltation to the right hand of God! In our passage, Jesus’ position as “the Prince” is in the context of the resurrection. He is the Founder, the First Cause, Ruler, or Dispenser of the resurrection of those who will follow. Paul determines He “has become the firstfruits (aparche) of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). “The firstfruits” means “the first element in a countable series, understood as the first crop harvested in a season.” Paul further explained, “For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:21-22). In this same thought, Paul called Jesus “the beginning (arche), the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:18). Jesus is the Originator, Founder, Leader, Chief, First, or Prince of the resurrection. If God had not raised Jesus from the dead, then there would be no resurrection from the dead. The proclamation of this fact was the issue that disturbed the Sadducees and initiated the first phase of persecution. The Sadducees captured Peter and John, “being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead” (Acts 4:2). The discussion of the resurrection did not disturb them. The Pharisees believed in the resurrection, and the Sadducees did not. There was a constant debate occurring among them concerning this doctrine. Suddenly, Jesus elevated the discussion to a new level. “The resurrection” is now contained in a Person who is the Originator of this reality. He is an Agent who is the cause but does not Himself have a cause! He is not a product of that beginning but originates it within Himself! God exalted Jesus to His right hand as “the Prince!” Everything God wants for you and me, Jesus is! Conserving There is a finality in this position, “the Prince.” The Greek word “Archegos” occurs only four times in the New Testament and is exclusively a Christological title for the exalted Jesus! Christology is the study of the person, nature, and role of Jesus. It describes He who is the first, stands at the head, and leads! Is His position temporary? Will another come and take His place? In the Scriptures, it is evident that the Trinity God established a Kingdom in and through Jesus that will never cease but is eternal! God promised, “I will establish the throne of his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever” (2 Samuel 7:12-13). The Trinity God protected this promise from the conception of sin to the final judgment of all evil. The first Messianic promise established this reality (Genesis 3:15). The long struggle described through the generations of the Old Testament gives credence to the faithfulness of God. Regardless of the intensity of evil, our God will never waver in fulfilling His plan in Jesus! When sin had accomplished its worst through death, this worst became how the one who had the power of death, the devil, was defeated (Hebrews 2:14). “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince” (Acts 5:30-31). He is returning in such a position. Listen to His words. “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory” (Matthew 25:31). Do you hear the tone of finality in His voice? “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send out His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Matthew 24:30-31). The incarnation, God becoming man, was established forever. This Man, Jesus, was raised from the dead and exalted to be the leader, originator, and King of the Kingdom! He will return the second time as Man to establish this reign forever. Not only will the permanency of sin’s destruction be found in hell, but the permanency of our merger with God in Christ is secured. Jesus is forever one of us! “Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:22-25). Jesus is the guarantor; we are secure in Him! Can there be any other message, emphasis, or focus? Should not our entire effort be placed into knowing Him? “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). Would not our “work” be knowing Him who is our salvation?