What does Acts 3:18 mean?
Peter has been talking about the responsibility of his Jewish audience in Jesus' crucifixion. Details of that crucifixion are scattered all over the Old Testament:- In Psalm 22:16, "dogs" encompass the victim and evildoers "pierce" his hands and feet. "Dog" was a derogatory term for a Gentile; it was the Roman governor Pilate who ordered Jesus' death and the Roman guards who saw it done (Matthew 27:26–31).
- In Psalm 41:9, David talks about a close friend who lifted his heel against him. Of course, it was Judas who betrayed Jesus (Mark 14:10).
- The "Suffering Servant" passage (Isaiah 52:13–53:12) has many prophecies about Jesus. Isaiah 53:7 talks about His silence in the face of affliction. It is true that Jesus answered questions (Mark 14:62; John 18:20–23, 34–37) but He never spoke in His own defense.
- The words that Jesus spoke on the cross (Matthew 27:46) were originally found in Psalm 22:1.
- David also prophesied the insults Jesus received on the cross (Matthew 27:41–43) in Psalm 22:7–8, including the very specific, "He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him."
- Psalm 22 also predicts that Jesus' clothes will be divided by lots (Psalm 22:18), which the soldiers did (John 19:23).