Acts 3:11-26

Honesty requires words and actions to agree.  When a person’s words and actions contradict each other, it reveals deceit.

The Jewish leaders claimed to be righteous, but they did not act rightly.  They did not love their neighbors.  They loved money more than they loved God.  They claimed to worship God, but they rejected his son Jesus.  They claimed a Messiah was coming, but they rejected him even after he had worked many miracles, signs and wonders.  Before Pilate, these men, who claimed to be honest, lied about what Jesus had said and done.  They disown him, and asked that a murderer to be released instead.  Their words and their actions did not agree.

We can also apply this principle to God’s word.  What God says in scripture agrees with what he has done in history.  God said Israel would be the first fruits, and He had the disciples first proclaim the gospel to the Jews.  Where Peter was speaking in the temple, he was speaking in a place gentiles could not enter.  God had promised Abraham that his descendants would be the source of a blessing to all nations.  Jesus and the salvation he offers is that blessing.  Referring to Jesus, God said “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”(Matthew 3:17 NIV) When the Jews crucified Jesus, his father raised him from the dead.  God’s words and his actions always agree.

Peter confronts the Jews with the contradiction between their talk and their walk.  This required a response.  They could choose to repent, they could stop claiming to be righteous, or they could continue living as hypocrites.

When the Holy Spirit confronts us with a contradiction, we have the same choice to make they did.  We can choose to repent, we stop claiming to be Christian, or we can silence the Holy Spirit and live as hypocrites. Most people believe actions speak louder than words.  Claiming to be Christian is not enough.  Our walk and talk both witness to Christ.