Acts 2:22

Acts 2:22 says, Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:  Peter was addressing the men of Israel, concerning this Jesus of Nazareth.  It was seemingly a very dark time for those who were following Jesus, but Peter reminded them that the signs and miracles were not Jesus' purpose in coming. Verse twenty-three adds, Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:  Peter speaks of God's determinate council and foreknowledge.  This is why some believe everything is predetermined.  I believe this means God knew what was necessary and allowed it, but it wasn't what He wanted. Just as He wanted Adam and Eve to be obedient in the Garden, He wanted and still wants people to be obedient of their own free will, but only One ever has, Jesus of Nazareth.  Verse twenty-four continues, Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.  Jesus Christ was the only hope for mankind, and He still is. Verse twenty-five concludes, For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:  Yet, as David had stated all those years before, God had promised to deliver the Messiah from the corruption of hell, and Peter proclaimed that was what happened with Jesus.  There was no need to be feeling defeated because Jesus was risen.  When the people of that day, even God's chosen people, handed Jesus over for crucifixion, it was not the end, but the beginning of salvation.  Followers today need not look in despair at the world but look in joy at the risen Lord.  Death was defeated when Jesus arose.  Verse twenty-six states, Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:  Verse twenty-seven adds, Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.  Jesus died for our sins, but He never saw the corruption of death, because He rose again.