“[But you]… killed the Author of Life.”

 Jerusalem was just not the same city it had been.  The tomb was empty.  Everyone knew it.  Then the 120 followers began speaking in languages during the Feast of Pentecost when Jews from every section of the Roman Empire were in town.  Their topic:  the wonderful works of God (2:11).  Right after that, Peter rose up and spoke a message so convicting that 3,000 Jews repented of their unbelief in Jesus’ and got baptized, becoming followers of Jesus.  Daily house meetings were springing up all over the city.  Everyone was talking.

A bit later Peter and John healed a lame man by God’s power at the Beautiful Gate in the Temple.  More excitement!  A crowd of people gathered who knew this man who had been born with legs that didn’t work.  Peter, being the recognized leader of the 12 disciples, began to speak to the crowd, which was amazed at this sign (3:10).

In his talk, Peter again states that God sent Jesus, but his generation turned him over to the Romans.  The Jewish religious establishment perfectly modeled the unbelief and rejection for the average Jewish man and woman.  Peter calls them to account, because they “killed the author of Life.”  Ultimately, nearly 2,000 more believed!

The word author in this verse means “one who originates, writes, designs.”  The Greek word is the root for the English word, architect.  In Hebrews 2:10 it is translated captain; in Hebrews 12:2 it is translated author.  In these latter two uses, the idea is that of leadership, direction and formation.  Jesus, the first One to die and rise again, is the model that believers will follow.  He has gone before us, and he tells us that the path is clear.  We need only to follow Him.

The Scripture tells us that we are the author’s “workmanship” (Eph. 2:10).  This word in the Greek is poema, which gives us the English word “poem.”  Have you ever thought about how a writer sets out to write a poem?  He must first choose a topic.  Then words, a rhythm, and verses follow.  Each must be carefully selected to create the right mood, have the right sound, say just enough without saying too much.  In other words, the poet works and reworks his piece until he gets it “just right.”

We are God’s poem!  Christ is the author, writing into our lives the things that need to be there – harmony, symmetry, beauty, balance, power, precision, quality and character.  And he doesn’t stop until we too are just right.  Getting worked and reworked typically is not easy; it’s work!  But when the poem is completed, we have a beautiful piece of poetry that pleases the ear, captures the mind, stirs the soul and engages the person.

As Christians, we have the opportunity to demonstrate whose family we come from and belong to.  As the poem of the Author of Life, can people around you read his work in your life?  Is it visible in you?  Does it capture your mind, stir your soul, speed your feet and bless your words?