Charles Ellicott Commentary Acts 3:14

"But ye denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted unto you," — Acts 3:14 (ASV)

Ye denied the Holy One and the Just.—The language, though startlingly new to the hearers, had been partially anticipated. It had been used of the Christ by the demoniacs (Mark 1:24). The best manuscripts give St. Peter’s confession in John 6:69 in the form, Thou art the Holy One of God. Pilate’s wife, and Pilate himself, had borne witness to Jesus as emphatically Just (Matthew 27:19; Matthew 27:24).

It is interesting to note the recurrence of the word as applied to Christ in the writings of each of the Apostles who were now proclaiming it (1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 2:1), yet more so to think of this as the result of their three years’ interaction with their Master. To them He was emphatically, above all the sons of men that they had known, the Holy and the Righteous One.

Desired a murderer to be granted unto you.—The fact that Barabbas was a murderer as well as a robber is stated by St. Mark (Mark 15:7) and St. Luke (Luke 23:12) only.