Acts 5:31

ἀρχηγὸν καὶ σωτῆρα : the former word as it is used here without any qualification, cf. Acts 3:15, may imply, like σωτῆρα, a reference to the earlier days of Israel's history, when God raised up for them from time to time judges of whom the title ἀρχηγός, Judges 11:6; Judges 11:11, might be used no less than σωτήρ. In Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, St. Peter saw the true Leader and Saviour. For St. Peter no less than for St. Paul the ascended Jesus had led captivity captive and received gifts for men, cf. Luke 24:47-49. ὕψωσεν τῇ δεξιᾷ αὐτοῦ, cf. Acts 2:33 : “exalt with his right hand,” R.V., “at” margin. Here as elsewhere Briggs interprets τῇ δεξιᾷ as local not instrumental, and prefers R.V. margin, Messiah of the Apostles, p. 37, note; but see note on Acts 2:33 above. The verb is used also by St. John 3:14; John 8:28; John 12:32, and also by St. Paul, Philippians 2:9 (see Westcott on St. John 3:14). But in the passive (as twice in St. John) it is employed in the LXX of the high exaltation of the Servant of God, in the picture which had evidently passed before the eyes of St. Peter, Isaiah 52:13; and he sees in the ascension of his Lord, and His spiritual sovereignty, a fulfilment of the prophecy of the suffering Servant, who is also a Prince and a Saviour.