Acts 3:17

And now, brethren,. know that in ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.

'I KNOW THAT IN IGNORANCE YE DID IT, AS DID ALSO YOUR RULERS'-(Luke 23:34; Romans 10:1; 1 Corinthians 2:8; 1 Timothy 1:13).

Point to Note:

And yet their ignorance did not excuse their actions. What they had done in ignorance was still sin (Acts 3:19), and it still demanded repentance. Thus we find that ignorance it not an excuse (Luke 12:47; 2 Thessalonians 1:8).

Some authors argue that since the sin was committed in ignorance Peter is then saying that the sin can be forgiven. They base this argument on the O.T. distinction between unintentional sins and intentional sins (Numbers 2:22).. must reject this view because: (a) Especially in the case of the Jewish rulers, yes, Peter says they killed Jesus in ignorance, but that ignorance was deliberately chosen. They had to close their eyes to the miracles (John 11:47). They purposely placed their own self-preservation, personal comfort and position above the life of Jesus (John 11:49). They deliberately broke many of their own rules in arresting, trying and condemning Jesus (Matthew 26:59). (b) To say that Peter is applying an O.T. distinction to their sin, opens up. big can of worms, i.e. does the blood of Christ only forgive unintentional sins? If that is the case, then we are all in trouble. (1 Corinthians 6:9; Ephesians 2:1)