Certainly the book of Acts claims that Jesus is the Author of Life. But, that is not a name as many suggest. Upon reviewing the context, it is more accurate to say that his name is Jesus Christ of Nazareth (v. 3.6) and that he is the author of life (v. 3.15).

It is important to make this distinction because Peter did not enable the cripple to walk in the name of “The Author of Life” as that name alone, without being Jesus Christ does not contain the authority to heal the man.

This brings up a question. Why didn’t Peter say “You killed Jesus” and instead say “You killed the author of life?” It is because he was using the imagery of authorship as a metaphor for Jesus which was appropriate to the situation. The point that Peter is making to the Pharisees is that they have the authority to heal the cripple because it was granted to them by the one who designed it; which is Jesus, but Jesus has many attributes. By using the authorship metaphor, Peter was making sure they knew that he was talking about God very God, the creator of all things, who designed all things. Had he said Jesus, the Pharisees could continue to argue that Jesus was a demon or a prophet or any number of other manifestations which may have arguably been able to accomplish the deed.

It makes me think of the intricacy by which the universe was created. Luke writes “Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!” (v. 12.24). Jesus alone authored the feeding of the ravens, and look closer. We are more valuable than the birds. Jesus cares for us personally, not only for our feeding on earth, but much more for our eternal feeding. Peter put his hand out to help up the cripple who had never walked, crippled since birth. It was a leap of faith for him to reach out to Peter and allow him to pull him to his feet. We need only to take the same leap of faith. The author of life is holding his hand out with eternal life and we need only to reach out to receive it.

Jesus the Author of Life