QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON ACTS 3:13: JESUS CHRIST THE SERVANT OF GOD

Acts 3:13
The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go.

If Jesus is one of the Trinity, why is he defined by Peter as “the servant of God”?

Jesus Christ is “the servant of God” according to his human nature. According to his divine person, however, Jesus is one God with the Father and with the Holy Spirit. The apostle Peter recognizes in Jesus Christ not just any servant, but “the servant” of whom Isaiah 52:13-53 prophesies, who takes upon himself the sins of humanity, and for his fidelity is glorified by God. Immediately after having pronounced those words (Acts 3:13), Peter adds: “You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.” (Acts 3:14-15). But the author of life is God himself (Genesis 1-2; Jeremiah 32:17; Isaiah 44:24; Hebrews 3:4). And the God who raised the body of Jesus is Jesus himself (John 2:19-22). Therefore Peter recognizes in Jesus not only “the servant” of whom Isaiah prophesied, but God himself.