Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead might sound “normal” to our ears today, but this was not the case with both his disciples and his contemporaries. We can all imagine how “strange” a phenomenon it was because even after witnessing Jesus bring the dead back to life on at least three different occasions (Jairus’ daughter, the young man of Nain, and Lazarus), the disciples were still having a difficult time wrapping their heads around this fact. The already difficult situation was not made any easier by the popping in and out through walls by the risen Jesus. The disciples had watched the violence and contempt with which Jesus had been treated. They had seen Jesus flogged, beat up, and nailed on the cross (even if they witnessed it from afar). How could this very Jesus be alive? The disciples were within their “rights” to be troubled and to have such questions arise in their hearts. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead was not an everyday thing and to understand it required some help. That help came in the form of the risen Jesus opening the minds of his disciples to understand the words that he had spoken while still with them. In other words, the disciples could only understand the resurrection in connection with the life and ministry of Jesus. The resurrection of Jesus was a vindication of the life and ministry of Jesus. This is the very point that Peter is making in today’s First reading.     
Peter was addressing a crowd that had just witnessed with awe the healing of a crippled man at the hands of John and himself. It was something that was of a rare occurrence, and the people couldn’t help but marvel at what had happened before their very eyes. Seizing the opportunity, Peter called their attention to the fact that the the healing of the crippled man had not come about by their own power. Neither was it a result of some magic or manipulation of some hidden powers. The man had been healed through the power of the Jesus, the same Jesus against whom their religious leaders had conspired. Had they bothered to pay attention to the words he had been saying even as he ministered to the people, they would not be finding themselves amazed at the healing of a cripple. For to those who had accepted Jesus as the anointed of God, the healing of a cripple was part of the Good News which Jesus had come to proclaim.  
In choosing to re-tell the “missteps” that the religious authorities had made in their condemnation of Jesus as well ae the role they played in his execution, Peter’s intention was not to bring accusations upon them but rather to let them open their eyes to the fulfillment of God’s promises that was taking place before their very eyes. For whereas the persecution and death of Jesus was not something that was desired or needed to be justified, it did take place as a fulfillment of the prophecies of old. The religious leaders’ participation in Jesus’ death (they handed him over to the Romans for crucifixion) was out of ignorance and as such they could be spared the blame. However, now that the resurrection had vindicated Jesus before their very eyes, they had a decision to make. They could choose to continue rejecting Jesus (which would be a sin now that they have been put in the know), or they could choose to repent their sins and be converted. The resurrection of Jesus was the ultimate proof they needed to accept Jesus as the promised Christ.
For us, listening to these words of Peter which he addressed to the crowd should form part of our on-going catechesis and conversion. The rising of Jesus from the dead is the basis of our faith and should be the cause of our joy and pride. However, we at times still find ourselves asking the very questions that those addressed by Peter were asking. The questions that sometimes arise in our hearts point to our failure to make the resurrection of Christ our very own. The rising of Christ from the dead was a transformative event. Peter and John suddenly found themselves speaking courageously about their faith and performing miracles in the name of the risen Jesus of Nazareth. The crippled man benefited from the transformation of Peter and John, and he himself became transformed through his healing. This is what the resurrection should mean for us. This is why it is such an important event in our lives as members of the body of the risen Christ. And this is why, just like Peter, we must zealously preach the resurrection by making it our own.