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Psalm 118:22,23
The stonewhich the builders refused is become the headstone of the corner…

Isaiah 28:16
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

Matthew 21:42-45
Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? …

you.

Acts 7:52
Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:

Acts 20:26,27
Wherefore I take you to record this day, that Iam pure from the blood of allmen…

Proverbs 28:1
The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.

the head.

Zechariah 3:9
For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stoneshall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

Zechariah 4:6,7
Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, Thisis the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts…

Ephesians 2:20-22
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone; …

is ‘the stone
The metaphor of a stone is significant in biblical literature, often symbolizing strength, stability, and permanence. In the Old Testament, stones were used in altars and memorials, signifying God's presence and covenant. Here, the stone represents Jesus as the foundation of faith and the church.

you builders rejected,
The "builders" refers to the Jewish leaders and authorities who rejected Jesus as the Messiah. This rejection fulfills the prophecy found inPsalm 118:22, where the stone rejected by the builders becomes the cornerstone. The rejection is a pivotal moment in the narrative of Jesus' ministry and crucifixion, highlighting the fulfillment of prophecy and the divine plan.

which has become the cornerstone.’
The cornerstone is the most important stone in a building, providing stability and alignment. In the context of the church, Jesus as the cornerstone signifies His foundational role in the establishment and growth of the Christian community. This imagery is echoed inEphesians 2:20 and1 Peter 2:6-7, where Jesus is described as the cornerstone of the spiritual house of God. The transformation from rejection to cornerstone illustrates the redemptive power of God’s plan through Jesus Christ.

Peter has just declared that the man crippled from birth now walks “by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth—whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead” (Acts 4:10). By saying “This Jesus,” he nails down the identity of the One at the center of everything happening in Jerusalem:

• Not one of many options, but the very Person the leaders had recently condemned (Acts 2:36).

• Alive and acting in power, as the risen Lord promised (John 14:18-19).

• The only Savior, “for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

The statement rests on the literal, historical reality of Christ’s death and resurrection.

Peter reaches back to Scripture to show that Jesus fulfills prophecy. The “stone” image pulses through the Old Testament:

• “‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’” (Psalm 118:22).

• “Behold, I lay in Zion a precious cornerstone” (Isaiah 28:16).

• Jesus applied these texts to Himself in the temple courts (Matthew 21:42).

By calling Jesus “the stone,” Peter affirms that every promise and pattern of redemption in God’s Word converges on Him.

The leaders standing before Peter were the “builders” responsible for guiding God’s people, yet they had cast Jesus aside:

• “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him” (John 1:11).

• Jesus foretold that “the Son of Man must be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes” (Mark 8:31).

Their rejection was not a surprise to God; it was foreseen and folded into His plan. Still, the phrase confronts each listener—and every reader today—with the sobering reality that we either receive or reject the Son.

God overturned human rejection by exalting Jesus:

• “God has made Him both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36).

• “Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:20).

• “The stone...a chosen and precious cornerstone” (1 Peter 2:6-7).

Bullet-point implications:

- The cornerstone sets the lines, angles, and strength for the whole structure. Jesus defines truth and life.

- Remove a cornerstone and the building collapses; remove Christ and salvation collapses (1 Corinthians 3:11).

- Because His place is secure, so is the church that rests on Him (Matthew 16:18).

Acts 4:11 announces that the very Jesus whom the rulers crucified is the prophesied Stone—rejected by human builders yet installed by God as the indispensable Cornerstone. His resurrection validates every promise, His position guarantees the church’s stability, and His name alone secures salvation for all who believe.

Set at nought.--St. Peter does not quote the Psalm, but alludes to it with a free variation of language. The word for "set at nought" is characteristic of St. Luke (Luke 18:9;Luke 23:11) and St. Paul (Romans 14:3;Romans 14:10,et al.). . . .