During his earthly ministry, Jesus had referred to himself as a key building block (Mark 12:10–11, quoting Psalm 118:22; Matthew 21:42; Luke 20:17). In his post-Pentecost preaching Peter built on this same imagery in his address to the Sanhedrin after the healing of the lame man in the temple (Acts 4:11). The designation of this stone as “living” is due to Jesus’ resurrection from the dead (1 Peter 1:3, 1 Peter 1:21).
4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious,