HEALING THE LAME MAN
3 1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; 3 who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. 4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. 7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God: 10 and they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.
11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.
vs 1 Peter and John return to the temple at about three in the afternoon. There were three times of prayer per day. Nine, three, and sunset.
vs 2 This beggar had prime real estate for begging. Perhaps because of his seniority as a beggar. This healing will be very public and undeniable. Giving alms was a "good deed", and doing a good deed was something almost everyone would want to do before entering the temple.
vs 3 The beggar would have asked everyone walking by for alms.
vs 4 Peter focuses the beggar's attention, this good deed will be different. He must recognize what he is being given. Peter and John are continuing the work of Jesus through the Holy Spirit.
vs 5 Just as when we really paid attention the preaching of the gospel, the beggar, pays attention to what he is about to hear.
vs 6 All of the material wealth of the world would not have given this beggar what he was about to receive.
vs 7 The beggar was taken by the right hand, and lifted up. These two phrases seem intentional, Jesus is at the right hand of God and He was lifted up on the cross as a sacrifice for all of our sins. Today with all of our medical knowledge, this is not possible. The works of Jesus are on display for all to see. With Peters preaching of the previous day, and the coming of the Holy Spirit, there are still those that need to be witnessed to.
vs 8 The beggar immediately recognizes who healed him and praises God. He did not try to explain away the healing.
vs 9 All the people witnessed the healing. Those that had heard or seen Jesus may have thought He was gone and the hope of the Messiah had died with Him on the cross. Now, with the coming of the Holy Spirit and this healing, the people have a new understanding of the purpose of the Messiah.
vs 10-11 When someone is healed so abruptly and thoroughly, everyone that witness's that event is amazed. Many will want what that beggar received, because what he received was so much more that physical healing.
vs 2 This beggar had prime real estate for begging. Perhaps because of his seniority as a beggar. This healing will be very public and undeniable. Giving alms was a "good deed", and doing a good deed was something almost everyone would want to do before entering the temple.
vs 3 The beggar would have asked everyone walking by for alms.
vs 4 Peter focuses the beggar's attention, this good deed will be different. He must recognize what he is being given. Peter and John are continuing the work of Jesus through the Holy Spirit.
vs 5 Just as when we really paid attention the preaching of the gospel, the beggar, pays attention to what he is about to hear.
vs 6 All of the material wealth of the world would not have given this beggar what he was about to receive.
vs 7 The beggar was taken by the right hand, and lifted up. These two phrases seem intentional, Jesus is at the right hand of God and He was lifted up on the cross as a sacrifice for all of our sins. Today with all of our medical knowledge, this is not possible. The works of Jesus are on display for all to see. With Peters preaching of the previous day, and the coming of the Holy Spirit, there are still those that need to be witnessed to.
vs 8 The beggar immediately recognizes who healed him and praises God. He did not try to explain away the healing.
vs 9 All the people witnessed the healing. Those that had heard or seen Jesus may have thought He was gone and the hope of the Messiah had died with Him on the cross. Now, with the coming of the Holy Spirit and this healing, the people have a new understanding of the purpose of the Messiah.
vs 10-11 When someone is healed so abruptly and thoroughly, everyone that witness's that event is amazed. Many will want what that beggar received, because what he received was so much more that physical healing.
DEFLECTING THE GLORY
12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? 13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus;
vs 12 When the Holy Spirit came, many heard and came to see what was happening. Likewise many show up because of the commotion. Peter addresses the Jews, reminding them that they had been looking for the Messiah. Christianity is born as a Jewish faith. Peter tells them that this miracle was not done by man, but God. Their God, through the Messiah and the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is a risen savoir and is still working.
SHARING THE GOSPEL
whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. 14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; 15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. 16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. 17 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. 18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; 20 and he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: 21 whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; 20 and he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: 21 whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
vs 13b-14 The first part of the verse is the encouraging part, now Peter reminds them that they all denied Jesus and overrode the determination of the law to condemn Him. They chose to set a murderer free, over the Messiah. They are all guilty of murder.
vs 15 They chose to murder Him, but God would prove Jesus the Messiah by defeating death as an undeniable witness to his truth. They are now all witness's to the power of God and the truth of Jesus as Messiah. The pharisees were legalists and applied the law as they saw fit. It was under their interpretation of the law that they condemned Jesus. They convinced the Jewish population with a perversion of Gods own law to crucify the Messiah.
vs 16 Faith in Jesus as the Messiah is the key to all that they seek. The material world is not all that there is. The Jewish leaders thought that if they applied the law harshly enough, that God would use the Messiah to restore Israel to power and kick out Roman rule. The power found in faith is not what they thought it would be. It is a promise of a Heavenly inheritance and a complete healing then. It is not legalistic, it is an internal change to follow Jesus.
vs 17 They condemned Jesus because of ignorance. This reminds me of Jesus asking forgiveness for the people from the cross.
vs 18 Peter is now referring the listeners to the proof of Jesus told by their scriptures from years past. Scripture foretold this set of events. God knew this would happen, and would use it to fulfill His plan.
vs 19 The most important action is mentioned more than once by Peter. Repent and be converted. Turn from sin by following the teachings of Jesus. Sins blotted out, when something is written down it is a witness of history. All that we have done against the will of God will be blotted out. The times of refreshing is a reminder of the jubilee year, in which slaves are set free and land that had been lost or sold is returned to the original owner.
vs 20-21 Scripture tells us that Jesus will return and the world will be different. We do not know when, but we have a job to do until then.
vs 15 They chose to murder Him, but God would prove Jesus the Messiah by defeating death as an undeniable witness to his truth. They are now all witness's to the power of God and the truth of Jesus as Messiah. The pharisees were legalists and applied the law as they saw fit. It was under their interpretation of the law that they condemned Jesus. They convinced the Jewish population with a perversion of Gods own law to crucify the Messiah.
vs 16 Faith in Jesus as the Messiah is the key to all that they seek. The material world is not all that there is. The Jewish leaders thought that if they applied the law harshly enough, that God would use the Messiah to restore Israel to power and kick out Roman rule. The power found in faith is not what they thought it would be. It is a promise of a Heavenly inheritance and a complete healing then. It is not legalistic, it is an internal change to follow Jesus.
vs 17 They condemned Jesus because of ignorance. This reminds me of Jesus asking forgiveness for the people from the cross.
vs 18 Peter is now referring the listeners to the proof of Jesus told by their scriptures from years past. Scripture foretold this set of events. God knew this would happen, and would use it to fulfill His plan.
vs 19 The most important action is mentioned more than once by Peter. Repent and be converted. Turn from sin by following the teachings of Jesus. Sins blotted out, when something is written down it is a witness of history. All that we have done against the will of God will be blotted out. The times of refreshing is a reminder of the jubilee year, in which slaves are set free and land that had been lost or sold is returned to the original owner.
vs 20-21 Scripture tells us that Jesus will return and the world will be different. We do not know when, but we have a job to do until then.
LAYING THE SCRIPTURAL FOUNDATION
22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. 23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. 24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. 25 Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
vs 22
MAKING A PERSONAL APPLICATION
26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
vs 26