Acts 3

Acts 3 – Peter’s Second Sermon

A Lame Man Healed

3       Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour (3:00 P.M…..Peter and John were still following Jewish Law, concerning prayer which was at 9:00 A.M., 3:00 P.M. and sunset). 2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb (from birth) was carried (probably by his family or relatives), whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful (which separated the Gentiles from the Court of Women), to ask alms from those who entered the temple (the 3 most popular places for begging were outside the homes of the rich, along main highways and at the temple); 3 who, seeing Peter and John (two men approaching and) about to go into the temple, asked for alms (charity). 4 And fixing his (Peters) eyes on him (“fixing” is the same word used when the apostles watched Christ ascending to heaven), with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” (Give us your full attention…..the idea here is that the beggars faith of expecting a gift from someone was so low that after asking for alms, he would look to see if someone else may be around without waiting to see if the one asked would have compassion on him) 5 So (in response to Peter’s words) he gave them his (full) attention, expecting (now) to receive something (some form of charitable gift) from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have (the monetary gifts of this world), but what I do have (which are heavenly blessings from the God of this temple), I give (freely as I have freely received them to) you: In the name of (the crucified and risen) Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”

I find it interesting that God and thus Peter never requires the cripple to exercise any faith in the person of Christ or His ability to heal him.

  • This is an event that is all by God.
  • This is an event that is all about God.

 7 And he (Peter didn’t wait to see “if” God would heal the lame man, he) took him by the right hand and lifted him up (demonstrating his faith in God), and immediately (instantly) his feet and ankle bones received strength.

  • God’s healings are immediate and complete.  You don’t find where over a period of time people are healed of their infirmities.
  • God doesn’t do anything haphazardly or halfway.  God’s works are perfect as He is perfect. (healed bone, ligaments, muscle, strength and coordination)
  • At salvation the gospel believer has immediate and complete access to God and His heavenly blessings.  God doesn’t half save us, He saves us to the uttermost.  Hebrews 7:25 – Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

 8 So he (the formally crippled man felt his new strength), leaping (springing) up, stood (there was no teetering or weak kneed stance happening here) and walked and entered the temple with them (the former cripples first steps took him into God’s temple)—walking, leaping (continually), and praising God (over and over again…..Peter didn’t ask for praise nor did the man offer it to him, only to God.)

  • How many of us leap around and praise God because we can even walk another day?
  • That kind of praise to God is just as significant and worthy isn’t it?)

     9 And all the people saw him (continually) walking and praising God. (calling everyone’s attention to God…..He couldn’t sit still, nor keep quiet…..as should be the case for all of us as we experience God’s blessings…..This man is letting his light shine; he is not seeking to hide it under a bushel basket!) 10 Then they knew (there was no question in their mind) that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him (they didn’t know what to think or know how to respond).

Preaching in Solomon’s Portico

11 Now as the lame man who was healed (affectionately) held on to Peter and John, all the people (around) ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed (God intendeds for His work to attract attention, not towards His servants, but towards Himself…..People are eager to see real evidences of God at work). 12 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people (rather than being carried away by the excitement and attention, Peter preaches his second sermon and he doesn’t mince any words…..he goes right for the jugular): “Men of Israel (my fellow Jews), why do you marvel at this? (This is a mild rebuke…..Do we not worship and have a history with God who does this sort of thing?)  Or (if you haven’t got your eyes on God) why look so intently at us, as though by our own power (ability) or godliness (merit) we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers (and our covenant promises), glorified (recognized, lifted up, honored, exalted) His (God the Father’s) Servant (in this case meaning “God’s personal representative or ambassador” [MacArthur]), Jesus (meaning “the Lord of Salvation…..His name is Jesus not because He is our example, guide, leader, or friend, though He is all those things. His name is Jesus because He is our savior.[1]), whom you (in stark contrast did not glorify, but) delivered up (had incarcerated) and denied (disowned) in the presence of (the Roman pagan) Pilate, when he (a pagan) was determined to let Him go (you, “men of Israel” are responsible for this…..you forced Pilate’s hand…..you backed him into a corner). 14 But you denied (disowned) the Holy One (the Holy, Sinless One that God the Father said He would not abandon in Hades and would not let His body decay [Psa. 16:10], the Holy One King David spoke of that would ascend rather than himself) and the Just (the innocent One who had committed no crime), and asked for a murderer to be granted to you (you condemned the Just One, God’s personal representative, ambassador, in order to free a convicted murderer Barabbas), 15 and killed the Prince (the originator, pioneer, the author) of life (eternal life), whom God raised from the dead (in spite of you…..your murder attempt failed), of which we are witnesses (we apostles and hundreds of others have personally seen and talked to Him). 16 And His (in Jesus’) name (no one else’s), through faith (confident conviction and trust) in His name (which can move mountains [Matt. 17:20]…..the inference is that this faith was exercised by Peter), has made this man strong (able to stand firm), whom you see (the evidence of Christ’s miraculous and gracious work is before your very eyes) and know (in person to be true). Yes, the faith which comes through Him (Christ’s Person, work, modeling, teaching, and promises) has given him (this cripple) this perfect soundness (this healthy body) in the presence of you all.

17 “Yet now (having said all this), brethren, I know that you did it (delivered, denied, and crucified Christ) in ignorance (not knowing what you were really doing), as did also your rulers (Christ Himself said so in Luke 23:34, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” …..This doesn’t mean that every single one of them didn’t know what they were doing). 18 But (even though you did reject and crucify Christ, and even though it was in ignorance) those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets (events that must come true, that must happen just as God has predicted), that the Christ would suffer (as unthinkable and as undesirable as His execution is), He has thus fulfilled (the prophecy and will of God…..God’s will cannot be nullified…..Christ still would have had to die). 19 Repent therefore (turn from your sins and pursue what is right…..step out of darkness and into the light) and be converted (turn and embrace Christ as your Messiah), that your (personal record of) sins (past, present and future) may be blotted out (may be expunged, deleted from God’s judicial record books and your name written in the Lamb’s book of life [Rev. 20:12]) ,

  • Repentance is much more than “feeling sorry for your sins.”
  • As the little Sunday School girl said, “It means feeling sorry enough to quit!” [2]

(Peter here is actually calling for the national repentance of the Jews) so that (the predetermined) times of refreshing (the restoration of the world that even all of creation waits for [Rom. 8:19]) may come from the presence of the Lord (so that Christ can not only forgive our sins, but that He may as well bring in the Millennial Kingdom), 20 and that He (God the Father) may send Jesus Christ (as there can be no kingdom without the seating of the King), who was preached to you before (the One and the same who you crucified…..waiting will not result in another coming later), 21 whom heaven must receive (must embrace, retain, hold back) until the times of restoration of all things (which pertains to the Jewish nations acceptance of the crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ as their Messiah), which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.

Joel 2:25 – “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you.

 22 For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me (a man and a deliverer) from your brethren (from the Jews). Him you shall hear (obey) in all things, whatever He says to you. 23 And it shall be that every soul (or person) who will not hear (not obey) that Prophet (Christ) shall be utterly destroyed from among the people (that are on earth as well as heaven…..meaning they will find themselves alone in judgment, torment)’

Jesus Himself spoke of these matters in Matthew 23:37 – “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!”

…beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, [Jesus] explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.”

  • Israel’s problem was moral, not intellectual; they lacked repentance, not information.[3]

 24 Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days (I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know…..I’m just telling you that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the One whom that foretold would come and to Whom we are to obey).

25 You (Jews) are sons (children) of the prophets, and (the heirs) of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth (Jews and Gentiles alike) shall be blessed.’ (with spiritual blessings from heavenly places [Eph. 1:3])  26 To you (Jews) first,[4] God, having raised up His Servant Jesus (“raised up” in he sense to deliver them), sent Him to bless (deliver) you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities (sins—the Jews are the ones who are to hear the gospel first and thus should be the first to repent and convert).”

[1] MacArthur, J. (1994). Acts (105). Chicago: Moody Press.

[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Ac 3:17). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.

[3] MacArthur, J. (1994). Acts (122). Chicago: Moody Press.

[4] Matthew 15:22–28 – …behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” 23 But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” 24 But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” 26 But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” 27 And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.