Acts of the Apostles – 3

The Inspired History

 

 

 

  1. The Healing of the Lame Man (1-11).
    1. Situation at the Gate Beautiful (1-3).
    2. Healing by the Name of Jesus (4-8).
    3. Response to the Miracle (9-11).
  2. The Second Sermon of Peter (12-26).
    1. Jesus is Alive and Glorified (12-15).
    2. Jesus is Sending Conviction (16-18).
    3. Jesus is Bringing Judgment (19-24).
    4. Jesus is the Blessing of Abraham (25-26).

The Sense and Meaning

  1. A lame man provides further opportunity for the exaltation of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 3:1-3).
    1. Peter and John and the apostles, as was Jesus, were praying men (Acts 1:14; 6:4; Luk 6:12).
    2. It was a Scriptural practice to pray three times a day (Acts 2:15; 10:9; Dan 6:10; Ps 55:17).
    3. This lame man had been lame for over 40 years since the day he was born (Acts 4:22).
      1. He was a certain lame man – known by the temple worshippers and by God.
      2. God chose to have him born lame and to keep him that way over 40 years.
      3. God needs only His own glory for such a choice (Prov 16:4; John 9:3; 11:4).
      4. Instead of the legal plunder of taxation and Medicaid, this man sought alms.
      5. Righteous men worshipping God could not reject an act of God needing alms.
  2. Peter and John give this lame man much more than he had hoped by the name of their Lord.
    1. Though his expectations were silver or gold, Peter gave the lame man much more.
    2. The name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth is the greatest name in heaven or in earth.
      1. The wicked devils know this name and tremble (Acts 19:13-15; Mark 1:28-33).
      2. God has exalted Jesus Christ and magnified His glorious name (Phil 2:9-11).
    3. His feet and anklebones (thank you, Dr. Luke) had no strength – were impotent (Acts 4:9).
    4. When Jesus heals, physical therapists are not needed, even after 40 years. He leaped!
    5. It was clear to all the man had been made “strong” with “perfect soundness” (Acts 3:16).
    6. It should be the reflex action of a person healed by Jesus Christ to praise God by Him.
  3. As intended, the glorious sign and wonder done by Peter attracted another big crowd (Acts 3:9-11).
    1. Signs and wonders generated attention and confirmed them (Mark 16:20; Heb 2:3-4).
    2. Wonder and amazement resulted from the visible and obvious miracle they could see.
    3. Most of the events at “healing services” today instead cause suspicion and skepticism.
    4. The multitude assembled without advertisements or enticements with ready minds.
  4. Peter takes advantage of his audience to present Jesus Christ alive and glorified (Acts 3:12-15).
    1. Peter saw a crowd gathered without effort on his part with an unanswered question.
    2. Wish to witness the rhetorical wisdom of the Holy Ghost? Read Peter’s sermon.
      1. “Why marvel ye at this?” A great miracle had occurred, but Peter assumes it.
      2. Do you think we did it? Peter directs the honor and attention to Jesus Christ.
    3. He identifies the Father of Jesus as the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the fathers.
    4. But he immediately accuses them of their vicious crime in crucifying Jesus Christ.
      1. He aggravates their crime with specific historical facts to condemn them.
      2. “Whom ye delivered up” is Jews turning one of their own over to foreigners.
      3. “And denied him in the presence of Pilate” is further desertion of a brother.
      4. “When he was determined to let him go” shows their malicious slander.
      5. In a trial, you denied and rejected the Holy and Just One being falsely accused.
      6. You chose the murderer Barabbas to be released back into the population.
      7. You killed – stole life from – the Prince of life. You are murderous scoundrels.
      8. Peter is not speaking – this is the Holy Ghost speaking. Political correctness?
    5. God has raised this Jesus from the dead; and we are witnesses, for we have seen Him.
  5. Peter provokes conviction by describing faith in the appointed Messiah and Christ (Acts 3:16-18).
    1. Identifying and confirming the miracle, Peter explains that faith in Jesus had done it.
    2. It was a combination of His name and faith in His name, which faith was from Him.
      1. No man has faith himself (Ps 10:4; Ro 3:11-18; Jn 8:43-47; 10:26; Lu 16:31).
      2. Faith is God’s sovereign gift (Acts 13:48; II Pet 1:1; I Jn 5:4; Jn 3:3; Gal 4:6; 5:22).
      3. You cannot help a man without faith (II Thess 3:2; Luke 16:31; II Cor 4:3-4).
      4. “Whosoever will” neither implies universal ability nor denies man’s depravity.
    3. By ignorance they crucified the Lord Jesus (I Cor 2:6-14; Mat 13:10-17; Jn 12:37-41).
    4. But your ignorance did not disrupt God’s eternal purpose – all was fulfilled perfectly.
  6. Peter encourages their repentance by promising the fulfillment of Christ’s kingdom (Acts 3:19-24).
    1. If God’s sovereign purpose was fulfilled by your ignorant wickedness, then repent!
    2. If you are ignorant of God and His Son, then allow yourself to be converted by truth.
    3. Rather than getting blotted out “when the times of refreshing shall come,” Peter’s charge is for sins to “be blotted out.” You must be forgiven when the time comes.
    4. We see “times” twice, but it means time or era (Ga 1:13,23 / I Tim 2:6; Tit 1:3 / Acts 14:16; Eph 2:11 / I Pet 1:20; I Jn 2:18 / Ep 2:2-3), unless it is modified with a number (Luke 17:4; Ac 11:10) or a context identifying intervals of time (Heb 1:1; Re 12:14).
    5. The context dictates these two “times” are the glorious coming of Christ’s kingdom.
      1. God’s kingdom is a spiritual kingdom (Lu 17:20-21; Ro 14:17; Heb 12:22-29).
      2. Jesus promised a kingdom shortly (Mat 10:23; 16:28; 19:28; 26:64; Mark 9:1).
      3. Peter identifies the time as “these days” rather than future tense last days.
      4. Christ’s kingdom gradually came during the reformation until fully present and the old covenant had passed away and the enemies destroyed.
      5. The “times of refreshing” is the blessing of rest and peace in Christ’s kingdom.
        1. Christ’s kingdom is spiritual rest for God’s people (Heb 3:7 – 4:11).
        2. The apostles preached this refreshing rest (Is 28:11-12 cp I Cor 14:21).
        3. Compare the prophecy of Malachi of Christ’s kingdom (Mal 3:1 – 4:6).
      6. The “times of restitution” is the restoration in full glory of Christ’s kingdom.
        1. Restitution. 1. The action of restoring or giving back something.
        2. Remember, the disciples had asked about restoring the kingdom (Acts 1:6).
        3. John the Baptist was the forerunner in restoring all things (Matt 17:11).
        4. Christ’s great spiritual kingdom was seen by Zecharias (Luke 1:67-80).
    6. The prophet like unto Moses would destroy all His enemies with kingdom authority.
      1. Paul greatly stresses this point (Heb 2:1-4; 3:7 – 4:11; 6:4-8; 10:25-26; 12:28).
      2. Jesus had warned about the Stone’s two different affects (Matthew 21:42-44).
      3. All things written included severe judgment from God (Lu 11:51-52; 21:22).
      4. Jerusalem’s destruction is included, but it is not the primary consideration.
  7. The great Seed of Abraham would bring blessing to all the kindreds of the earth (Acts 3:25-26).
    1. Peter briefly introduces that great doctrine Paul later explains (Gal 3:16,29).
    2. It was a great blessing for God to send Jesus by the apostles to the Jews.