Welcome back! It’s week 3 of Acts. And it’s another great chapter. If you’re not up to three yet, you can go here and find the others. This book is full of wonder and amazement. I’m so glad you’re here. Today, The way we must live. Before we dive in, let’s pray:
Lord Jesus, these words and happenings are so wonderful to see. Help me see all that you want me to and put the words in my mind to use, Lord. Write this lesson. Lead me, Lord. For Your Glory.
Please read Acts 3:1-9
Healing the Lame Beggar
1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour (3:00 p.m.), 2 and a man who had been unable to walk from birth was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at that gate of the temple which is called [a]Beautiful, so that he could beg alms from those entering the temple. 3 So when he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking [them] for coins. 4 But Peter, along with John, stared at him intently and said, “Look at us!” 5 And the man began to pay attention to them, eagerly expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have; but what I do have I give to you: In the name (authority, power) of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—[begin now to] walk and go on walking!” 7 Then he seized the man’s right hand with a firm grip and raised him up. And at once his feet and ankles became strong and steady, 8 and with a leap he stood up and began to walk; and he went into the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 All the people saw him walking and praising God; 10 and they recognized him as the very man who usually sat begging for coins at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with wonder and amazement and were mystified at what had happened to him.
Sometimes I wonder if I’m the only one whose ever heard the song about this Scripture, but that isn’t possible. So tell me, do you hear it?
Peter and John went to pray;
they met a lame man on the way.
He asked for alms and held out his palms,
and this is what Peter did say:
“Silver and gold have I none,
but what I have I give to you.
In the name of Jesus Christ
of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”
He went walking and leaping and praising God,
walking and leaping and praising God.
“In the name of Jesus Christ
of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
Does that fill you with wonder and amazement? Oh it should. Maybe we can’t really visualize what happened here, but do try and be amazed.
Please read Acts 3:11-16
Peter’s Second Sermon
11 Now while he was still holding on to Peter and John, all the people, utterly amazed, ran together and crowded around them at the covered porch called Solomon’s portico. 12 And Peter, seeing this, said to the people, “You men of Israel, why are you amazed at this? Why are you staring at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His Servant and Son Jesus [doing Him this honor], the One whom you handed over and disowned and rejected before Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. 14 But you disowned and denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked for [the pardon of] a murderer to be granted to you. 15 But you killed the Prince (Author, Originator, Source) of life, whom God raised [bodily] from the dead. To this [fact] we are witnesses [for we have seen the risen Christ]. 16 And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health and complete wholeness in your presence.
Before we go on, look again. Write verse 15 and 16 in your own handwriting and use it to pray for anyone you feel led to pray for.
Please read Acts 3:17-21
17“Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance [not fully aware of what you were doing], just as your rulers did also. 18And so God has fulfilled what He foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ (Messiah, Anointed) would suffer. 19So repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins] and return [to God—seek His purpose for your life], so that your sins may be wiped away [blotted out, completely erased], so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord [restoring you like a cool wind on a hot day]; 20and that He may send [to you] Jesus, the Christ, who has been appointed for you, 21whom heaven must keep until the time for the [complete] restoration of all things about which God promised through the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.
Repent and return so that times of refreshing may come and that He may send Jesus, the Christ. Oh yes, we all need Jesus. Because it is true, the restoration of all things is coming and if you’re in Jesus, you will see it, enjoy it, be restored too, all wonderful things. For He will never leave you or let you go once You’re with Him. Never, not even in this restoration of all things. He will still have you.
Please read Acts 3:22-23
22Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a Prophet [b]like me from your countrymen; you shall listen to Him and obey everything He tells you. 23And it will be that every person that does not listen to and heed that Prophet will be utterly destroyed from among the people.’
This is why only those in Christ will see the restoration. If you’re not with Him, you will be utterly destroyed. Listen to Him, Obey Him, Heed him which means to pay attention to. Don’t listen and let it go in one ear and out the other, listen and think on it, listen and really hear.
Please read Acts 3:24-26
24Indeed, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also announced these days. 25You are the sons (descendants) of the prophets and [heirs] of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed (descendant) all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ 26It was for you first of all that God raised up His Servant and Son [Jesus], and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.”
For you first, but not always, first but not only. But it is true, God raised up this Jesus and sent Him to bless you and He can turn you from your wicked ways. Just trust Him.
Footnotes
- [a] Acts 3:2 Probably a reference to the bronze-covered Nicanor Gate.
- [b] Acts 3:22 Or as He raised up me. The Jews understood Moses as a type of Christ (Messiah).