2008-08-22
01. Our previous teaching dealt with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the immediate results thereof.
02. The present teaching deals with the healing of a lame man, Peter’s second sermon and his persecution by the Sanhedrin.
03. The Scripture portions quoted in this lecture need little explanation and therefore we will just comment briefly on each.
04. Let us read from Acts chapter 3:1-26:
One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, ‘‘Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 Then Peter said, ‘‘Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: ‘‘Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if 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 Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.
17 ‘‘Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. 21 He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. 22 For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. 23 Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people.”
24 ‘‘Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have foretold these days. 25 And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’c 26 When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”
The Jewish Christians did not forsake their traditional way of worship. Peter and John therefore went to the temple at 3 in the afternoon as usual to pray. However, as Jewish believers they would have had just a few coins to give, now, as Spirit filled Christians, they walked in the anointing power of God and could give as God gives. They were also in touch with God and ready to be used by Him at any time.
The “Beautiful Gate” was a prominent entrance to the temple and so this lame man had chosen a good spot to sit and beg. The Jews considered it a very good deed to give something to a beggar and so he probably got quite a number of coins every day. But his real need was not for money but to be able to walk, for he had been lame since birth and probably had to be carried wherever he wanted to go.
When he asked Peter and John for alms, they looked pointedly at him. Why? They also commanded him to look at them. He did not expect to be healed by them and consequently he did not ask them to do so. Jesus normally only healed those that asked him to do so. Probably they were, in their hearts, waiting on God for confirmation that he wanted to heal this man. The moment when Peter had that inward “Yes”, he spoke those words of faith, grabbed the man’s right hand and pulled him up. In the twinkling of an eye his legs were normal and he started walking, jumping and praising God and clinging to Peter and John.
This miracle immediately drew a crowd of people. Peter capitalized on the occasion and began preaching the Gospel. His sermon was similar to the one he had delivered on the day of Pentecost, pointing out that it was their God, the listeners’ God, the God of Abraham, Izak and Jacob that performed the miracle in order to glorify his Son, Jesus whom He had sent to them but Who they had crucified.
Verse 16: “By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.”
Peter then softens his accusation and gives them hope by saying that he knows that they had done so unwittingly, but could now amend matters by repenting. Verse 19:
“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,”
You may remember that Jesus had said that He had not come to destroy mankind but to save them. Our preaching should be just the same. While holding up God’s law with the one hand to make people realize their guilt, we must always hold up God’s words of grace with the other hand. We do not want people to flee from God in fear but to run towards him to receive his grace.
05. Now we read chapter 4:1-22:
The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.
5 The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: ‘‘By what power or what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: ‘‘Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 He is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.” 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16 ‘‘What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. ‘‘Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”
18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, ‘‘Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. 20 For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.”
Peters’ preaching, together with the miraculous healing, worked the miracle of the salvation of another 2000 souls, so that the “Jerusalem Christian Church” grew to 5000 members. Wow!
But wherever the Gospel is preached in power, the devil’s tail starts burning and he stirs up all sorts of trouble. The priests and the Sadducees also heard the commotion, rushed there and heard at least a portion of Peters’ sermon. The Sadducees were especially upset by what they heard for they did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. That is exactly what Peter taught by claiming that Jesus had risen from the dead.
So, the next day the Sanhedrin assembled in full force under chairmanship of the High Priest, Caiaphas. The apostles were asked by what power and through which name they did the miracle. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, was no longer that scared man had that denied Jesus, but spoke up boldly, saying that it was by the Name of Jesus, whom they had crucified but God had raised from the dead, that this man, that had been lame, was now standing healed before them.
Please note and memorize Peters’ words recorded in verse 12:
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
The Sanhedrin was perplexed as to what to do. Firstly they were amazed that such simple and uneducated people could speak so well, and secondly they could not deny that a very real and astounding miracle and sign had been performed by them. They also recognized them to be companions of Jesus and realized that their “Jesus Problem” was not over for very soon thousands of people would become followers of this Jesus who they had crucified, but who these men claimed, was alive. Under the circumstances they decided that all they could do was to warn them not at all to teach in the Name of Jesus again.
Now note Peters’ words as recorded in verses 19 and 20 :
19 But Peter and John replied, ‘‘Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. 20 For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
Let us keep these words in our hearts for the day when we too may have to appear before higher authorities to give account of our faith in Jesus.
06. We now read verses 23-31:
On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. ‘‘Sovereign Lord,” they said, ‘‘you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One. 27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people c of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
In the portion we read, note:
- a. How they returned to their fellow Christians for support.
- b. How they praised God for under girding them with his mighty power.
- c. How their understanding of Old Testament prophesies suddenly opened up.
- d. How they united in prayer to overcome the powers of darkness.
- e. How God answered their petitions by shaking the building in which they were gathered, topping them up with his Holy Spirit and filling them with boldness to go out and preach the Gospel.
07. Their God is also our God, Halleluja, so let we too go forward boldly, ministering just as Peter and Paul did.