🙏🏽 Dear Heavenly Father – Let us humble ourselves before Your Word as we learn how You built Your Church. Let us remember that we are the latecomers – benefitting from the work and perseverance of those that went before us. You honor them by telling us their names and sharing their stories. Let us find inspiration to honor You, as well. Amen.
Peter Heals a Lame Beggar
3 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 who was lame 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 do 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.
Points to Ponder: Have you ever been spoken at instead of spoken to? This lame man was just going through the motions, day-in, day-out… see a prospect… say the words… but this time, these men, Peter and John demand that he give them his attention. And he does. And his life would never be the same again. Sometimes we all need to stop and pay attention to what may be right in front of us.
This is the first miracle performed by the apostles recorded in Acts. It is just a glimpse of what’s to come. We can clearly see this man was given new life in the name of Jesus. He didn’t get the money he asked for; instead he began walking, jumping, and praising God.
Peter Speaks to the Onlookers
11 While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. 12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, 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 completely healed him, as you can all see.
17 “Now, fellow Israelites, 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 Messiah 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 Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. 21 Heaven must receive him 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 their people.’[Deuteronomy 18:15, 18, 19]
24 “Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets who 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.’[Genesis 22:18; 26:4] 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.”
Points to Ponder: Anyone who held onto a message that the New Testament means the Old Testament is no longer applicable to them, needs to rethink that position. Clearly Peter is using the Old Testament to remind the Jews that the miracle they just witnessed is the fulfillment of Old Testament promises. God does not change – He just answers in ways that, in our spiritual blindness, we were often unable to comprehend. Our Lord Jesus also spoke of the legitimacy of the Old Testament. [Matthew 5:17-19, Luke 24:25, 27]
Jesus taught His disciples and in Acts, they teach us. Peter tells them that he knows they acted in ignorance – there is no blaming or judgment, but there is truth. He tells them to repent and turn to God so that their sins may be wiped out. A Christian’s message to a brother or sister can be more direct, but speaking to your ‘neighbor’, a non-Christian, must be gentle and in love.
Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin
4 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, 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; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.
5 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others 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 man who was lame and are being 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 Jesus is
“‘the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the cornerstone.’ [Psalm 118:22]
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind 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. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them 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, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, 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.
Points to Ponder: I marvel at the question that the Jewish leaders ask: By what power or what name did you do this? Peter responds as if ‘this’ refers to the healing of the man… which they cannot deny. Additionally, Peter takes the opportunity to give all the glory to Jesus and reminds them of their role in His crucifixion. He even quotes the same line from the Psalm with which Jesus responded when they questioned His authority. [As recorded in Luke 20:17, Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10]
What if, however, ‘this’, refers to the previous paragraph? The author just recorded that… the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand. The last time we heard about that number of men was when Jesus fed them, and the unnumbered women and children, with 5 loaves and 2 fish! [Luke 9:13-14, Matthew 14:20-21, Mark 6:42-44, John 6:9-10]
Both the feeding of the five thousand and the healing of the lame man speak to the power and authority of Jesus. All the Gospels record the miraculous feeding event and the author here indicates that even the Sanhedrin know they cannot deny what has happened with the healing of the lame man.
I pray that we all at some point shock someone enough to ask… by what power or in what name did you do ’this’? Whatever ‘this’ is in our lives that requires the power and authority of Jesus, let us answer like Peter and give the name of Jesus, all the glory.
The Believers Pray
23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the 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 heavens 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 rise up and the rulers band together
against the Lord and against his anointed one. [Psalm 2:1,2]
27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people 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 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.
Points to Ponder: Today this is called ‘corporate prayer’. Given the cultural idea of ‘corporate’, I find that unfortunate. Believers should share their troubles as Peter and John did. The group of believers should raise their voices together in prayer – recognizing God’s authority, acknowledging God’s omniscience – this was already written about in the Old Testament – then asking for what is needed to glorify Him. As believers we too, are to desire the eagerness to speak His Word with great boldness.
BTW… humility reminder… they had no New Testament to study. We do… truth and power are there for our taking. Perhaps our prayer is that we humble our lofty thoughts… quit conspiring with the nations that rage and plot in vain… perhaps we ask for the great boldness and power it takes to submit our wills to His and read His Word.
The Believers Share Their Possessions
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
Points to Ponder: Great. 🤦🏽♀️ This section ends very much like Chapter 2 ended and its still some hard teaching. Perhaps it is because I have never experienced living in a unified group – never have I witnessed multiple people with a single heart and mind. As soon as grace and compassion is extended, someone steps up to take advantage.
When I read these sections, they are truly the most counter-cultural issues that would confront a citizen of modern Western culture. I can’t even imagine how this could be replicated today. I suppose if someone had a house that could accommodate 10 extra people… then 10 people with houses could say… ‘let me sell mine, move in with you, and give all the proceeds to the Apostles to teach the Word.’
As I puzzle over this, in awestruck amazement, I long for a Barnabas – a son of encouragement. 😊 What a most excellent name!!!
Summary: In these chapters, we see the authority and power of Jesus displayed through His faithful apostles. Lives are changed, bodies are healed, and The Church – the people of God’s Kingdom grows to five thousand men ++.
🙏🏽 Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your Word. We thank You for faithfulness and goodness. We thank You for You power to bring us new life – lives that can be generous; lives that can be courageous; lives that can glorify You.
04/19/2023 – In tribute to Dr. Charles F. Stanley, whose passing yesterday greatly affected me, I want to share something… After a sermon on leaving a Godly legacy, in 2018, he was asked, ‘What do you want people to say about you after you’re gone?’ His response…
I want them to say… He believed the most important truth in his life was to obey God and leave all the consequences to Him. And it appears from what we’ve seen and heard, that is how he lived.
Dr. Stanley, you were a good and faithful servant. You were the spiritual grandfather that I never had. You were faithful to sow seeds of truth even when I didn’t want to hear them, but couldn’t stop listening. I’ve been listening to you for over 10 years; I’ve been a Christian for less. You encouraged me to nourish the soil so the seeds could flourish. You’ve taught me to wrestle with the truth and to learn to trust God – even when I didn’t understand – even when I had to battle my own will and emotions. Every day, you spoke truth and I finally, I could ignore it no longer. This child of God, now in Christ Jesus, lifts up and blesses your memory in prayer and wants to shout praises of ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’ Thank you for not giving up and thank God for your life, Dr. Stanley.