Acts - 7

Acts - 7

Acts 3:1-10

Introduction

Every goal that is ever achieved begins with a dream. Through a combination of hard work, determination, and what author Angela Duckworth calls “grit,” men and women accomplish whatever it takes to achieve their dream. 2020 introduced us to many things, one of them being a new meme that was shared over social media…”How it started v. How it’s going.” They showed a combination of two pictures of early on in their life and now, chronicling the accomplishment of a lifetime.

Picture 1/2 - Phil Martin Jr. who navigated life on the autism spectrum to accomplish his dream job of being a conductor for Amtrak. Picture 3/4 - Vonn, a young entrepreneur who started with one customer and built his business to thousands of customers.

In Acts 3, there is a man who undergoes an incredible transformation within 10 short verses. But his “how it started v. How it’s going” was not due at all to his determination or grit. No, his transformation is all an act of grace from the Lord Jesus.

The NT Church has started with a bang. 3,000 new believers are settling into their new reality as Christians. When Acts 2 described the church, it used a seemingly throwaway line in Acts 2:43 - “And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.” Turns out, that isn’t a throwaway line. Acts 3 records a specific example of those wonders and signs done through the apostles.

Acts 3:1-10 - Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. 3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. 4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

There is much packed into these short verses. Let’s walk through it together. The Apostle Peter and the Apostle John, two of Jesus’ inner circle and leaders of the NT Church, are headed to the temple to pray. The Jews had 3 main times of prayer scheduled each day. There was the early morning sacrifice/prayer time, the evening sacrifice and prayer at 3pm, and sunset. This is the evening sacrifice/prayer time they are going to. They have not severed ties yet with their Jewish roots and practices. They aren’t offering a sacrifice for their sins…Jesus is the ultimate, final sacrifice for their sins. But there is no reason to stop the habit of regularly scheduled prayer. They will eventually abandon this practice of going to the temple once persecution begins to come at them specifically from the Jews.

On their way into the temple they run across this man. We don’t know his name or much about him, except that Acts 4:22 tells us he is over 40 years old. But Luke the doctor gives us some details about his health and offers the diagnosis. He has a congenital defect. He’s been lame from birth. So this wasn’t an accident at work or some disease later in life. He was born without the ability to walk. His life is hard. He faces challenges we can only imagine. There is no social program for him. No special home. No medical equipment to help him. But he has good friends. They carry him everyday to the temple to beg.

This is smart. If you have to beg, the best people to ask for money are religious people. They place him at the Beautiful Gate, which is known today as the Nicanor Gate, on the East side of the temple that led directly into the court for the Jews. Every Jew going into the temple to pray or offer a sacrifice has to pass right by him. This still happens today. If you go to a developing country and walk around pagan temples, the beggars are all gathered at the entrances. When people have a need, they call churches. Why? Because if you want some financial help, ask the people whose God has told them to give to the needy. They have a particular interest in helping.

For forty years, this man has sat by this gate. For forty years, these people have given him enough money to live for another day. For forty years, he has had his hand out. This is how it started. But this is not how it is going to end! Peter and John stop to engage this man.

There is an emphasis on eye contact in the story. Did you notice that? v. 4 - And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” Directed his gaze means ‘to look intently.’ Peter initiates a stare down and calls the man to compete. Why? Because this man probably hasn’t had anyone look directly at him for a long time. That is the unwritten rule when you see a beggar, isn’t it? Don’t make eye contact. For forty years, this man has been ignored. And he has learned to look elsewhere. Where is he looking? Maybe he is looking down in shame. He is a poor beggar. He’s been treated like he is less than human. Maybe he figured out it was best not to make eye contact too. Or maybe he is looking anywhere and everywhere. He is at the perfect spot to beg. Thousands of people have to walk right by him every single day. They are all possible donors. He is looking to them for help, for hope.

But neither of those are good places to look, are they? When you have a need, looking down in shame does not help you. Feeling sorry for yourself gets you nowhere. Look up! Look to the Lord. And looking at people, looking at money…they can’t offer you true help and healing. You need more than money can give. You need more than people can give. When you are helpless and hopeless, only the Lord can do anything about it.

v. 5, the man responds and fixes his attention on them. He locks eyes with them…expecting to get some money from them. That is a reasonable response. Someone has acknowledged him…that means they are going to give him some money. But then Peter speaks and crashes all his hopes to the ground…v. 6 - But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold…” Well, that’s disappointing. If you can’t help, why engage? Why bother me? But Peter continues…but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.

Here is what I love…this man did not ask for healing. He has no concept that this could even be a possibility. All he knows is begging. He has no hope that anything like this could even happen. But the Lord moves on offense. He initiates. God meets you at your point of greatest need. This man doesn’t need money, he needs hope. He doesn’t need a small improvement on his broken life. He needs a new life.

v. 7 - And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.

This is a critical detail. Peter commands him to be healed ‘in the name of Jesus of Nazareth.’ Meaning, this is by the authority of Jesus. Peter has no authority or gifting to heal. Jesus does that. That is why 2:43 said wonders and signs were being done through the apostles, not by the apostles. Just as Jesus had healed when he was here in person, He still heals through His apostles. This takes us back all the way to Acts 1:1 where Luke introduces the book by saying, “In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach…” The Gospel of Luke was the account of all Jesus began. Acts is the continuation of what Jesus does, now through the Church. That is proven here. Jesus isn’t finished working in the world. He still wants to bless it. He still wants to save it. He still wants to heal it. And He does His saving, healing work through His Church.

Peter has commanded this man to be healed by the authority of Jesus. But he isn’t immediately healed. Nothing happens. But then Peter reaches down to lift him up. This is where the man has to respond in faith. He has to attempt to stand up, with Peter’s help, onto feet and legs that have never worked before. There is no muscle there. No strong tendons. No coordination. He can’t stand on his own. But as this man responds in faith to Jesus’ ability to heal him, the healing occurs. As he is standing up, as he is moving forward in response to the promise from Jesus, then, and only then, does Jesus do something miraculous.

This is so important. The Lord has made some incredible promises to you. To save you. To help you. To bless you. But too many Christians sit and wait for that blessing to fall into their lazy lap. They don’t do anything. They don’t pursue anything. They just sit and wait. Thinking there is nothing to do until the Lord first does something miraculous. But that isn’t how it works. The Lord cleverly disguises his blessings in hard work. He imbeds his miracles in the obedient response to His commands. As we obey, He blesses. As we stand, He heals. As we take those steps in response to HIs promises, He does miraculous things.

Proverbs 3:5-6 - 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,     and do not lean on your own understanding.

6 In all your ways acknowledge him,     and he will make straight your paths.

This is a great promise to lean on. But it has within it the implication that the Lord will straighten your paths…as you are walking in them. As you are moving forward in acknowledgement of God, He responds by doing a great work in your life. So don’t be lazy, waiting on God to pour out blessing in your lap. Live in response to His promises, in obedience to HIs commands, and watch Him bless.

And I think there is another point to make here. What if Peter had just walked away? I don’t have any money, but here is what I do have; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk. Have a nice day! This man cannot respond without Peter’s help! Without Peter’s help, this man is not healed. Without Peter’s help, this man is not restored. Without Peter’s help, there is no miracle. We have a role to play. Thomas Walker wrote, “The power was Christ’s, but the hand was Peter’s.” Christian, when you interact with people who need help and hope, tell them all about God’s promises. Tell them all about God’s expectations. And then help them! Show them how it’s done. Take them by the hand and be the one the Lord uses to change their life.

Again, Luke the doctor shows particular interest in the healing. Immediately, upon his response, his ankles and feet are made strong. What an incredible miracle! New muscle forms. New tendons grow. Bones are hardened. Only God can do something so fantastic. Only God can bring the dead to life. Look at how Luke chronicles the response:

v. 8-10 - 8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

v. 8 - leaping, standing, walking

v. 8 - walking, leaping, praising

v. 9 - walking, praising

How could this man respond in any other way?! When the Lord saves, live joyfully in that reality. When the Lord does something miraculous by bringing life to something dead in your life, don’t act as if it’s still dead. Walk. Leap. Praise. Enjoy the new life Jesus has provided for you! Live every second of your new life in Christ with joy and purpose. Christians ought to be the happiest, most joyful, passionate people in the world. Why? Because no matter what happens to you today, the Lord Jesus has saved you. You don’t have to go to Hell today. Or ever! Your soul was dead and is now alive. You were hopeless, now you are hopeful. Parts of your life were broken and beyond repair, but the Lord healed. Praise Him! Walk in obedience to Him! Enjoy the life He has blessed you with!

Notice the response of the crowd…they recognize him for who he was. You used to be the beggar. I’ve walked by you hundreds of times. How could this be! Have you ever experienced something like that? Maybe you went to a high school reunion and someone you knew then had a ‘glow up.’ They were kind of a loser in high school, but now they are super successful. Or they were a bit of an ugly duckling, but now they could be a model. Or maybe they were overweight, but now you can’t even recognize them they look so good. That is what these people are experiencing right now. How could this be?! And they are filled with wonder and amazement.

They are filled with wonder…we get that. They are in awe at this man’s life change. But this second word is a rich one. Amazement is the Greek word ekstasis. It has been brought into the English language as ecstasy. They are losing their minds in response to the miraculous change in this man’s life. This is what happens when Jesus changes a life. All those who knew you back then, have no idea what to do with the new you.

Ephesians 2:4-7 - 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 1:12-16 - 12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.

When the Lord does a miraculous, saving, redeeming work in your life…when the Lord brings life to that which was dead, His ultimate purpose in that is to turn you into a walking billboard of His grace. To project you to the world…not to show how awesome you are, but to show how patient He is. Because if the Lord will save someone like you, He can save them too. If the Lord is willing to do such work in you, He is obviously willing do it in them too. So don’t be ashamed. Don’t be embarrassed. Don’t cower in the presence of those who knew you when. Confidently, kindly, live in the reality of who you now are, of who the Lord has made you to be. They will notice. And you can point them to Jesus, the one who changed you, who can now change them.

Conclusion

Acts 2:43 said that many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Obviously not all of them are recorded in Scripture. In fact, only a few are recorded. Why this one? This is the first one. Why lead with this?

Well, remember that the ultimate purpose of these miracles are to validate the truth of what they are saying. That is why they are called signs. They confirm the validity of the Gospel message because it has God’s miraculous endorsement.

What does this miracle confirm? That Jesus is indeed God who has come to save. God had promised His people through the OT prophets that the Day of Salvation was coming. He was going to come to the Earth and save them. How would they know when that was happening? Well, God described what it would be like when His salvation arrived on the Earth.

Isaiah 35:1-10 - The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad;     the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus;

2 it shall blossom abundantly     and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,     the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord,     the majesty of our God.

3 Strengthen the weak hands,     and make firm the feeble knees.

4 Say to those who have an anxious heart,     “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God     will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God.     He will come and save you.”

5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,     and the ears of the deaf unstopped;

6 then shall the lame man leap like a deer,     and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness,     and streams in the desert;

7 the burning sand shall become a pool,     and the thirsty ground springs of water; in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down,     the grass shall become reeds and rushes.

8 And a highway shall be there,     and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it.     It shall belong to those who walk on the way;     even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.

9 No lion shall be there,     nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there,     but the redeemed shall walk there.

10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return     and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;     they shall obtain gladness and joy,     and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

This man in Acts 3, whose name we don’t even know, is the fulfillment of God’s promise of salvation 700 years prior in Isaiah 35. God promises to save. God promises to work miracles. God promises to bring the dead to life. Respond to Him today. Trust His promises. Take steps of obedience. He will do the saving, blessing work He has promised to do.

BELIEVE/REPENT/CONFESS/BAPTIZE