Sights, Sounds & Suspicions in a Prayer Meeting, pt. 2 (Acts 3:11-4:4)

Call to worship:

Psalm 9:13–14 ESV

Be gracious to me, O Lord! See my affliction from those who hate me, O you who lift me up from the gates of death, that I may recount all your praises, that in the gates of the daughter of Zion I may rejoice in your salvation.

Reading 1, for perspective:

Habakkuk 1:4–5 (ESV)

4 So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted. 5 “Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be ASTOUNDED. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.

Reading 2, main text pt. 1:

Acts 3:11–26 (ESV)

11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly ASTOUNDED, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s.

12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?

13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.

14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,

15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.

16 And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

17 “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers.

18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.

19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,

20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,

21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.

22 Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.

23 And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’

24 And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days.

25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’

26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”

Theme for prayer of illumination, or optional Psalm reading:

Psalm 20:1–3 ESV

1 May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob protect you! 2 May he send you help from the sanctuary and give you support from Zion! 3 May he remember all your offerings and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah

I.

Last week when we left off, we talked about access and welcome, of a lame man who had been cast aside and rejected at the temple gate—but who at the end, was “immediately” healed, able to walk, and able to leap and run right into the temple and the presence and the people of God.

We also concentrated in that time, remarkably enough, on the idea of seeing (i.e., the “sights” that our message title alludes to).

In a healing of a lame man, who previously was unable to walk and perhaps to use his hands, there was the strange focus in Luke’s account of the focus on eyes, and attention:

Key operating words like “seeing,” and “fixing attention,” and “looking.”

Today we come to the last parts of our message mini-series here. And we take up two other key and operating words that are happening here in this Acts account of a strange prayer meeting.

And the words here are of “sounds,” as we’ll find in this portion and account we just read—and then we’ll see “suspicions” later as we close, when Peter and John are confronted (and incarcerated) by the actual temple officials.

II.

Our scene this morning gives us a change of scenery of course—a dramatic “scene change” of people and place—and we find ourselves no longer at the Beautiful Gate where we were last week. But we’ve moved now to, Luke tells us, Solomon’s Portico.

It’s not a far switch, if the best commentary guesses are correct. It’s just a move of a few paces—straight across from the entry to the Court of Women and Court of Israel where the Beautiful Gate was believed to be, where the lame man had been lain and dropped off everyday while his friends presumably went about their temple business.

And now in the grand porch of “Solomon’s Portico” as it was known, we find ourselves straight across from the Beautiful Gate, running along the temple’s southern wall.

The porch of course wasn’t built by Solomon himself. The temple was Ezra’s—rebuilt after the return from exile, and built on and embellished by Herod so that it was called “Herod’s Temple.”

(But Solomon’s grandeur was still strong in Israel’s mind, even though his temple had been destroyed—and so still in Herod’s temple much later Solomon still gets this grand namesake in the temple porch and colonnade.)

Solomon: David’s royal son, wise and prominent. It’s important here that he built Israel’s original temple, in part that the LORD would “give ear” and attention to his people.

This “hearing” theme is exactly where Solomon starts his prayer in dedicating the temple and its work:

1 Kings 8:28–30 (ESV)

28 Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O Lord my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you this day, 29 that your (eyes) may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you have said, ‘My name shall be there,’ that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place. 30 And listen to the plea of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. And listen in heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.

It’s such an important theme and concept to Solomon’s dedication of the temple. And we come later in Acts 3 to words of ears and hearing.—

But Luke’s account and Peter’s speech for now continue the previous theme of seeing and the eyes.

V. 12, Peter sees a crowd running to him, and he says: “Why do you STARE?”

He’s doing a thing, of course, of redirecting. — Why do you stare AT US?

Why are you looking AT US, as if it was US making the man walk?

(You understand, Jesus did promise “power” would come down on the apostles, i.e., in the chief promise and verse of all of Acts, Acts 1:8. He promised “power” on the apostles, and he promised their place as “witnesses.”)

But Peter redirects the credit for the miracle, the source of the miracle and the man’s healing.

Jesus in Acts 1:8 promised it was the SPIRIT’S power. So Peter says, “Don’t look to us—look to Jesus!”

Do you know yourself this morning as the representative of Jesus, his “hands and feet?”

It would only be two generations later for Herod the Great, whose temple this was, and Herod’s grandson Agrippa (in Acts 12) would forget this important thing. And Luke tells us that, for “not giving the glory to God” (Acts 12:13), a sudden attack of worms overtook him, and he was struck down by an angel of God.

But you and I are the representatives of Jesus, the carriers of his Word and his works.

We are the conduits of his Spirit. And the “works” are Jesus’, purely and solely, as Paul says: “created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand” (Ephesians 2:10).

It can be a temptation even in preparing a sermon like this, to say it is my word and my works (at least when the sermon goes well!).

But the goodness in us, and any glory, HAS to be turned back to God. The goodness may be poured into us, but ultimately our representation and responsibility is to return the glory to our God.

So complete the works as you’ve been given them—but give credit to their source and cause, the Lord Jesus Christ!

III.

So Peter chides the crowd the same way that the angels chided the apostles for “staring” at the ascension, Acts 1:10-11. (You remember, the angels appear and the apostles are caught “staring” rather than “moving” and returning to Jerusalem.)

The angels chided for the activity of staring— “staring” rather than “moving.” But Peter chides for who the people are staring at—staring at the apostles and not giving the glory to God.

And then in the next section, vv. 13-26, Peter gives what will be his second public and massively soul-winning address in the Book of Acts—after his first public speech that was in the upper room in Jerusalem at Pentecost.

It’s interesting, as Peter starts out too in his address, to note that he has a supportive crowd here. They’re interested and amazed at the man’s healing—

This isn’t by any means a persecuting or attacking crowd.

And any sort of conflict or suspicion isn’t coming until the arrival later of the temple priests and officers.

And still, while the crowd is supportive and interested—yet, Peter puts pressure (accusation) into his material:

Acts 3:13 (ESV)

13 ...The God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.

Then 3:14 and 15, too:

Acts 3:14–15 (ESV)

14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and [you] asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.

How’s that for a model of evangelism??

Stand on the corner with this message, and see how it goes...

But remember as we said last week, this is all happening not even 60, or 70, or 80 days after the trial, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

All the events happened in Jerusalem, too.

All the events happened in the town of the temple, where this crowd now stands.

All this is relatively fresh. The crowd is interested. They may even have been in, and participating in, the trial and crucifying events!

And Peter takes this tact and lays on the accusation.

It’s fascinating Peter doesn’t mince any words. And very well likely, some of these people may have been involved in the trial and may have been among the accusing crowds of Jesus.

Peter has their attention.

But he has to do it the way that he’s done it. — The heart of his message is Jesus, and so Jesus crucified, dead, and risen is what he brings.

Even if it means trouncing on this crowd who may have been involved...

Even if it means “losing a crowd,” Peter has to bring the message he does.

IV.

Peter writes in his own letter some years later,

1 Peter 3:15 (ESV)

15 But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.

So if there is nothing else you leave with from this place—

If there is nothing else you write down—

Nothing else you remember—

Would you remember this:

Jesus died. Jesus rose. And Jesus is coming again.

Would you remember that?

Would you make that the center of your life, your words, and all your being?

Peter here is in the immediate aftermath of those events. There’s no getting around that.

He has to honor Christ. He has to set Christ apart and preeminent.

He has to share Christ.

Even for fear of touching a nerve. Even for fear of “losing a crowd.”

Christ is the heart of the message—and Peter makes no change to that.

V.

Several things stand out in the passage too:

First, he places Jesus, yet another time, as the one cast aside and dejected—like the lame man previously had been, sitting and left behind at the gate.

(We already talked last week about 3:6 and “Nazareth” being the place where Jesus would have understood and felt the rejection and humiliation of being discarded and disregarded.)

And now look at some more specifics of this humiliation as well:

V. 13, He was betrayed (ESV, “delivered over”) and “denied” (repudiated, refused, renounced).

V. 14 again, Jesus was “denied” (same word) and, worse, he was regarded better as locked up and imprisoned than even a “murderer” (i.e., Barabbas). — The Greek putting it that Barabbas’s release was considered a FAVOR among the people!

Second, notice that people had done the work—but God had done all the planning long before.

(He’s the God “of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob,” v. 13. The God of the patriarchs and fathers, of many many generations and centuries ago.)

(He’s the God of the patriarchs—and he’s the God, v. 15, who “raised [Jesus] from the dead!”)

So he planned the humiliation of Jesus in a long succession of covenant forebears—and he carried Jesus to the victory and accomplishment of the resurrection!

And third, it was out of the “ignorance” of the crowds (v. 17) that all this happened and was carried out. (What Peter in 1 Peter 1:14 calls “willful blindness” and unknowing.)

APPLY: so do you feel shame or embarrassment this morning?

Do you feel like the weight of your guilt or your past are undoing you and making you unworthy of a friend, let alone a Savior?

If that is you—then I want you to know Jesus today!

I want you to know Jesus setting you free, as HE was set free!

I want you to know him picking you up, and brushing you off, and giving you his love and his life and his favor and rest.

He is the Author of Life, v. 15—dead one day, but Holy and Righteous and God’s “servant,” v. 13.

He was raised, the Author of Life not being kept in the grave—and God glorified Jesus, and he will glorify you, too!

So why would you look to Peter’s power or piety (as Peter himself asks)?

Or why would you look and compare yourself to anyone even in this room this morning?

It’s not the power of any person or mere human who raised Jesus from the dead—just as it was no person or human raising the man so that he could walk!

If you would want to rise up and stand in a new life—then look this morning to the power of a JESUS who is risen and who SITS in all authority and power at the very right hand of God on high!

VI.

Just notice here the effects of the living and risen Jesus.

Peter promises seasons of “refreshing” (v. 19) for those who repent and turn to the risen Christ.

He promises “restoration” too—which pictures, in the full range of the Greek word, a “catching of breath” and “revival” and a “release (of burden).”

Also, there’s the “blotting out” of sin that longtime Christians may regularly think of, as a result of Jesus’ power and work.

We might not think of “refreshment” or “restoration”—but we think definitely of cancelation and remission of sins!

But why don’t we also consider our evangelistic and missional place in the world to be “refreshing” too, or “restoring?”

We can give our answer sometimes for the hope that is in us—and maybe we resort to shouting, and tearing, and “kicking teeth” until people listen to us and convert.

But what does it look like instead to bring “refreshing” and “revival?”

It might mean all the difference.

And where this sermon and gospel message again particularly follows the healing of the lame man:

The gospel means reception, v. 21. It means welcome, it means being held and not let go.

3:5 last week, the man held out his hand expecting a reception (same word) of some coin or handout.

And instead, by 3:21, we’re learning that he’s received into the very hands of the Jesus who raised him.

The song on Christian radio these days says it:

Your name is power, your name is healing,

Your name is life.

That’s Jesus!

VII.

To close:

The man and the crowd receive Peter’s message—but the temple authorities shut it down in suspicion.

Acts 4:1–4 ESV

1 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

They’re not coming out to oppose the healing of the man! (Who would do that??)

But they’re coming out against the “proclaiming” of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.

—The Sadducees of course not believing in the resurrection at all, Acts 23:8.

And so I just want to point out:

Notice that the healed man has been “leaping” and “walking” and been set free—but here, the apostles Peter and John are chained and locked down and imprisoned.

So I want to close by talking about the Great Exchange.

(It’s a connection that Luke makes here in contrast—the lame man leaping, while the apostles are carted off and arrested.)

The Great Exchange:

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

How is this coming to light in the passage?

It’s interesting how Luke does it...

He retraces several Greek word usages, so that the apostles sink down while the man is raised to new life and healing:

4:1, the Sadducees “came upon” Peter and John…and 3:11 (same Greek word), the crowd “ran together” at them.

4:3, the officials “arrested” the apostles…and 3:7, Peter “took [the lame man] by the right hand.”

And 4:3, they “put [the apostles] in custody”…and 3:2, the man was “laid” at the temple gate.

Peter and John are chained down…so that the man can run free.

They take on his previous sick condition, so that he is forever set loose and healed.

The Great Exchange...

Jesus takes on our sin, our guilt, our condemnation…and we receive his righteousness, his mercy, his goodness.

So there are sights, suspicions…and sounds:

Acts 4:4 ESV

4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

Peter had said, quoting Moses:

The ones who hear (listen to, understand) the prophet will receive blessing.

And here—5,000 “hear” the word, and they believe and are added to the people!

If you’re running the math in Acts—that’s now 2,000 added at Pentecost, and here another 5,000 believed and were added in the lame man’s healing.

(5,000 being the same number that Jesus received and refreshed and fed on the hill, too, with the five loaves and two fish.) Luke 9:16

Times of refreshing and reception, Peter preached.

The ones who “hear” the prophet (who listen to him), says Peter quoting Moses, Deut. 18:18-19, will receive blessing—whereas the ones not listening will be “cut off.” (The opposite of being received.)

“Blessing,” Peter also says, quoting from the patriarchal covenant promise to Abraham, Genesis 22:18.

“Blessing for your offspring”—and a man, who was born as offspring, born crippled and lame, later ran into the temple and covenant people all the while!

So sights, sounds, and suspicions.

This morning, leave the suspicions at the door.

Enter the people of God. Find heaven’s welcome and freedom there.

Be refreshed, received, and restored—finding your sins, this morning, “blotted out.”

And hear Christ’s word of promise, and see him, betrayed, crucified, and raised for you.

Amen.

Theme of closing prayer:

Proverbs 18:10 ESV

10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

Benediction:

Romans 15:13 ESV

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.