Acts 3

· (Alms) elee?mosune? = Charity, donation to the poor

Act 3:1 Now Peter and John were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

Act 3:2 And a certain man that was lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the door of the temple, which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

Here’s a man who has spent his whole life paralyzed from the legs down. He was totally dependent on others charity for his own survival, Now notice Luke the physician could've just mentioned that this man was paralyzed, but he added that he was that way not because of an accident but was that way since birth.

This analogy brings up other biblical truths to keep in mind. Here is a man who born with a certain ailment, he’s paralyzed!! He could’ve just as well been mentally handicapped or blind. It doesn’t matter. The world will see people like that and ask, “If there was a God how could he let this happen?”

But there is something I want you to keep in mind. Genesis 3:17 says: That the earth is cursed. So some will end up blind, or handicapped, or deaf. However God has a plan for them. Just as he has a plan for you. He had a plan for this man. From eternity past he knew that the Apostle Peter and John would run into this man that day. At 3:00pm He knew that at 3:00pm that mans life would change for ever.

So this man went through the same routine that he did everyday. He asked for charity so that he could eat and clothe himself. Maybe he even gave money to whoever he was staying with. However he didn't know that today he had won the God lottery. In the infancy time period of the church God did miracles though men who had the temporary gift of healing.

Act 3:3 who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked to receive an alms.

Act 3:4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him, with John, said, Look on us.

So Peter looked at the paralyzed man and said: “Epecho that is Pay attention!!!

Act 3:5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something from them.

· (Heed) epecho? = 1) to have or hold upon, apply, to observe, attend to give attention to

Act 3:6 But Peter said, Silver and gold I have none; but what I do have to give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!!!

Peter said I don't have any silver or gold but there is something far better I have for you. “In the name of Jesus Christ WALK!!!”

Act 3:7 And he took him by the right hand, and raised him up: and immediately his feet and his ankle-bones received strength.

Act 3:8 And leaping up, he stood, and began to walk; and he entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

So this man was looking for provisional help that is money for food, shelter, and clothing and God provided much more. Think about it: Think about someone who has just lost their job. They received their last unemployment check from the government and they spent their last bit of money buying groceries for their family. Then picture that person go home to find that the bank has foreclosed on their house. They are hopeless. That person has no money, nowhere to go, and their about to lose their house.

Then picture someone coming around paying off their mortgage, and giving them 10 million dollars to retire on.

For someone in that situation their would be an overwhelming sense of gratitude. This person's life was transformed instantly. Then think about how that persons neighbor would react? The poorest family on the block, probably doesn't even maintain their yard very well. Now their house is paid off, they have a for rent sign in the yard and they are moving to the rich side of town.

That would get a similar reaction to whats going on here. This cripple who had been carried to and from the temple everyday, totally helpless to society, could now be helpful.

Act 3:9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:

This man at that moment did the right thing. He didn't praise the Apostle Peter or the Apostle John. He praised God. How many times to we take this attitude in life? You get a new promotion. Do you praise God? Your expecting a child? Do you praise God? You are living through another winter and your warm, another summer and your in the nice A/C. Do you praise God? Do you stop and say? “Father thank you for all your provision. Look what Jesus say concerning our provision. Turn to Matt 6:32

28?And why are ye anxious concerning clothes? Consider the wildflowers of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29?yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30?But if God doth so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31?Be not therefore anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32?For after all these things do the Gentiles seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things. 33?But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

American Standard Version. 1995 (Mt 6:28). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Jesus promises that God the Father will provide for his children in His timing. We are spoiled in America today but do we stop and thank God? The cripple did. You say: “Yeah but he was healed from being cripple!”

That's true. You have never in your life been cripple do you thank God for that?

9?And all the people saw him walking and praising God: 10?and they took knowledge of him, that it was he that sat for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him. 11?And while he clung to Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.

12?And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why do you stare at this man? or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him to walk?

Notice something right now. Peter is quick to deflect any attention of himself and give God all the glory. He wasn't in the ministry for himself.

13?The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Servant Jesus; whom you delivered up, and denied before the face of Pilate, when he had determined to release him. 14?But you denied the Holy and Righteous One,(the Holy One, a title of Messiah (Ps. 16:10; Isa. 31:1; cf. Mark 1:24; 1 John 220); Righteous One (Isa. 53:11; Zech. 9:9; cf. 1 John 2:1); and the Prince (Author) of Life (Ps. 16; cf. Heb. 2:10; 12:2)

Tom Constable. (2003; 2003). Tom Constable's Expository Notes on the Bible (Ac 3:12). Galaxie Software.

and asked for a murderer to be granted unto you, (v. 14; Luke 23:18–19). 15?and killed the Prince of life; whom God raised from the dead; which we are witnesses.

How gracious is God! Here are people that chose to pardon a murderer instead of the creator himself. (Col 1:16) and yet God the Holy Spirit still sent Peter and John to give the gospel to them. Yet we still have Christians today that say to be saved from hell you must Accept Christ as savior and make him Lord of your life. After all the things these Jews did God still cared enough to send his gospel message to these Jews even after the crucifixion. And yet Christian Pastors are still trying to muddy the waters and say you have to live a good life. Do this and that, live this way or that way, or you must not truly be saved.

Well this is important so pay attention. “If you have believed that Jesus Christ is God and that he has paid for your sins. You are saved. And furthermore you CANNOT sin your way to hell. You can lose eternal rewards but once your in your in. The baptist use to say “Once saved always saved.” John 10:29. Jesus puts it best he says. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand.?c? 30 The Father and I are one.”

16?And by faith in his name his name itself has made this man strong, whom you behold and know: yes, the faith which is through him hath given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you. 17?And now, brethren, I know that in ignorance you did it, as did also your rulers. 18?But the things which God foreshowed by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled.

Remember the Old Testament scripture that foreshadowed that Christ would suffer.

Isaiah 53 “He was wounded for our transgressions he was pierced for our iniquities. upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.

The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. 1989 (Is 53:5). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

All we like sheep have gone astray;

we have all turned to our own way,

and the Lord has laid on him

the iniquity of us all.

The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. 1989 (Is 53:6). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

19? Change your mind therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that so there may come seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord; 20?and that he may send the Christ who hath been appointed for you, Jesus: 21?whom the heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, whereof God spake by the mouth of His holy prophets that have been from of old. 22?Moses indeed said, A prophet shall the Lord God raise up unto you from among your brethren, like unto me. To him shall ye hearken in all things whatsoever he shall speak unto you. 23?And it shall be, that every soul that shall not listen to that prophet, shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.

Here Jesus is portrayed as the “New Testament Moses” in fulfillment of Deuteronomy 18:15-19 (cf. John 6:14). Christ will come not only with deliverance as Moses did, but He will also judge as Moses did (cf. Lev. 23:29 with Deut. 18:19; also cf. Num. 14:26-35).

cf. confer, compare

Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (2:362). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

24?Yes and all the prophets from Samuel and them that followed after, as many as have spoken, they also told of these days. 25?You are the sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.(Gen 12:3) 26?Unto you first God, having raised up his Servant, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.

American Standard Version. 1995 (Ac 3:8). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

So God the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Peter used the Perfect scenario to setup an opportunity for giving the gospel. He used a totally helpless cripple (a physical problem) which God healed. However the cripple is a good analogy for all unsaved mankind. Eph 2:5 states that unsaved mankind is dead in their sins. And John 3:36 says that all who do not accept Christ the Wrath of God abides in them. They will be thrown into the lake of fire for all eternity.

God knew that all mankind was cripple due to Adams original sin. And yet God through Jesus Christ found a way to heal all who want to be healed. God will heal the soul of the unsaved (which is marked by eternal death) by blotting out all of their sins.

If you placed your faith in Jesus Christ your sins will never be brought up in any type of judgment. How could they? If they are paid for then they are paid in full. Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price. On the cross. He was the lamb without spot or blemish. He died with you in mind. I received an email and it asked everyone to personalize the salvation message. It said read John 3:16 but substitute words with “ME” and “I”

God so loved [me] he gave his only begotten son. [ that if I believe in him] I will not perish but have everlasting life.” Listen to what Paul says about it

1 Corinthians 15:4 For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, 4 and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures

So we who are believers in Jesus Christ were healed just like the cripple. We have a new destiny! We are no longer slaves to sin (Romans 6:14-19) we are now sanctified in Christ. Romans 1:7) Which means when God sees us he doesn't see sin he see's equital. A not guilty verdict. We are pardoned. And God the Father is satisfied with the payment (propitiation.1 John 2:2)