Peters Second Sermon pt. 1 Acts 3:12-15

Introduction

During the Gospels, every time Jesus did a miracle it would draw a crowd. When Jesus got a crowd, he would always remind them that the miracle was deeper than a miracle, it was always about the mission.

Here in the book of Acts it is no different. We saw the first miracle of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and tongues drew a crowd of at least 3000 and after Peter preached a sermon and the Bible says that 3000 souls got saved, baptized and added to the church.

Here we see the second miracle in Acts, and now Peter has another opportunity to preach to the crowd gathered because of the once lame man who they saw for years sitting outside the temple begging for alms, now walking, leaping and praising God inside the temple.

Peter, who once denied Christ, will not miss an opportunity to share Christ and that is exactly what he is going to do.

Peter’s question to the crowd vs. 12

why marvel ye at this?

this reminds me of the apostles in Acts 1 where Jesus had just ascended to heaven and the angel asked them why they were staring up at heaven.

We must be careful that we don’t get caught up in the miracle that we miss the message.

Then he asks some more convicting questions

why look so earnestly on us, in our language he was asking why are you looking so expectant of us?

Why are you looking at us as though it was our own power or our own holiness that made this man walk?

We are nothing without the power of the Holy Spirit in our life.

remember the great commission say Acts 1:8 tells us that we receive power after the Holy Ghost comes upon us. The power comes from God and the apostles knew it.

There is only one man who lived on this earth who could heal on the merits of His holiness and that was Jesus Christ.

Peters message to the crowd vs 13a

The introduction of Christ

His use of the Patriarchs- Every one would’ve know Peter was talking about when he listed the patriarchs and then brought it closer to home by bringing in their fathers

The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, The God of our fathers has Glorified His Son Jesus

Twice God said towards Jesus this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.

Jesus even prayed that God would glorify him in his prayer found in John 17:1-5 “These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.”

If the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob glorified Jesus as the Son of God, then the Jewish people that walked the streets with Jesus for 3.5 years, and saw him do many miracles, should have been willing to glorify him as well.

Instead of Glorifying him, instead they put him on a trial that was thrown from the very beginning.

Pauls accusations vs 13b-15

They denied Jesus before Pilate

Look what Peter says “Whom ye delivered up, and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.

Matt 27:24 “When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.”

Pilate was determined to let Jesus go, but the crowd continued to cry crucify him, so pilate washed his hands of Jesus.

The Peter accuses them of denying the Holy One and the Just

He was Holy

We think about Isaiah in Isaiah 6:1-5 “In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: The whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”

Jesus was the Holy one who they denied because he wasn’t the Saviour they were expecting. They thought he would come and set up His throne and throw off Roman oppression, but he came as the saviour of the world.

He was Just

Jesus’ Testimony of Himself

John 8:46 “Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?”

John 8:29 “And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.”

Pilates Testimony of Jesus

John 18:38 “Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.”

Peters testimony of Jesus

1 Pet 2:22 “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:”

He goes on to tell them they chose a murdered over Jesus

Matt. 27:16-21 “And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.”

Then he tells them they killed the prince of life

Jesus is the creator and sustainer of life and they had killed him

John Phillips said this “ The enormity of their sin had to be brought home to them”

They weren’t worse then us, in fact every time we sin its like driving the nails back in to Jesus’ hands

Paul had to deal with their rejection of Christ, so that he could give them some good news.

Peters reminder that Jesus is alive vs. 15b

God raised Jesus from the dead!

May I remind you this morning that Jesus isn’t in the tomb any longer, he has won the victory over death and he has given us the victory over death. HE IS ALIVE!

Not only is he alive, but you are a witness of the resurrection

They had seen Jesus for 3.5 years, they had been there when they cried to crucify him, but they were also there when he rose from the dead.

They had passed by him in the 40 days he walked the earth after His ressurection, and I’m sure some of them had seen ascend to heaven.

If they were put on the witness stand they would have to purger themselves to say that Jesus was not alive.

Just as he was alive back then, he is still alive today and he is making intercession for those who are saved.

Conclusion

It would be a shame to go through life knowing that Jesus is real, that he died for your sins, and find yourself still denying him.

There is only one unpardonable sin and that is the sin of rejecting Christ as your saviour. Every person must make a choice where they spend their eternity. Will you choose to spend it separated from God in a place called hell? Or will you choose to trust in Christ and spend eternity with Him in Heaven?