ETB Acts 3:12-26

Session 4 - p.37 - Placed

In His providence, God puts us in positions to share the gospel. While we will probably never experience the kind of miracle that John and Peter experienced in Acts 3, we must be ready to share what Jesus has done for us when we get the chance. The miracle of regeneration performed by the Holy Spirit and the work of sanctification that He continues in our lives are just as much a cause for praise as the miracle experienced by the man at the temple gate. [LifeWay Adults (2024). Explore the Bible: Adult Leader Guide, Spring 2024]

Sometimes an opportunity to share God’s work in our lives catches unaware or unprepared and time goes by “unredeemed.” Other times, we see the chance and take full advantage of it.

Ask: How have you experienced being in the right place at the right time? How did you recognize God’s hand in that situation? (PSG, p. 37)

Transition: We might be tempted to think some occurrences are just “happy coincidences,” but God doesn’t deal in coincidences. He guides every step of our lives out with detail. In today’s session, we’ll see how being sensitive to the Holy Spirit can lead to more opportunities for divine appointments to share Christ.

Understand the Context

In a continuation of the practice reported in Acts 2, the Christian believers were still visiting the temple for regular times of prayer. It should be noted that the members of the early church were not going up to the temple for sacrifice. Jesus had already presented Himself as the final sacrifice, so offering animals was no longer necessary. Instead, the Christians in Jerusalem would visit the temple to focus on prayer and evangelism.

One day, Peter and John were heading into the temple for one of these prayer meetings when they encountered a man who had been unable to walk his entire life. Someone had placed him at the Beautiful Gate, one of the primary entries for the temple, and he had been begging from people as they approached (Acts 3:2). When the apostles came along, Peter told the man that they had no money to give. Instead, Peter gave him so much more. In Jesus’s name, he commanded the beggar to get up and walk (3:6). The man immediately obeyed, and he quickly went from walking to leaping, praising God the whole time (3:8). [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

I think one of the key verses to explain the context and content of Peter’s oration is verse 2

Acts 3:2 “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.”

All those coming to the temple through that gate regularly would know of this man. Some had probably given him money or gifts. He was there “every day.” Those who had taken the time to look at him would see the visible deformity preventing him not only from working but from going any further onto the Temple grounds. No, this same man is walking, leaping, praising God, and inside the Temple court. Some are probably asking that same question from our first study in acts “What does this mean?”

Peter was sensitive the situation and the opportunity God had presented to him for God’s glory and Jesus’ magnification and seized it.

Explore the Text

Acts 3:12–16 ESV

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.

v.12-13

Peter saw it

The apostle recognized the astonishment that they had at the lame man now healed, because he probably had a similar reaction the first time Jesus’ had healed in front of him. He also recognized the power of the miracle making a soul ready to hear and receive the gospel message.

This is not something everyone it capable of perceiving. There are certain people that we are close too, like our wives and kids, that we can tell something is “off” without them saying a word, but perceiving this in total strangers is a gift of the Spirit and should not be ignored.

Why do you wonder at this?

Why are you surprised at God’s working? Were you not coming to Temple to see and hear from God? Or are you surprised that God did something for this man instead of you?

Verse 11 stated that the people in the temple were astonished. Peter used a similar Greek word when he questioned the people’s amazement. He also took advantage of this captivated audience to share the gospel. Our lives should be amazing to others, as well. We might never heal a lame man, but we can draw people’s attention through lives that point others to Jesus. [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

Why do you stare at us?

Do you continue to ascribe God’s power to men?

I like that Peter and John immediately confronted this incorrect perspective. They knew if a scribe or a pharisees had done something they would expect credit, so these apostles quickly redirected the credit towards God and Christ.

I wonder if part of the apostle’s being quick to redirect credit appropriately is in part fear of losing their authority like Moses did.

Numbers 20:12 “12 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.””

Maintaining God’s holiness before others is key to allowing Him to work in their lives. If we, who are His, do not honor and protect His name, those who are not His will have even less regard for it.

as though by our own power or piety

This phrasing directly confronts the “works based” philosophy still prevalent today. We cannot “do” God’s work, only He can. But when He does, we have no claim to it even if He did/does give us the authority to do it in His name. We are merely stewards, ambassadors, and slaves.

The God of our fathers

Peter and John are Jews, talking to Jews. We may consider the apostles and the growing congregation as “Messianic Jews” as they will not be labeled as “Christian” for a few more chapters. This is one of the ways that Peter was making a connection with those that he was speaking to. This healing was done by the God “we” worship and He wants to do any even greater healing in your life.

That is the same God that we still worship today, although from a Gentile perspective. We have the advantage of both New and Old Testaments being written down so that we can learn about the God of “their” fathers, and “our” spiritual heritage.

Today when we use the word “God” it does not often build connections but separates. First, we have to make sure that we are both speaking about God with a “big G” and not just a deity of man’s making. Once that is done, then we have to speak about the God of the Bible and not some other source. I am grateful that my dad and I worship the same God, and that my daughter also worships Jesus. But there are many today who could not use this phrase “the God of our fathers.”

Peter and John recognized that all those that would be in the Temple at least had some semblance of a common religious belief and so they built upon that knowledge to make connections with their past and the truths of Christ in that day.

glorified His servant Jesus

Our God, resurrected bodily the man you called Jesus to prove that He was His servant and to show He was God. Peter points toward the divinity of Christ as the only means of God’s redemptive plan. Then he points them toward their sin.

whom you delivered over and denied

So far in Acts, every time Peter has talked to a group this is the sin he has mentioned. Not that it was the only sin in their lives, but it was a common one among all those listening that were not saved yet.

When we present the gospel message to others we must be specific too. A general acknowledgement of being sinful is okay, but when a specific sin can be identified then this is something that God can use directly to penetrate their heart and bring conviction. Most non-believers will agree with you that they are not perfect, even if they do not call it sin. Much fewer would admit that they are liars or false witnesses.

The first sin Peter draws attention to is their falsely accusing Jesus, but then when the ruling courts of the day (in this case Pilate) confronted them with this by declaring Jesus legally innocent, they continued to “deny” the truth and reject Jesus by asking for Barabbas to be released.

v.14-15

you denied the Holy and Righteous One

Peter reiterates the same truth again using words from the Old Testament that described the Messiah.

Peter did not skirt the issue of the Jews’ responsibility in Jesus’s death. Christ had been denied by those who claimed to be living righteous lives (v. 13). They believed that they were set apart because they were loyal to the law. In reality, their righteousness amounted to nothing because they had missed the One who truly was holy and righteous. [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead

God raised Jesus to display His power over death and sin. Peter and the other apostles were witnesses to the resurrected Christ and shared what they knew from experience. One great irony of the Christian faith is that the Jews’ failure to recognize their Messiah led to His death. In an even greater irony, His death paved the way for everyone’s eternal life. [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

Peter circled back to his original point again that proves his claims about Jesus and their sin. “They killed” but God “raised.” God overcame your sinful actions by raising Jesus back to life. This same power overcoming of death is now being displayed through this formerly lame man dancing about. God has undone what evil in the world had caused and now offers the same for your souls.

Exalting Jesus in Acts The Explanation of the Miracle

In 3:15 Peter refers to the Lord as the author or “source” of life. This covers both physical and spiritual life. As Creator of all life, God sometimes works through miracles, but more often he provides for the needs of the ailing human body through farmers, pharmacists, and surgeons. The doctrine of providence teaches that God cares for his creation, and he sustains it. Whether you eat because you raised chickens or because you drove through the Chick-fil-A line, the Lord of life is to be praised. And whether your condition cleared all at once in the midst of a prayer meeting or was alleviated over time through the use of antibiotics and a medical procedure, God deserves glory for your healing.

Acts: An Expositional Commentary Grappling with Sin

We need to realize that we are all to blame for the death of Christ in one way or another. Even though we were not there at the time Jesus was arrested, tried, and crucified, it was our sins that took him there. And if Jesus were here today, we would spurn him today, just as the masses of Israel spurned him in Jerusalem long ago.

v.16

by faith in His name

For us in the modern Western culture, that word “name” does not carry the same impact as for those in the Middle East or the Biblical era.

CSB Study Bible: Notes Chapter 3

The Greek noun onoma means name and has several uses, such as the following. (1) It is used for proper names of persons and places. (2) In Rv 3:1 onoma is rendered “reputation,” as in the expression he has made a name for. (3) It also occurs in the sense of title, as in Mt 10:41 (the literal in the name of a prophet means “because he is a prophet” or “because he has the title prophet”). In Heb 1:4 onoma refers to “Son” as the name or title that is more excellent than the angels’ (see vv. 2, 5, 8), and in Php 2:9 the “name that is above every name” is the title “Lord” (kurios), as explained in v. 11. (4) Finally, the NT often demands that believers act for, or in the name of, Jesus Christ. The phrase “in Jesus’s name” is not a mystical formula attached to the end of a prayer. It’s an expression of faith that identifies the person whom believers serve (Mt 18:20; Ac 2:38).

It is faith because of who He is, who God identified Him as, the authority that God put on Him, the power that comes through that name, and the promises of an eternal future with Him. This is the “faith” that saves, otherwise Jesus is just a word.

It really does not matter how we “self identify.” What does God call us? Does He say we are His? If so it is because of our faith in His name - Jesus Christ, Son of God.

After showing the people the truth of the situation they had seen and where in, the apostle now tells them what they can do about it.

Acts 3:17–21 ESV

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.

v.17-18

now brothers

Even though those gathered around him had sinned and acted against the one he worshipped, he still considered them family and gives them grace as such.

Opening Up Acts Peter Offers Them Hope in Christ (vv. 17–18)

Before the good news can be proclaimed, the bad news of sin must be explained. Unless we know we are sinners, we will see no need for a saviour.

I know acted in ignorance

I do not blame you for your actions, you are sinners and have acted like it, just like the people you learned these actions from.

The Moody Bible Commentary b. The Message of Peter (3:12–26)

Peter distinguished here between “sins of ignorance” and “intentional sins,” a distinction that his listeners would understand. Under the law, atonement was available for sins committed “in error” (a better translation than sins committed “unintentionally”) on the basis of human weakness (including, for example, lying, theft, and fraud; Nm 15:24; Lv 6:1–7) but not the sin of deliberate, calculated rebellion against God (Nm 15:30–36), a type of sin called “the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit” in the NT.

One dictionary translates this as “sinful want of knowledge.” They chose to be without the knowledge they needed to prevent from acting sinfully.

Have you ever chose not to be “informed” so that you could act according to your desires?

Ignorance of this time starts with ignoring the facts or truths.

Have you ever “ignored” God’s prompting or the Spirit’s reminding of His Word?

Whether our ignorance of God’s will is by lack of knowledge or by choice, it does not prevent God from His work.

But God

Probably my favorite word combination in Scripture. Even though you acted unrighteously and against God’s will, it was not out of God’s control and sovereign plan.

Acts of ignorance and sin led to the fulfillment of God’s plan. God stands sovereign over all things, and He has the divine ability to orchestrate His purposes apart from any human action. This is a part of His providence, His unseen work to bring about our good and His glory.

God’s sovereignty and human responsibility, while seemingly contradictory, are actually compatible. This reality can be seen throughout the Bible whenever God used human beings to accomplish His purposes. One of the clearest cases is in the story of Joseph, where his brothers’ plan to destroy his life was used by God to save an untold number of lives. This included the lives of Joseph’s brothers and their families (Gen. 50:20). [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

I think that this sovereignty may explain in part why the man was not healed by Jesus one of the several times He came to temple. God’s immediate plan could have healed the man and maybe led a few to believe, but many of those who saw Jesus’ miracles did not stay disciples. But by Christ passing by this man, and maybe even Peter & John several times up until this day, the healing will now have it maximum effect and lead 5000+ to saving faith in Christ.

foretold by the prophets

Like in last week’s lesson, Peter points the crowd back to the Scriptures and their common belief in God’s Word. Reminding them not only of the sovereign plan of God but also His redemptive plan for them.

v.19-20

Repent, turn back, that you sins be blotted out

Two weeks ago, in our studies Peter said, “Repent, be baptized, be forgiven, receive the Holy Spirit.” Although the wording and process named is slightly different it is still very focused on Christ’s redemptive work needing to be accepted by faith. For this group apparently the Spirit is prompting Peter to talk more about the need for the removal of their sins.

Blotted out (CSB: wiped out)

The original Greek means to erase, cancel, or obliterate. The removal is complete. [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

It is more that though, if God is doing it, then it is perfectly erased.

I am sure that you all have used pencils and erased mistakes. Some typewriters would do it too. If you did any drafting with ink on mylar or vellum, then you may have used a mechanical eraser to get rid of those mistakes. But in every one of those ways, there is still a remnant or a trace of the mistake if you look at the paper or media closely. God’s blotting out is more like my drafting on the computer - perfect eraser. If you delete a line or arc in CAD, there is no trace of that entity to be found. It is completely gone down to the last pixel. That’s God’s kind of wiping out - no trace. As far as the east from the west, and all points in between it cannot be found.

The Applied New Testament Commentary Peter Speaks to the Onlookers (3:11–26)

In this verse we see the unlimited grace and mercy of God. These Jews had just put to death God’s only Son. But now if they repent and turn to God, He will forgive them and wipe away their sins (see Acts 2:38 and comment). They had just taken Christ’s life, but God is ready to give them life—if they repent.

That can truth can be a powerful help to those who “think” they are too far away from God or have done things that are “unforgivable.” Show them these verses. Through Peter, God declares these people killed His Son, and He is offering them forgiveness, whatever the one you are talking with will not be able to compare with that and may find a great hope in that truth.

If you had been living under the sacrificial system like these Jews had, constantly being reminded of your sin and how you did not measure up and you needed to “pay” (financially and religiously) for your atonement, this kind of “blotting out” would be such a release from that burden. Peter alludes to that in the next phrase.

times of refreshing

When we come to Jesus, we come on His terms, leading to a time of rest and refreshing. Luke’s wording suggests a person who was suffocating finding relief from a breath of fresh air. That’s the kind of life-giving renewal God offers those who come to Him. [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

v.21

times of restoring

While Jesus’s immediate work in our lives brings refreshment (v. 20), His ultimate goal for us (and all of creation) is restoration. The word here suggests a return to what is appropriate, and it is used nowhere else in Scripture. The precise time of restoration is unknown (Acts 1:7), but that does not affect our commission to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth (1:8). [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

Jesus will not keep reminding you of your sins but will continue to cleanse and release you from them with His forgiveness and restore you to fellowship with God.

1 John 1:9 “9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Not some times, but every time we confess. Not some sins, every sin. And if we are cleansed from “all unrighteousness” then we are made “all righteous” by His works as well. That work is still very refreshing and restorative today.

Peter then goes back again to reminding the people of the Scriptures and explaining how they are to be understood.

Acts 3:22–26 ESV

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.”

v.22-23

Ask: What teachings of Moses pointed to Jesus? Why was it important for Peter to point to Moses, Samuel, and the other prophets?

Moses, Abraham, and the Prophets are the most respected and revered people in the Old Testament, especially to the Jews. Peter uses their words to remind the people that what had happened over these last few months was written down by these faithful men to help them recognized God’s Servant, Son, and Lord when He came.

You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you

Peter was not claiming to be this prophet but pointing to Jesus as the one they needed to “listen to”. These are words from their “greatest prophet” speaking about the “Greater Prophet” to come, which Peter now proclaims to them that they killed.

every soul who does not listen ... shall be destroyed

God cannot only perfectly erase your sins, He can erase you. That is what Peter is inferring with this quote. You can come to Him in repentance or you can be removed from Him in your sin. The one you have been waiting for centuries has come, and you murdered Him, but God will forgive you and remove that sin from you if you come to Him, otherwise Him must, as a Holy God, destroy you utterly and completely.

That’s still the same message today. Every rejection and mockery of Christ can be forgiven, but forgiveness must be asked for and repentance must be in faith or the penalty is the same - total separation, perfect eraser, from God’s Kingdom.

v.24-26

Sons of the prophets, sons of the covenant

Peter’s last connection with the people is between them and their ancestral responsibility. The prophets proclaimed God’s word to both Jew and Gentile. The covenant established with Abraham was ultimately for all peoples as well.

Galatians 3:8 “8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.””

God had chosen the Jewish people to be His, not because they were better (as they were falsely taught) but because they were “first.” God came to Abraham first, then Lot. God blessed Isaac first, over Esau. God blessed Jacob first, then Laban. God blessed Joseph first, then Egypt. Jesus came to the Jew first, and now those that Peter is speaking to have the responsibility to either accept their role as God’s conduit of blessing to the nations or reject Him with all its ramifications.

This would only be possible if the people listen to and heeded the prophets and the Scripture and turned from their wickedness.

Acts: An Expositional Commentary An Appeal for Repentance

Where our English text has Peter encouraging his listeners to “turn to God” (v. 19), the Greek text actually says “flee to God.” That was probably intended to suggest a powerful image. In Israel there were cities set aside from other cities as “cities of refuge.” If an Israelite accidentally killed someone else, he could flee to one of these cities and there be protected from an avenger of blood, a relative of the deceased who might try to kill him in retaliation. These cities were not to protect real murderers. If somebody intentionally killed someone, well, he was to be tried and punished, as he should be. But if the killing was accidental—if it was what we would call “manslaughter” rather than “murder in the first degree”—then the killer could flee to the city and be protected there.

Jesus is our only City of Refuge we can go to from God’s wrath. A person would only be protected in that city until the High Priest died. In Christ, we have an eternal High Priest and eternal protection. That is the imagery which Peter is trying to communicate.

The Greek word translated as “wickedness” is connected with the word for “pain.” While all sin leads to pain (and even death, Rom. 6:23), we sometimes ignore the consequences of our actions and attitudes or pretend the rules don’t apply to us.

Today, the idea of personal evil is not popular. We tend to shift blame to our environment, friends, or families. We also compare our sins, saying we’re not as bad as others. In the Bible, though, sin is more than simple mistakes or errors in judgment. Sin is a violation of God’s perfect law and rebellion against the perfect Lawgiver. [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

Although the message came to the Jew first, it was by the end of the book we are study, distributed to the Gentile as well. Now all peoples who read and hear Peter’s words are responsible for the truths within them. Repentance and acceptance of Christ is now for all peoples, and equally the consequences for rejecting Him. We must be sensitive to the Spirit like Peter was, to recognize when God is working in those around us and get involved with His work by pointing them to the Scriptures and His Son as often as He gives us opportunity.

Exalting Jesus in Acts The Explanation of the Miracle

The lame man’s healing is a powerful reminder that Jesus is the source of life. He gives life! Jesus heals the disabilities of the human heart!

The physical complete healing of a birth defect is a spiritual picture of our spiritual life needing Christ’s healing as well. It is only through His power and Name that our spiritual defect can be perfectly erased for eternity.

Apply the Text

Sometimes we only have a moment or two with a person, other times we may encounter a non-believer on a regular basis.

We have studied two examples now of how Peter sought to build a common rapport with his audience.

In what ways can you build bridges with unbelievers as you seek to point them to Jesus?

What must we be careful not to do while trying to make this “connection” with people?

[Lifeway Adults (2024). Explore the Bible: Adult Personal Study Guide - CSB - Summer 2024. Lifeway Press. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]

Pray: We will be attuned to opportunities to share Christ and that we would be bold when given the chance to witness.