Acts 3-3:1-6

The Beggar healed

The setting of chapter 3 takes place in the temple. This is the center of all Jewish worship. Something we see with the disciples is they made this a custom, to visit the temple. Why? This is would be the concentration of people who want to do what God wants them to do. It is the middle of the afternoon, about 3pm and Peter and John are going to the temple where they find a lame man.

Acts 3:1–3 ESV

1 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.

What this beggar was doing was smart. He was taking full advantage of religious and legal obligations to help the poor. Deuteronomy 15:11 “11 For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’” This isn’t anything new for us. We understand that God wants us to give out of our abundance. Many times we find ourselves with more than we need, so he expects us to give. All in all there are many scriptures, especially in the proverbs that talks about giving to the needy.

Peter and John find themselves face to face with this man and call his attention to them and give him the greatest thing they have.

Acts 3:4–7 ESV

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.

Something we can gain from this is that sometimes we have to take care of the physical needs before we can take care of the spiritual needs. Many times when Jesus would spend all day with the crowds He would feed the people before continuing His teachings. This is a concept he would teach concerning the final judgment in Matthew 25:35–36 “35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’” A person who is starving has no care to what you have to say until their belly is full. Same with this lame beggar, he would not have cared about what Peter and John had to say until his need was met.

When the beggar realized what had happened, he began praising God for what had happened.

Acts 3:8–10 ESV

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.

This is a man who had been unable to walk all his life and now for the first time he is able to walk. Imagine gaining a function that so many others take for granted. Peter and John were not going to let this opportunity be passed up.

Speech on Solomon’s Portico

Solomon’s Portico is quite literally a porch on the eastern side of the temple that was named after Solomon, the builder of the first temple. Early Christians would actually use the portico to meet. Peter made good use of the attention by beginning with the deity of Jesus.

Acts 3:11–16 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.

His words are very reminiscent of what he said on the day of pentecost. Something Peter does not discount is the importance of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to his audience. Even in his life, and ours, these men are very important figures and fathers of faith. He points to Jesus as being glorified yet delivered to death. Specifically, Pilate was going to let Jesus go because he found no fault, but the people would rather have a murderer set free than acknowledge Jesus is the Son of God. They denied who Jesus was and it was by Jesus’ power that this lame man was healed.

Acts 3:17–18 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.

Ignorance is simply the act of not knowing. The people in the moment acted in ignorance. They did not know what was happening but, that doesn’t change whether something is right or wrong. I can get pulled over for speeding but I don’t get out of a ticket just by saying “I dont know.” Peter tells them they only have to look to the prophets to find the truth in what he is saying. Jesus would suffer and die, just look at what the prophets have said. Peter would then quote several prophecies in the next passage.

Acts 3:19–26 ESV

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.”

Peter begins with a call to repentance. Repent from their ignorance. This is a change of heart and a change of action. The change of heart is towards Jesus, the change of action is coming out of ignorance. Peter begins by quoting Moses in Deuteronomy 18:15; 18-19 “15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. 19 And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.” This of course is talking about the coming Christ, but also how the people should respond to the coming Christ.

Peter would reference Samuel giving prophecy about Jesus all the way to Malachi. In some form or shape, they all prophesy about the coming kingdom, church, Messiah, prophet, or law. In the final words, Peter reminds the people of the promise given to Abraham and how they are that blessed generation.

Acts 3:25–26 ESV

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.”

This is a quote from Genesis 22:18 “18 and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”” Notice that Peter said “he came to you first,” meaning that this Jesus would be sent again throughout time. He would not be physically sent, but by the desertion of wickedness and more people putting on Christ, He would continue blessing generations until He comes again.