Peter Speaks

Pray and read the text Acts 3:11-19

Does anyone remember who the people are from last week?

take answers

They are the Israelites who witnessed the great miracle that God performed through Peter healing the paralyzed beggar.

Praise those who answer

The beggar formerly known as paralyzed “held on to Peter and John” or “clinged tightly.” Hes hugging and wont let go of Peter and John which aint that such a lovely realistic human reaction. The author of Acts, Luke, attaches a human emotional element.

I want you all to imagine not being able to walk for your whole life and your only job you can do is beg for money. This is how you get food and water. This is the way you get your needs met. Probably very rare that anyone gives you even a hug or makes eye contact.

Pause for them to think on this.

Suddenly instead of money you are healed! Taken up by the hand and can walk for the very first time! Wow!! I know that for me I would be overwhelmed with joy and gratitude and I would give Peter and John the biggest hugs ever in my whole life.

It says “all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade.”

Show them photo on your phone so they can visualize the setting.

Jesus our Lord and Savior taught here. The early church also gathered here when at the temple to listen to the Apostle’s teaching, our Bibles, to pray, and to fellowship.

Show them temple photo on phone.

The Temple was the most important place to gather for Jews and since most of the first Christians were children of Abraham and Israel aka Jacob its natural that they would gather as a Church body in the temple court. Solomons Portico on the east side near the front gate is where they often gathered.

The crowd was so amazed by the miracle that “they came running and Peter was one not to miss an opportunity to give praise to who did the real miracle of the healing: Peter gives credit where it is due and says” Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. Act 3:12–13. NIV Verse “16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.”

Peter didn't claim to have some super hero like power to heal because it was not by his hands that this man was healed it was the NAME and the POWER and the FAITH in Jesus that healed the beggar. Always give glory to God in all things because its not by us that miracles happen and people come to Christ and are saved. Its ALL BY GOD.

Last week I did a spiritual gifts test it was surprisingly different than it ever has been before. I usually get knowledge, faith, and teaching or knowledge, faith, and encouragement but this time for the first time in my journey with Jesus I tested helps, faith, and teaching. Shocked me but this is the work of God in my life its not by me its by the Holy Spirit. Yall maybe gonna think it sounds weird but I get joy in the Spirit when I set up the room for tonight and help clean up so the other leaders can use their gifts from God to minister to you kids and the youth downstairs. Knowing this comes from God and not myself means I need to be very careful not to be filled with pride and brag about how God uses me. Tell story about upsetting my wife and oldest daughter.

On this occasion I took too much pride in all the things God has blessed me in doing to help others in my family. I put my focus on myself instead of Jesus. I repented to God and apologized to family. Ok enough about me lets get back to the text.

Tonight's activity will be write a short message and share with us that message of the important things we want others to know about Jesus. Lets look at how Peter did this:

Read Acts 3:13-15

Acts 3:13–17 NIV

The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see. “Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders.

Peter meets them where they are at in their historical context and takes into account the people in the audience he is talking to. The audience is Israelites who were present at the trial and death of Jesus. He guides them to understand that they are sinners who out of ignorance killed their Messiah they had waited centuries for. Trinity moment for you Romy “Holy and Righteous One” in Isaiah refers to Yahweh and Peter giving this title to Jesus is calling him Yahweh.

Acts 3:18 NIV

But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer.

Peter tells them that Jesus coming and death was foretold by prophets in the Old Testament.

Acts 3:19 NIV

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,

Peter tells them what they can do to have forgiveness. The Gospel is this that Jesus was foretold by prophecy and lived and died suffering for our sins and that by faith in Him we can have forgiveness of sins. So for tonight's activity I want you write out what you think is important for others to know about Jesus and then share with us what you wrote.