Acts - 3 1-10 - A Miracle to Confirm the Word

Teacher Notes

Acts 3 : 1 – 10 — A Miracle to Confirm the Word

Lesson 11

The Lord knew His ministry needed confirmation: He both said and did mighty works. In the same way, the early church received sign-gifts to authenticate its mission.

Hebrews 2 : 3–4 — “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation… God also bearing witness… with signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit.”

When the apostles—the foundation (Ephesians 2 : 20)—passed from the scene, so did their confirmatory gifts.

After Pentecost about 3,000 believed; by Acts 4 that number had grown to 5,000. Miracles were God’s public endorsement of the gospel in its earliest days.

Healing and Sign-Gifts

The gift of healing (1 Cor 12) was given to the apostles. When they were gone, the gift ended.

Satan can mimic healing (Matthew 7 : 22), even invoking Jesus’ name.

Much modern “healing” is simple fraud.

Scriptural pattern:

The gift was confined to apostles and prophets and to that era.

New-Testament healings were never performed merely for unbelievers’ comfort; they functioned as signs to validate the message (cf. Acts 19 : 11).

Those delivered from evil spirits confessed sin and destroyed their magic scrolls. After conversion, they no longer needed external signs.

James 5 : 14 links healing with confession among Jewish Christians—a covenant reminder of Exodus 15 : 26 (“If you walk in holiness, I will keep you healthy”). As Israel later fell away, the phenomenon faded, and post-apostolic letters say nothing more about a continuing healing gift.

Structure of Acts 3 : 1 – 10

The Scene

Peter and John, frequent companions, go to the temple at the ninth hour (3 p.m.), one of Judaism’s three daily prayer times (the others were 9 a.m. and sunset).

They enter through the Beautiful Gate—about 75 ft high and 60 ft wide.

2. The Sign

A genuine miracle meets four tests: Sovereign, Supernatural, Sudden, Sufficient.

Verses 4–5: Peter and John fix their gaze on the lame man; he expects alms but receives a miracle.

Verse 7: Healing is instant and complete—Christ’s power, Peter’s hands. “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon” (Judges 7 : 18) illustrates God working through human instruments.

3. The Sequel

Verses 8–9: The man leaps, shouts, and praises God—startling the solemn worshippers. True worship erupts from the one who has just experienced grace.

Verse 10: The crowd cannot deny the miracle. It fulfills Isaiah 35 : 6: “Then will the lame man leap like a deer.” It is a public sign that the Messianic Age has dawned.

4. The Sermon

God uses the gathered crowd for Peter’s next message (vv. 11 ff.). The miracle validated the Word; the Word will now interpret the miracle.

Student Notes

Acts 3 : 1 – 10 — A Miracle to Confirm the Word

Lesson 11

3 : 1 — The apostles head to the temple for prayer. Judaism’s three prayer hours were:

Early morning (around 9 a.m.)

Ninth hour (3 p.m.)

Sunset Luke’s wording pictures them walking purposefully toward the temple.

Why remain in Jerusalem?

Luke 24 : 49 and Acts 1 : 4 record Jesus’ order to “stay in Jerusalem” until empowered by the Spirit.

3 : 2–3 — A man lame from birth is set at the gate so donors may earn religious merit.

3 : 4–6 — Peter commands, “Look at us!” Expecting coins, the man hears instead: “In the **name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”

In Semitic thought, a name embodies the person. Speaking Jesus’ name releases His authority; when the man believes, the miracle occurs.

3 : 7–10 — Instant healing. The man’s exuberance fills the temple courts with wonder and amazement—an early token of the greater Messianic restoration foretold in Isaiah 35 : 6 (“Then will the lame leap like a deer”).