Peter in Acts

Peter in Acts Ch3

Good evening brethern and sisters in the hope that we share in our chapter for tonight, it shows the strengthening of the Apostles together, in their commitment to the service of the Lord Jesus Christ, since his Crucifixion. Here we have the two apostles Peter and John facing a significant experience in the temple. Also Peter presents his second message of salvation to those that were willing to listen to his words from Yahweh. His words continue the address that was given at Penticost and include a prophecy of the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

We have the introduction to the performing of a miracle (ch. 3:1-11) which we will see enabled Peter to preach to the people and exhort to them that they should change their ways. Peter and John went to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer. The regular hours of prayer, as inferred from and , were three in number,” known as “hours of prayer. The first, at 9am, coincided with the morning sacrifice at the third hour of the morning (Jewish day beginning at sunrise, about 6am), as seen in . The second was at the 6th hour, or at noon, and may have coincided with the thanksgiving for the chief meal of the day The third hour of prayer coincided with the evening sacrifice, at the ninth hour (; )

30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

The two apostles were going to the temple either to meet with the Christians()

And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

or to mingle with the devout Jews attending the temple prayers. They did not, apparently, have any plan or intention of doing any healing miracle. The temple was new and very beautiful. Solomon’s temple had long ago been destroyed by the Babylonians. It was rebuilt under great stress in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah with the help of Darius king of Medopersia.

However it was inferior to Solomon’s temple and the one Ezekiel saw in visions. Centuries later, about twenty years before Jesus came, work commenced to replace this temple with the magnificent structure still being completed at the time the disciples of Jesus admired it and Jesus accurately foretold its destruction ().

And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

There are in this short first verse some important things to note that unless we look closely we might miss, and in doing so not fully understand and appreciate the situation before us. For example the words “went up” is the Greek ‘anebainon’ which has the meaning of to leap up like the horse to trample an opponent, the apostles may not have intended to go out to heal, but they were going with a strong purpose to preach the gospel. Shown also in acts2 verse 46 which we read a moment ago. Also we note they went together This was as commanded by the Lord Jesus in and verse 7 that they may build each other up and support each other.

7 And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;

A message of fellowship and support that we too should take head.

2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; 3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. 4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

They came upon a man who having been lame from birth (ch. 4:22 tells us he was above 40years old, therefore he would have been around before Jesus) was carried, each day, to the temple gate, to ask alms.

Here we have a clear example of the state of society, a man not named and so represents all those in this state of not being able to be saved by the law, not able to walk in the way of righteousness, unless he received the blessing of the power of Yahweh. Also as it was from birth being lame so is all mankind until they are saved by the truth and there actions and the grace and gift of Yahweh.

The lame man would not have been expecting a miracle as I said Peter and John were not apparently intending to work a miracle either. His hope was to get, from kind passers-by, a little money to live on. Like everyone else, disabled people have bills to pay. Unlike everyone else, they may not be able to work. The last thing this man expected that day was to be made whole and would no longer be disabled!

Lame from birth. The man was "lame from his mother’s womb" as Luke describes it. All his life, from the day of his birth, his feet and lower legs were crippled and useless. So he never learned to walk or run or dance. He relied on other people to move him from place to place.

3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.

In verse 3 the word ‘about’ is the Greek word mellantas, meaning to think upon or to meditate, so as they were just going to enter the temple they meditated on what they were about to say, which gave opportunity for the beggar to be noticed.

The beggar took this waiting period as an opportunity to ask for alms, he may not have recognised the apostles, but with his age he would have been around for the teaching of jesus in the temple and the money changers being evicted. But also with his eyes down in humbleness, or being afraid, may not have noticed who they were.

‘Look at us’. Peter took a careful look at the man. Not every beggar is genuine. Again here we have some seemingly simple words that actually give great exhortation from Peter and Yahweh. The fastened eyes is atenisas in greek, to hold a strained attention, Peter was moved by the spirit to provide attention to this man and scrutinise him with his gaze. Then in reply asked the man to look back with the Greek word blepson, asking for a steady look back at them. They then looked intensely at each other with the exclusion of all that was round about them.

A great lesson to all those that seek to be saved, and have their sins forgiven and gain that great and precious gift, to fix their gaze on the truth and the face of the Lord jesus, which the exclusion of all else 2 cor 4 6

6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

The scriptures also state that the eyes of Yahweh are over the righteous 1 peter 3 12

12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

But unfortunately at this stage he did not fully understand who they were and what was to be offered, he then expected to receive alms after responding to Peters call. The same can be said of those who here the word but do no further work, and still expect to be saved.

6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

Peter told the man that they had neither money nor trinkets. But then came the gift he could not have expected:

“In the name of Yahshua [He who will be salvation] Christ [Anointed] of Nazareth [One separated] rise up and walk.”

More than silver or gold The man would have been delighted enough with a silver coin, but Peter didn't have one. Instead he had something priceless to give.

‘Name of Jesus Christ’ In this case, the word “name” means authority, power and glory. Peter possessed healing power, but only as a gift from Jesus through the Holy Spirit. It was really Yahweh’s healing power through Jesus, not Peter’s. Peter knew this, and was anxious for others to understand it clearly.

‘Of Nazareth’ Jesus had come to be known as “Jesus the Nazarene” because Nazareth was his home town where he grew up and worked for some time as a carpenter. The name Jesus is a form of Joshua, and was a fairly common name for Jewish boys, so Peter identified him as "Jesus the Messiah of Nazareth" to make it clear which Jesus he was calling upon for the miracle. Although many would have known what Christ did in the area and in the temple, and what they the people had done to him. So Peter here was making it very clear by who this was done. May be also saying it to draw out feelings from those who listened to make them really think on what they had done.

‘Rise up and walk’ The man, understandably, did not comprehend this command from Peter. So, as the next verse says, Peter took him by the hand and gave him a lift up. That's when the man realized that he could get up! Peter wasn't hoisting up a still crippled man and shouting hallelujah like a charlatan might do, to make it seem to the gullible, a miracle. He was guiding the man, that he would try to move.

Back to the Silver and Gold for a moment, this was another lesson of faith here for the man and us. What the man expected was not to be given and received. Wealth would never have relieved the mans sufferings and issues or cure his lameness, but just confirmed his plite and situation for a little longer. Yet even today it is material possessions that we seek, latest gadget, more wages, bigger homes, more comfort, despite that great a precious gift offered of eternal life in the kingdom glorifying Yahweh

Isaiah declares in 55 and verse 2 that

2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

The only means of this being achieved is in the understanding and acceptance of Yahweh’s word.

We also have the example of the downfall of the prodical son in the accumulation of wealth in luke 15 and verse 12

11 And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

It all caused him to be spiritually lame and it was only after he set his face to return to his father that he found true restoration. Again we have the lesson of gazing upon Yahwehs word and character with the exception of all other things.

18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

Another small but significant point in this verse is the two appearances of the word have, the first linked with silver and gold. This underlying Greek word means original condition, he never had silver and gold in any significant quantity, that he could have given to the man. Then the second use of have is a different Greek word, meaning lasting possession, so incalculable riches of the Gospel.

There is so much in this little verse, the statement ‘rise up and walk’ contains the greak word egeirai ,meaning to awaken and to arouse out of a sleeping state, not the usual word used to rise up, and so more significantly points to the spiritual significance, of the man being waken from his life of death to new life of hope, and a symbol of the resurrection of the lame remnant of Israel in

Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. 2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. 3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

So on to our next verse:-

7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

The next verse records that Peter took him by the right hand and lifted him up, as we started to look at earlier. The word “lifted” is the Greek ‘egeiro’ and is normally used in relation to raising from the dead, and that is how it would be to this man so much so that he ‘leaped up’ and praised Yahweh immediately A truely miraculous healing is instantaneous.

Also the word dexias used here is the same as in gal 2 and verse 9 in giving the right hand of fellowship, so Peter offering fellowship to the man and fulfilment of

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Unlike natural healing, there is no recovery period. As soon as Peter took his hand to pull him to his feet, the man took over: he leaped to his feet and stood on them for the first time in his life. Began to walk This means that he started walking immediately, even though he'd never learned to walk or been able to walk before. Along with his walking he did a bit of leaping.

Praising God. The man might not have understood how he was so suddenly whole, but he knew what power had done it. It was Yahweh’s work, for nobody else could have done it. So he gave Yahweh the glory and gratitude.

another important bit of information that should have amazed anyone present, the man and us reading now. Unlike wizards and magicians of then and today, who plan and stage a situation to give rise to a so called magic trick, or in churches in America today pretending to heal people. This man was well known from birth and for 40 years to be lame, and was seen and know by everyone around to have been that way, they did not need to be told a story of the mans tragic life it had been set before them 40 years. This miracle had been in working 40 years. Then the next point is that it was instant healing no recovery as I said, then he did not need to learn to walk as all humans need to, as well as healing, all the learning of walking and balance and posture was given him at the same instant. This was truly an infallible, miracle.

9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God: 10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him. 11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.

‘All the people’. This was a miracle witnessed by many people. They all saw the man walking. They all recognized him as the lame beggar laid daily at the temple gate. They were all filled with amazement. Later even the enemies of Christ’s followers admitted that "a notable miracle has been done... and we cannot deny it" ().

The Man Held on to Peter and John The healed man did not hold on to Peter and John because he could not support himself. He clung onto this newfound fellowship, which is now demonstrated to the crowd before them

Amazement. One would expect, in this situation, that people would be gossiping confusing and contradictory versions of what had happened, and many would be denying that it happened at all and trying to explain it away. But the facts were so simple and obvious, that all the people accepted those facts and responded with utter amazement.

12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

Power and amazement. The ability to perform a miracle, especially one like the healing of the lame man, is a dangerous power because it can be assumed that the one who works the miracle is someone great ().

9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: 10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. 11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries

People give glory to the miracle worker instead of to God. A similar miracle by Paul had that effect among the pagans (). However, even Jews could be superstitious. Peter wasn't criticising their astonishment. They had every cause to be amazed. Peter was, however, making very sure that Jesus Christ and through him Yahweh, not Peter and John, got the credit and glory for this miracle.

13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. 14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; 15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

You denied and killed Jesus. Peter confronts the crowd with the same set of facts he preached on the day of Pentecost: Jesus had worked miracles among them, yet they denied him and had him crucified; but God raised him up ().

Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: 23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

Peter is not absolving Pontius Pilate from all guilt, but when Pilate was requested to release a murderer and to crucify Jesus, he was put under a lot of pressure to do what the crowd wanted, even though he didn't want it himself ().

The people were astonished, and the apostles inform them that it was not by their own power they had healed the man, but through the power of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who had glorified His son Yahshua of Nazareth, whom they had crucified (vv. 9-16).

16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. 17 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. 18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. 19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Perfect soundness When Jesus causes a miracle, he doesn't do it by halves. This man, lame from birth, was suddenly whole: his feet, ankles, and legs were perfectly strong and sound, and he could walk and leap as though he had been doing it since childhood.

V16 Faith through Jesus Peter attributes this miracle to faith in Christ. But whose faith? Not that of the man born lame —he had expected to receive a coin. It was the faith of Peter and John, the faith they followed, that was behind this miracle. When healings fail today, the preachers say that the people being healed did not have faith. However, the man born lame was healed without himself having faith at the time.

V16‘Was made strong’ The people who saw the man born lame, believed he was healed because he was walking and leaping and praising Yahweh. He was made strong. They knew the man had been lame from birth and now was made perfectly whole.. We should not have to believe someone “was” healed when the evidence says “was not”as some so called healers in churches do today. When a person is healed with Yahwehs power it is very clear.

V16 Whom you recognize and know Peter didn't tell stories of miracles in other places that happened to people unknown by the crowd. The healed man was there present before them; someone they recognized and knew. They knew he had been a lame beggar. They knew and saw first hand that now he was made whole.

V18 Fulfilled Yahweh’s prior announcement We come here upon the problem of destiny and things foreordained. It was "by God’s predetermined counsel and foreknowledge" that Christ was crucified ().Therefore, weren't those who had a part in it only doing what God had decided? How then can God blame them?

We have to be careful not to fall into fallacy here. Yahweh was willing that Christ should suffer, and Yahweh predetermined and announced that Christ would die as a sacrifice for sin (). However, Yahweh didn't compel anyone to take part in Christ’s crucifixion. They did so by choice.

Acted in ignorance Ignorance explains why Jesus’s own countrymen sent him to the stake It does not absolve them from guilt. Nor was their ignorance justified. They knew, or ought to have known, that the prophets had foretold that the Messiah should suffer. How then could they be innocent of their part in bringing prophecy to pass? Their ignorance stemmed from prejudice and was without excuse.

V19 Repent and turn Repentance means a change of heart. But that should be followed by a change in the course of one’s life. You can intend to change. That's repentance. But you have to actually change as well, and make the turn around. That's conversion. Just as godly sorrow leads to repentance (), so repentance leads to a complete reformation of life. Peter calls for both a change of mind and a change of conduct.

Conversion and baptism. How does Peter’s command, "Repent and be baptized" () compare with his command "Repent and be converted" ()? In baptism the old person is, by God’s grace, killed and buried with Christ and a new person is raised to life in Christ (). Peter in commanding conversion was in no way contradicting or nullifying his command to be baptized, any more than in commanding baptism he was negating the need for conversion.

Times of refreshing In his previous preaching (on the day of Pentecost) Peter also commanded people to repent, and he promised them forgiveness of sins. He also promised them the gift of the Holy Spirit (). If we map that verse on to this verse, we get the following:

Repent

Repent

Be baptized

Be converted

Forgiveness of sins

Sins blotted out

Gift of the Holy Spirit

Refreshing from God’s presence

20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: 21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

Yahweh will send Jesus Christ Here Peter is affirming what the angels said at Christ’s ascension: "This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven, shall come in the same manner in which you have watched him go into heaven" ().

Times of restoration Peter’audience would be thinking that he was talking about the restoration of Israel. Even Peter himself, with the other disciples, had asked Jesus,

"Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" ().

"For behold I create a new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered" ().

Peter later wrote, "According to his promise, we look for a new heavens and a new earth where righteousness dwells" (). There is a beautiful description in the latter visions of Revelation ().

22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. 23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. 24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.

Here we have peter pointing to Moses an authority accepted by the Jews. Moses authority was not questioned by the Jews even though they failed to understand his teachings. Peter is emphasizing the divine origin of the testimony of Moses, and at the same time endorsing the teachings of Christ that they might be understood. Also linking it to the obligation placed upon them to listen to that prophet that should come, foretold by the fathers. That Yahweh rose up or elevated Christ to that position. That the people could be delivered then and later from death itself.

Hear ye him in all things, this incorporating when necessary, both the goodness and severity of Yahwehs way the principles of acts 24 25

25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

Now into the final verses of our chapter.

25 Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. 26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

You are the children The people in the temple were mostly descendants of Abraham and of the prophets. Yahweh had kept a remnant for himself. They of all people should accept Jesus the promised “seed” whom Yahweh had sent to them. And the way they should accept Jesus is by turning from their wickedness. They as we with the knowledge of the truth should be responsible partakers and preachers of the truth and the gift that we have been given.

They and we should do this in the way we speak in the way we act and in the way we dress, in our working lives our schools lives, on every day and time of the week, not just Sundays.

The image we portray to other should be the reflection of Christ, as it is the image that Yahweh sees as well as those around us. We have our warning, when we look in the mirror we should see Christ not the Devil, and that being our own sinfull wants and desires. It should not be that brethren and sisters we should see the hope a reflection of Christ the truth and the way unto salvation and that great and precious gift of eternal life waiting for us in the kingdom. That we may glorify Yahweh for ever and ever.

Rather than silver and Gold and wages of death, we should desire that immense weight of eternal life and work in the kingdom. Let us think upon the words of Yahweh, repent and take action and be changed, that we might be found acceptable at the kingdom fortold as we have read.