Acts 3:1-10

A Miracle at the Gate

(MOS) - A MIRACLE is an act or event that occurs outside the bounds of the normal or natural order. The aim of the sermon is to encourage the saints that God is still working miracles today; even using us as conduits of some of these miracles.

I don’t know where your gate is, but where ever your gate is, God can perform a miracle there!

Witthoff, David, ed. The Lexham Cultural Ontology Glossary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014. Print.

(CIT) - Luke continues to show us Peter, who represents those who have just experienced the work of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. This included the continuation of v.43 where “everyone was filled with awe/fear/amazement at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.”

In v.1 Peter/John were doing what was custom for them to do…they were going to church! At one of the three times of prayer!

His Condition (2-3)

(vv. 2-3) In ancient Israel, which treasured notions of a complete and ordered world, and which valued wholeness, physical defects were regarded as shameful (Lev. 21:18; Deut. 15:21; Mal. 1:8; cf. 2 Sam. 5:6–8). Lame (Heb. pissēaḥ) or limping people were regarded as helpless and useless (Prov. 26:7). They were forbidden entry into holy spaces (Lev. 21:18), and in both the OT and NT were objects of pity and charity (2 Sam. 4:4; 19:26 [MT 27]; Job 29:15; Acts 3:2; 8:7; 14:8).

MT Masoretic Text

Hobbs, T. R. “Lameness, Limp.” Ed. David Noel Freedman, Allen C. Myers, and Astrid B. Beck. Eerdmans dictionary of the Bible 2000 : 784. Print.

In other ways lameness was a handicap that set apart those so afflicted from society in general. The crippled were regarded with contempt because they were considered unable to perform military or other functions (cf. 2 Sam. 5:6, 8; Ps. 35:15; Isa. 33:23).

Myers, Allen C. The Eerdmans Bible dictionary 1987 : 638. Print.

Physical condition in which walking is difficult or impossible. In the OT lame animals were not acceptable sacrifices (Deut. 15:21; Mal. 1:8, 13). The lame were prohibited from serving as priests though they were allowed to eat from the priests’ provisions (Lev. 21:18).

It’s important that I close my eyes and put myself in the place of three categories of people: the people who were going in and out of the temple on a regular basis (9, 12, and 3); the lame man, who had been there for years; and Peter/John, who had gone to the temple two times already, i.e. 9 & 12. It was common practice that they did what they did! It was the norm, that they did what they did. However, at the 3 pm hour, they transitioned themselves from normal to the abnormal; routine...

Brand, Chad et al., eds. “Lame, Lameness.” Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary 2003 : 1008. Print.

His Cure (4-8a)

(vv. 4-5) Peter gets his full attention.

By healing the lame in the Temple Jesus restored them to the worshiping community (Matt. 21:10–17). Jesus’ healing of lameness was continued by Peter and John in the Temple (Acts 3:2–13)

Achtemeier, Paul J., Harper & Row and Society of Biblical Literature. Harper’s Bible dictionary 1985 : 544. Print.

There are some things money cannot buy: the woman with the issue of blood; the servant of the centurion being healed...

Did Peter/John already give him money and now they had run out? Did they not have money to start with?

(v.6) What I have! What I possess! - In the name of whom I have relationship and authority! In the name of the one who gave sight to the blind…in the Name of the One who bid me walk on the water with Him…in the name of the one who healed my very own mother-in-law!

In verse 6, after Peter told him to “rise up, and walk,” in that order…in verse 7, Peter took him by the right hand and raised him up...

His Celebration (8b-9)

v.8b - Gestures of joy - His “Response to the Miracle”

2 Samuel 6:14 (KJV 1900) — 14 And David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.

Celebration Kool & The Gang

Yahoo! This is your celebration Yahoo! This is your celebration Celebrate good times, come on! (Let's celebrate) Celebrate good times, come on! (Let's celebrate) There's a party goin' on right here A celebration to last throughout the years So bring your good times, and your laughter too We gonna celebrate your party with you Come on now Celebration Let's all celebrate and have a good time Celebration We gonna celebrate and have a good time It's time to come together It's up to you, what's your pleasure Everyone around the world Come on! Yahoo! It's a celebration Yahoo! Celebrate good times, come on! It's a celebration Celebrate good times, come on! Let's celebrate We're gonna have a good time tonight Let's celebrate, it's all right We're gonna have a good time…