Blessing and Boldness- Acts 3

Chapter 3 continues to describe the growth of the church and the work of God the Spirit through His apostles. We see how the Church expands and grows through a variety of means and avenues, at times through miracles, at times through preaching, but at all times through the power and grace of the Holy Spirit.

We have in our chapter this evening a display of the power of God in two ways: blessings and boldness. This provides us with an overview of what transpires in our lives on daily and sometimes moment by moment.

We experience the blessing of God every time we breath. We experience the blessing of God every sip of coffee, every cool, autumn breeze, every child’s laugh, every smell of a rose, all these and more are blessings and miracles.

We also experience the miracles of God’s goodness. We have the Scriptures to read, the Triune God to whom we can pray, the indwelling Holy Spirit, and many more.

Likewise, we enjoy the boldness of God. We can boldly approach the throne of God (Heb. 4:12). We can bold in our preaching of the gospel (cf. Acts 4:29, 31). It takes timid people and, only through the power of God, empowers them to speak the Gospel boldly.

We see this in our passage this evening, and we will look at Blessing’s in Peter’s Miracle first.

I. Blessing in Peter’s miracle- 3:1-10

Jesus told the apostles that they would do miracles in His Name. They already were engaging in miracles (2:43). And, flowing along the general timeline of Acts 2:46-47, they were going to the temple. There were three times of prayer (9am, 3pm, and sunset). The apostles find themselves heading to the temple to pray, and they see a man who was lame from birth.

A bit of biographical information is provided to set the miracle in its context. He was lame from birth. He had someone to carry him to the temple gate, a place that is common for people unable to work in order to receive aid (i.e., alms).

Helping the poor is an essential aspect of Judaism today, and it has its roots, understandably, in the Tanakh (what we refer to as “The Old Testament/Covenant”), see Lev. 19:9-10 and Deut. 26:12. He is laid at the “Beautiful Gate,” which depending on which particular gate they referred to was quite beautiful.

A. The miracle came through the power of God- 3:6, cf. 3:12

After seeing Peter and John, the nameless man asks for help. They fix their eyes on him,

B. The miracle met a physical need- 3:2

In Matthew’s Gospel alone we see Jesus healing a man with leprosy (8:2-4), healing the centurion’s servant (8:5-13), Peter’s mother in law (8:14-15), two demon possessed men (8:28-34), a paralyzed man (9:2-7), the woman with the issue of blood (9:20-22), two blind men (9:27-31), the mute, demon possessed man (9:32-33), a man with a shriveled hand (12:10-13), a man who is blind, mute, and demon possessed (12:22), the Canaanite woman’s daughter (15:21-28), demon-possessed boy (17:14-18), and two blind men (20:29-34)

Jesus consistently met physical needs before ministering to spiritual needs (i.e., you cannot witness to someone who is starving to death).

C. The miracle instigated a spiritual birth

D. The miracle glorified God

II. Boldness in Peter’s Preaching- 3:11-26

A. There was boldness rather than fear (cf. Peter’s denial)

B. There was boldness in the Gospel

C. There was boldness in the Word of God

Peter quotes the Word of God, specifically the Torah, numerous times in this sermon.

D. There was boldness in the Covenant