Why do you stare?

Die by us or For Us?

Peter notices something that is going on, the people are amazed at the great power given to heal. I was in Haiti one time, and as we walked through the reservation, as they call it, my guide said that a young man was stricken by an evil spirit and he wished for me to come and set him free. Let us just think about that for a minute. Now let us think about ourselves individually, can you go? Will you go? Peter tells the Israelites that they should not be wondering how this happens, but have a clear picture of what is happening. This is about faith in the one who was raised by the Father. Jesus told us that these things would happen. That he would die and rise again.

The New Revised Standard Version Peter Speaks in Solomon’s Portico

When Peter saw it, he addressed the people, “You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk?

Peter then goes on to tell the people who would listen that they had handed Jesus over to be murdered. The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him.

The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. (1989). (Ac 3:13). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Notice here something that Peter identifies, ever so slightly; if you are not looking for it you may skip right past the idea. “Though he had decided to set him free”. Did you see this statement? Does it resonate with you?

Peter says to the Israelites that they rejected the Author of Life.

But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.

The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. (1989). (Ac 3:14–15). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

When the young man asked for help I was very terrified to go, but faith urged me to go forth and believe. There was about ten people with us that day as we walked to the young man. All of us were caught up in the moment, and yet onward we walked. Some of the young people were anticipating and anxious. I was truly unsure what would happen, but I was determined to move forward knowing that the Lord could do mighty things through us. But would he? And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you.

The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. (1989). (Ac 3:16). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

What is Peter leading us to understand? Peter says that his friends were acting ignorantly. How does this statement sit with you? How did it sit with the Israelites? “And now, friends, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer.

The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. (1989). (Ac 3:17–18). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

The answer to what has happened is to Repent. Did you know that what we do in ignorance is not something we get a pass for. There is most likely many things that we do that is in ignorance. We always seem to say, well I didn’t know. As Christians we make mistakes and we repent. We change our direction and we return to God. Peter invites the Israelites to first understand that they made a mistake, that they knew not what they were doing. Have you heard that before? “Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing.”(Luke 24:34)

The New Revised Standard Version Peter Speaks in Solomon’s Portico

Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah appointed for you, that is, Jesus, who must remain in heaven until the time of universal restoration that God announced long ago through his holy prophets.

What should we take home with us? It is the act of repentance that brings us back. What I am thinking is that we might recognize that we were wrong, we might say in the moment we were sorry, but we do not return to God. This is not an admittance of wrong doing.