Acts 3-4

Acts 3 – The Ministering Church

In Acts 3 Peter heals the crippled beggar.  There are physical healings that point to Christ’s spiritual healing of a person.  (1) Rom. 10:17 – Faith comes from hearing the word.  Peter healed the crippled man in the name of Jesus. (2) Acts 3:2 – The man was helpless to change himself.  Without Christ, God calls us all “dead in trespasses and sins”.  (3) Eph. 2:8 - by grace you are saved.  God healed the man through His grace. (4) John 10:10b – “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full”.

At three in the afternoon Peter and John were going to the temple to pray.  Three in the afternoon or the ninth hour was probably a special significance to them because this was the hour when Jesus cried out from the cross, “It is finished” in John 19:30.  On the way they saw a beggar who asked for money.  They didn’t ignore him like most people would, but looked straight at him.  Peter said, “Look at us!”  - Acts 3:4.  Then Peter told him he had no money, but that he had something better.  The Holy Spirit prompted Peter and God gave Peter supernatural ability to trust Him.   He simple spoke and told him in the name of Jesus, “walk”.  Peter took his hand and helped the beggar up and he began to walk. 

Compare Peter’s healing miracle with today’s so called healers.  The healers today usually put on a fraudulent show and they do it for money.  This gift was given to the apostles following Pentecost.  These miracles were getting the attention of the same crowd who crucified Christ.  They were hearing the gospel, repenting and receiving the gift of salvation from the very one they crucified.  This healing of the Holy Spirit got their attention and validated the power of God giving authority to the message that would follow.  Healing power is available to Christians today by the power the Holy Spirit through prayer.

The man followed Peter into the temple and shouted with joy praising God and telling everyone what God had done.  The name of Jesus is powerful!  Acts 3:15 – He is the author of life.  Acts 3:16 – His name heals.  Acts 4:12 – “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:30 – miraculous signs and wonders are performed through His name.   

As people heard the man telling his story, a crowd quickly assembled.  Peter took advantage of the moment to share the gospel.  They were the ones who disowned and rejected Him.  They handed Jesus over to be killed.  He said “you killed the author of life, but God raised Him from the dead.” – Acts 3:15.  He told them this was God’s plan to let Him be crucified because it was the only way to save sinners. 

Yes, it was God’s plan that Jesus die on the cross.  You can’t sin in such a way that God hasn’t prepared for it.  There’s no sin that Jesus didn’t take care of on the cross.  Peter told them they were personally responsible for Jesus’ slaughter.  If He can forgive that, He can forgive anything.  Nothing is impossible for God.

The healings done in the Bible are not only physical but point to Jesus’ spiritual healing.  The man was helpless to heal himself.  We can’t help ourselves.  Only Jesus can help us.  God helps those who have no hope in helping themselves.  That is the message of the Bible.

  

John 10:10  - “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Rom. 10:17 – “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”

Eph. 2:5 – “when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.” 

Eph. 2:8 – “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”

Are you a believer, yet living in a helpless way?  The beggar’s healing in a picture of the spiritual life.  God is able and willing to transform your life.  All you have to do is truly believe and trust Him.  Give Him time in personal Bible study, prayer and obedience.  Depend on His strength.  He will give you the power to change your thoughts and actions.

When Peter saw how the crowd reacted, he asked them why they were surprised.  Jesus had healed all kinds of people and it shouldn’t seem strange that He is healing from heaven.  He made it clear that he was speaking about the God of Israel.  Peter wasn’t afraid to confront them in boldness.  He said they had handed Him over to be killed and you killed Him.  “You killed the author of life” – Acts 3:15.

But Peter offered them hope.  He told them to repent and turn to God so their sins would be wiped away.  In the same way we have hope.  Acknowledge your sins, repent, believe and trust in Jesus and you will be saved.  Then your sins will be forgiven and erased from your record.

Principle:  Jesus is the author of life.

Acts 4 – Persecution Begins

Peter and John were arrested by the Sanhedrin, because they were teaching and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.  The rulers saw their courage and that they were just ordinary men – uneducated, but knew the scriptures.  They knew they had been with Jesus and they saw the proof of the man who was healed.  The rulers knew there was nothing they could do since the apostles had done nothing against the law.  So they ordered the apostles to stop teaching the people and warned them to not speak in Jesus’ name.  But Peter and John said, “For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:20)  God allowed this opposition in order to unite the apostles and deepen their roots in Christ.

Will you ask God to give you a firm conviction that Jesus is the only way?

Do you share your salvation with others?

If you are not, what is keeping you from it?

The central message that Peter and John proclaimed is in Acts 4:12 – “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

The apostles returned to their own people.  They prayed to God who has all power and authority over all (Acts 4:24), prayed using the promises and prophecies of Scripture (Psalm 2) as a basis for prayer in the will of God (Acts 4:25-28), and asked for more boldness to witness and more power to help others (Acts 4:29-30).  God answered by power (Acts 4:31) with an outward sign of an earthquake.

Notice how they prayed.  First they acknowledged who God is, that He is sovereign and Creator.  They asked that He enable them to speak with boldness.  They asked that God heal and perform miraculous sings and wonders.  Does this make you think about how you should pray?

Again all the believers were one in heart and mind.  They shared everything they had.  There were no needy persons among them.  They often sold their properties and gave the money to the apostles to be distributed to anyone in need.

Principle:  God gives His people power to speak boldly about Jesus.

Join me here next week for our study of the book of Acts.  --  I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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