Acts Chapter 3

Peter Heals the Lame Man:

(Read Acts 3:1-11) 
The book of Acts is sometimes called the book of the acts of the Holy Spirit. In Chapter one, the apostles were waiting for the Holy Spirit.  Chapter two explains the coming of the Holy Spirit and Chapter three shows the apostles being empowered with the Holy Spirit for service.  The filling of the Holy Spirit gives power for the ministry. Peter and John went to the temple for their traditional prayer. As they entered the temple compound through the gate called "Beautiful", they met a man who was lame from birth asking for alms. Giving alms was a practice of the Jewish faith. Peter and John had no money to give. But in the name of Jesus the beggar was healed. Peter freely healed the one who had no right to claim it. He gave evidence of healing by “Walking and leaping, and praising God”. People looked at him with amazement when he entered the temple along with the apostles.  This is a picture of what salvation does in our lives. Once we were spiritually lame and unable to do anything to please God. We have nothing to offer in exchange for our salvation.  Peter through his failures learned to depend on God.  Without Christ we cannot accomplish anything for him.  When we trust and depend on Christ, he works through us and for us.  Peter grave glory to God for the healing of the lame man. In their interaction with the beggar, apostles have shown concern for the weak and afflicted. Pray that God would give us a tender heart to share the gospel to those who need salvation.  God freely gives salvation to all those who believe in Christ.  Just as Peter and John, Christians should show compassion to those who are in need.

Peter’s Second Sermon:

(Read Acts 3:12-26) 
As People marveled at the healing of the lame man, Peter took the opportunity to address the Jewish crowd and said that this miracle was the work of God.  He was healed in the name of Jesus whom they have denied and crucified. Jesus is the Holy One, the Just One, the prince of life and God's only Son. You killed the righteous one, but God raised him from the dead. Jesus is the Messiah and His suffering was foretold by the prophets (Deuteronomy 18:15; Act 3:22). Starting with Moses, every prophet spoke about Jesus (Luke 24:27).   Even though Israel failed to honor their Messiah, God continued to call them back to himself. The refreshment mentioned here may be a reference to the millennium reign which is to come (Zechariah 12:10-14). God will once again deal with the nation of Israel and restore them (Romans 11:26-27). God is faithful in the promises he made with their father Abraham. “And in your seed, all the families of the earth will be blessed” (Genesis 12:3; Acts 3:25).  Jesus is the fulfillment of the promise God has made to Abraham.  Peter urged them to repent of their sins and to trust Jesus to be saved.  True repentance is not feeling sorry for sins but turning away from it to God.  It involves a change of mind about sin and the Savior. It is admitting that we are sinners and what God says is true. Salvation is the supernatural work of God’s grace.  Jesus is the fulfillment of God's plan of salvation from the beginning. Pray that God would give you a tender heart for those who are perishing in their sins. Share the gospel with them. Are you saved?