III. Progress of the Church and its First Persecution (3:1 - 4:31)
A. A lame man healed by Peter (3:1-11)
v.1 The ninth hour- 3 P.M. The temple would be crowded.
v.2 The lame man- born lame. It was customary for the poverty stricken to ask for "gifts" outside of the temple.
v.3 Alms- money or goods donated to the poor.
v.4 Whether the "gaze" of Peter and John was the avenue of the Spirit's power or just a way to attract attention is not known.
v.5 The lame man was expecting money.
v.6 Peter had something superior to money, namely the power to heal through Jesus' name. The word "walk" here means to begin to walk and to keep on walking.
v.7 Notice the word "immediately." Not after prayer, or a statement of faith on the part of the lame man.
v.8 Besides walking he also leaps. He praised God, not Peter.
v.9 The miracle took place in a prominent spot, in front of witnesses who knew the predicament of the lame man.
v.10 This was a sign from heaven for confirming the word of the Apostles. Everyone present realized that this was truly a miracle.
v.11 Solomon's porch was a covered colonnade on the east side of the temple. Jn. 10:23 The crowd assembled here to see these men who were being escorted by the former lame man.
B. Peter's second sermon (vv. 12-26)
1. introduction: the miracle explained (vv. 12-16)
v.12 Peter denies that he has power of himself.
v.13 The first contrast: God glorified Christ - the Jews murdered Him. The second contrast: Pilate says innocent - the Jews say guilty.
v.14 Third contrast: Jesus was Holy and Just - Barabbas was a known murderer. Messianic prophecy has referred to Jesus as the Holy One Ps. 16:10,as well as the just Isa. 45:21.
v.15 Fourth contrast: The Prince of Life killed by the Jews - raised by God. Prince is from a Greek word meaning author.
v.16 Who had faith in the name of Jesus, Peter or the cripple? Three characteristics make the miracle undeniable: 1) the people's knowledge of the man's prior condition. 2) the completeness of the cure and 3) the public manner in which the healing was done.
2. forgiveness of sins offered through Christ (vv. 17-21)
v.17 Jesus knew they were ignorant Lk. 23:34. But, did their ignorance justify their crime?
v.18 This crime was foretold by prophecy.
v.19 Repentance - the change of will, turning again- doing something about the change of will.
v.20 This refers to the Second Coming of Christ. Why is repentance and turning again an important thing to have behind you at Christ's coming? Also, the gospel must be spread before Christ will come again.
v.21 restoration- a medical term meaning a complete restoration to health. If Christ's ascension marks the beginning of this complete restoration, then His Second Coming will mark the completion of the era. These "times" are the in between times.
3. these things matters of prediction and promise (vv. 22-26)
v.22 Dt. 18:15-19 Jesus the Christ was to be a Jew, he would bless all nations, He should be obeyed. Compare Moses to the children of Israel and Christ to His children: deliverer, lawgiver, ruler leader, and prophet.
v.23 Dt. 18:19 to be cut off: Mt. 8:12 and 2 Thess. 1:9.
v.24 To reject Christ would be to reject Moses and all the prophets. Samuel was not the first prophet, but he was the first prophet in the succession of the national prophets of Israel.
v.25 The promise, first to Abraham: Gen. 12:3, 22:18; then to Isaac: 26:4; then to Jacob: 28:14.
v.26 Conclusion: salvation will come through faith in Jesus Christ and turning from your sins. We have seen in the sermon that Christ: 1) was the power behind the Apostle's miracles, 2) is redeemer of all souls and 3) is the fulfillment of all prophecy.