Acts Lesson Page

ACTS – Chapter 3                

 Memory verses for this week: Isa 58:11  And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

 Introduction:   In Chapter 2, we saw Peter preaching on the day of Pentecost.   We discussed how many doctrines have come out of Chapter 2 that many times are false or misleading.   We saw the Holy Spirit moving in great ways, and it says that on that one day about 3,000 souls were added to the church.  We mentioned how that the day of Pentecost came 40 days after the passover feast and was called the feast of harvest.  Bro. Charles Moore in Missouri pointed out to me that the scripture we used in Leviticus said it was 50 days, and that also coincided with the amount of time that had transpired since Acts 1:3 says Jesus appeared to them 40 days after the resurrection.  With the 10 days that they had to wait in Jerusalem, this equaled the 50 days.  I appreciate that correction, and have made adjustments in lesson 2 for that fact.

I. The Healing of the Lame Man

 Acts 3:1  Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

Acts 3:2  And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

Acts 3:3  Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.

Acts 3:4  And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

We see the first miracle performed by the apostles after the ascension of Christ.  It is important that we understand that neither the apostles nor Christ ever performed miracles to be seen by man.  Their purpose was not to amaze man, but to prove that Jesus was the true and only begotten Son of God.   They manifested the grace of God to needy men and women.   At the end of our previous study in John, he told us why those signs and wonders were recorded.

John 20:30  And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:

John 20:31  But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

We know from verse one that the temple was still standing in Jerusalem.  Christ had prophesied how that it would be destroyed, but this did not come to pass until 70 A.D. 

Mat 24:1  And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to show him the buildings of the temple.

Mat 24:2  And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

We also from verse one can conclude that on the ninth hour of the day, they had prayer at the temple.   This was the exact hour that Jesus gave up the ghost and died. 

Mat 27:45  Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.

Mat 27:46  And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Mat 27:47  Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.

Mat 27:48  And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.

Mat 27:49  The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.

Mat 27:50  Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 

In verses 2 and 3, we see that those who were handicapped had to beg alms to survive.  There were no special government programs to help them nor any church programs to help take care of those who had no way to provide for themselves.    This would be a horrible condition to be in, but we are all in this spiritually bankrupt position.  Many do not want to acknowledge that they have no ability on there on to save themselves.   We must all come to Jesus is we want eternal life.  In our own condition, we are just like this lame man.   Unable to help ourselves on our own.

 Acts 3:5  And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

Acts 3:6  Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

Acts 3:7  And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

Acts 3:8  And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

 Perhaps there was something different about Peter and John that made the lame man think they would help him.  It says that he asked alms of them.   We as followers of Christ should have a look about us that shows forth the love of our Saviour to mankind.  If we are not known for our love, something is wrong with our spiritual position with God.

 John 13:34  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

John 13:35  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

1 Tim 3:2  A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

1 Tim 3:3  Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

1 Tim 3:4  One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

1 Tim 3:5  (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

1 Tim 3:6  Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

1 Tim 3:7  Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

In the qualifications of a bishop (or pastor), we see that he should have a good report of them which are without.   And you and I should have that same report.  Those in need should know that they can turn to us in their hour of need and not be turned away.   So many times, God blesses us with much, and we tend to use it for ourselves.  But all of us need to set aside some to help those in need.   In verse 4, Peter called the lame man’s attention and he responds expecting something of him.   When he acknowledged that he had no money, it may have been a disappointment to the lame man.   But what Peter was about to do for him was something that all the money in the world could not do.   And there is no price that can be put on our health.   For God to give us strong and healthy bodies is a great, great blessing.  It would be a great attribute to us if the world looks to us when there is a need and knows that we will be able to help.   And like the apostles, we have the Word of Life that can change a man or woman’s destiny forever if they will but hear, repent, and believe the Gospel.  I love the words Peter used… “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” 

We can see that the men who followed Christ in the early days did not do it in order to obtain riches or prestige.  Honestly, a person who truly gives themselves wholly to God normally will never have much of this world’s treasures.  But what a great, great blessing they have awaiting them in heaven one day when they die.  (Not to count all the joy and blessings God gives them while here on earth.  Many would give all their money to have the peace and comfort that we, the child of God, have each night as we lay our heads on our pillows.)    These apostles had effectively taken a vow of poverty and their relationship with Christ meant far more than earthly treasures.

Mat 8:20  And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

Paul told the church in Corinth what had transpired in his life, and it was a hard, hard existence.

But who ever accomplished more for God except Christ in his lifetime.   I thank the Lord for the example this man gave us.

2 Cor 11:23  Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

2 Cor 11:24  Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

2 Cor 11:25  Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

2 Cor 11:26  In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

2 Cor 11:27  In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

2 Cor 11:28  Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

2 Cor 11:29  Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?

2 Cor 11:30  If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.

Acts 3:9  And all the people saw him walking and praising God:

Acts 3:10  And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.

We see that the miracle came by the “name of Jesus Christ.”   You and I who witness and pray for people today can not perform these kinds of miracles, but in this name, there is still the same ability for Christ to heal the sick.   It is still in the blessed name of Jesus that we can be healed.  Prayers still touch the heart of God, and if it is in the will of God for a person to be healed, they will be.  I verses 7 - 9 we see that them received strength in his feet and ankle bones, and he praised God for the healing.   As in the case of all things that Jesus or the apostles were involved in, the healing was complete and total all at once.  Not a partial healing or a healing over time.   Even the people that saw the lame man could not deny the miracle.

II.  Peter’s Second Message after Pentecost

 Acts 3:11  And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.

Acts 3:12  And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

 All good preachers take their opportunities to preach, and Peter saw this as a perfect time.  They have the apt attention of the whole group as they ran unto Solomon’s porch.  And they came in wonder and wanted to know how this great miracle had happened.   As we have said before, no one will ever be saved until they first recognize that they are lost.   And the gospel and the Word of God show us how far separated we are from the righteous God of the Universe.   As any good Christian, the men first tell them that the power of healing came from God, not from them.  Be fearful of any religious leader that points to himself in the accomplishments of his ministry.  God takes all kinds of people to accomplish His work, but He expects the praise and glory to be given to Him.  That is why few great or of notable character are chosen in the ministry.

1 Cor 1:26  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

1 Cor 1:27  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

1 Cor 1:28  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

1 Cor 1:29  That no flesh should glory in his presence.

We see that in verse 12 that Peter begins by disclaiming any power or holiness in himself or John to do this mighty work.

 Acts 3:13  The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.

Acts 3:14  But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;

Acts 3:15  And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

Peter in verse 13 boldly accuses them of denying the holy and righteous One preferring a murderer instead.   We all remember the scene when Pilate asked the mob whether to release Jesus or Barabbas, and the crowd cried out to release Barabbas.   They delivered Jesus up to have him condemned, and killed the Prince of Life.   In verse 15, he declares that the God of Abraham raised Jesus from the dead.

Acts 3:16  And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

Acts 3:17  And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.

Acts 3:18  But those things, which God before had showed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.

We see that Peter declares that through faith in Jesus Christ’s name this lame man was made whole.   Peter minced no words as he made them all realize that Jesus died because of them, and His blood was truly on their hands.  After making them see their sinful condition, as any good preacher should do, he shows them the way of redemption from their sins.  Peter opens for them a place of refuge.  In the Old Testament, when one was guilty of manslaughter, he could flee to a city of refuge and find safety.  Since they had crucified Christ without knowing He was God’s Son, they were being offered this refuge through Christ.  Each of us are guilty. Our sins are what nailed Jesus to that tree on Mt. Calvary.   Peter declares that they did this through ignorance.   If they had truly known who Jesus was,  I don’t think they would have condemned Him to death.

1 Cor 2:7  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

1 Cor 2:8  Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Jesus asked God as He was dying on the cross to forgive the people, for they knew not what they were doing.

Luke 23:34  Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

Luke 23:35  And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.

Acts 3:19  Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Acts 3:20  And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:

Acts 3:21  Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

In the light of all this, Peter urges the people to repent and to turn to God.  Bobby Garcia and I were out visiting for our church last Tuesday night, and we came in contact with a man that admitted he had been a member of several different denominations, but had never truly accepted Christ as Savior.   When I asked him if he knew what the one sin was that God could not forgive, he was not sure.  When I explained it to him (Blaspheming the Holy Spirit), he said that it did not make sense to him.   We explained that if in this life we hear the gospel, are drawn by the Holy Spirit to be saved, and we do not respond, there is no hope for us in the next life.  Effectively we have ignored the one sacrifice for sins that God has provided, and counted Christ unworthy to be our Personal Savior.  With all of our witnessing, and all the knowledge this many had of the Bible, he still refused to accept Christ as Savior.  I pray that he won’t continue to put off the decision, since none of us have any promise of tomorrow.  Today is the day of salvation, now is the accepted time.  Peter is telling these Jews, and some of them most likely were there when Christ was put to death, that they too can have eternal life.  Even with all their sin, if they would forsake the sin and turn to Christ, they too could be saved.  Just like Jesus promised, He will return soon.

Acts 1:10  And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

Acts 1:11  Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

 Acts 3:22  For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.

Acts 3:23  And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.

Acts 3:24  Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.

Acts 3:25  Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

Acts 3:26  Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

 Christ is the prophet of whom Moses penned the words about mentioned here in verse 22.  He declares that whosoever would not heart this prophet would be cut off from Israel.   In verse 24, he goes on to tell them that Samuel and all the succeeding prophets foretold these things.  These Jews, as sons of the prophets and of God’s great covenant of Abraham’s seed, were being blessed.  It was promised that through him, all nations of the earth would be blessed.  And because the Jews were God’s chosen nation, they were offered the Gospel first.  How sad that so few accepted the message in Peter’s day, and even today the vast majority of the Jewish nation is blinded to the truth of Jesus Christ.

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 Prov 4:18  But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

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