ACTS — LESSON 3

Scriptures for this lesson are taken from Acts 3 and Deuteronomy 15:11.

At the close of Acts Chapter 2, the Apostles and disciples are still in Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit had come to dwell with the Apostles and Disciples of Christ. At the Feast of Pentecost about 3,000 people had been saved. The believers were fellow-shipping together and preaching and teaching in the temple that Jesus was the Messiah who had come, was crucified and now gone back to heaven. All those who accepted Jesus as their Savior received the Holy Spirit.

[Acts 3:1-10] (1) One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.Peter was a brother to Andrew. He was from Galilee and a follower of John the Baptist. Peter was a man with a strong personality, outgoing and impetuous, a natural leader. He was the leader of the Apostles and disciples. John was the brother of James and they were the sons of Zebedee and Salome, native of Galilee and partners with Peter and Andrew on the Sea of Galilee. They were praying and teaching in the temple daily. (2) Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. (3) When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. (4) Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” (5) So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. (6) Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” (7) Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. (8) He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. (9) When all the people saw him walking and praising God, (10) they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Peter and John had gone to the temple at the time of the evening sacrifice being the ninth hour with was 3:00 pm. It was customary for the Jews to pray three times a day; at the third hour, the sixth hour and the ninth hour. Alms giving was a part of Hebrew worship, so the blind, lame and otherwise impaired would pick a spot in the temple area to beg. People coming to worship would pass by them and would give to gain righteousness. This man’s place where he came to beg was at the Gate Beautiful in the temple.

[Deuteronomy 15:11] (11) There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.

It is most likely that Peter and John had seen this man before, maybe many times begging there at the gate. This day was different. They had the power of the Holy Spirit and through His power they were able to heal his legs and give him back his life, his ability to earn his own living. He accepted this great gift by jumping around in excitement and praising God. Others in the temple who knew who he was were filled with wonder at this great miracle.

[Acts 3:11-16] (11) While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. (12) When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? (13) The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. (14) You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. (15) You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. (16) By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.

When Peter saw the people’s reaction, he realized that they believed that he and John had done this miracle in their own power so he took the opportunity to preach the gospel, the story of Jesus to the crowd. Peter took no credit for himself or John but gave all the credit to Jesus. It had only been 50 days or a little more since Jesus was crucified at Passover so it was fresh on the people’s minds. These Jews listening and watching believed the religious leaders that Jesus was not the Messiah. Peter was stating the Jesus was the Messiah by telling them that Jesus was glorified by the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. These men were the patriarchs, the founding fathers of the Jewish nation. The God these men followed glorified Jesus as the Messiah. Peter told them that they had rejected their Messiah and pushed Pilate to have Him killed. They had killed the Messiah but God had raised Him from the dead and this man was healed through His power.

[Acts 3:17-26] (17) “Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. (18) But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer. (19) Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, (20) and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. (21) Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. (22) For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. (23) Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people. (24) “Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets who have spoken have foretold these days. (25) And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed. (26) When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”

Having told the crowd of Jews that they had killed the Messiah, Peter went on to tell them that they really did not understand what they were doing but they could receive forgiveness. If they would repent and turn to God, their sins would be wiped out and they would be made new. All the Old Covenant prophets had foretold the coming of Jesus, He had come and gone back to heaven with God, but He would come back again when God was ready to restore everything.

LESSONS FROM ACTS 3:

1. The Lord gives us all that we have and He expects us to help those around us who are needy. It is our Christian responsibility.
2. Through our kindness and giving to others, we are given an opportunity to witness to them about Jesus and the forgiveness and new life that He offers.
3. By giving to others and helping them, we receive the blessings from the Lord.
4. People are always watching us and they judge us not only by our words but by our deeds.

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