Acts 3 - In the Name of Jesus!
Peter Heals a Lame Beggar
3 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 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.
Jesus had told the disciples they were going to do the things he did and even greater things. I wonder if they really believed him at the time. Maybe after today they did. There were also stories in the gospels about beggars near the temple like the one today. I.e. John 5 where Jesus healed the lame man by telling him to pick up his mat and walk. This guy was also lame since birth so it was probably thought he deserved his disability.
Since he wasn't physically able to work, like most beggars he hoped people coming to the temple would be merciful. But he got something better. Peter and John asked him to look at them. They wanted him to know that was about to happen was coming from two ordinary men like him.
The man must have been happy and encouraged when Peter and John looked at him intently. Most people who want to ignore beggars are careful to not make eye contact with them. When they looked at the lame man so intently, he probably thought he had a big gift coming. - Guzik
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.
Sometimes when we pray we say, "In Jesus' name" I wonder if we really stop and think about what we are saying and why are we saying this. In Jesus' day one's name was very important. When you came in someone's name you were coming with their authority. If I pray in my name, I only have access to my power and authority. Similarly, if I only say my words in a sermon there is no power or authority. But if I preach from the bible, I have the authority of God's Word.
When John and Peter prayed over this man in Jesus' name, the saw the power and authority of Jesus' name right there in front of them. It was if Jesus had said the same thing. It carried the same weight. And like Jesus picked up the paralytic, the apostles did the same thing with the same result. The man was healed. The man jumped and praised God like never before. The people were amazed and wondered what had happened to him.
"It was one thing to say, “rise up and walk,” but it was a much greater thing to so boldly take the man’s hand and lift him to his feet. At this moment, Peter received the gift of faith described in 1 Corinthians 12:9 – a supernatural ability to trust God in a particular situation."
This man was more than 40 years old (Acts 4:22), and had been crippled since birth. He was a familiar sight at this temple gate (Acts 3:10). Therefore, Jesus must have passed him by many times without healing him.
We can say that one reason why Jesus didn’t heal him is because God’s timing is just as important as His will, and it was for the greater glory of God that Jesus heal this man from heaven through His apostles. - Guzik
Peter Speaks to the Onlookers
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 people came running over to see what happened, Peter quickly deflected any praise they might want to give him. It gave him a chance to launch into what might be called the first sermon of the church. Peter gave them a very quick reminder of what had just happened a couple of months ago.
He started by reminding them that it was the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob (their God) who glorified Jesus, His Servant AND His Son. He reminded them that they were the ones who handed Jesus over to Pilate, the Roman Governor, though he wanted to release Jesus. This was a reminder that it was not the Jewish leaders who were accountable for what happened to Jesus, but all who were there including them.
They killed Jesus, but God raised him from the dead. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead was now working through them. By faith in Jesus they had access to resurrection power. The purpose of the miracle was to heal the man for sure, but the greater purpose was to show the people it was faith in the name of Jesus that made him well.
We see the phrase "In the name of Jesus" three times in these 16 verses. The next time you pray in the "name of Jesus" remember what that name means and the power and authority that goes with it by faith.
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.’
But Peter was not there just to condemn them. After all, he had denied Jesus three times himself. In fact like these Israelites, we have all gone astray. But Peter offered them the same grace he had received when Jesus said to him three times, "Peter do you love me ... feed my sheep!"
Peter called on them to "repent". The word repent means to turn from what you know is wrong and turn to Jesus. To repent is to admit that you have sinned against God, and only He can forgive you. To repent is to admit that it is only through the power of Jesus can you be the person God called you to be. Peter was living proof that you could go from the man who denied Jesus three times, to the man who just healed a man lame from birth.
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.’[b] 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.”
God's plan from the beginning was to work through them, who God chose to be the recipients of the covenant with Abraham. But God's plan was not just to save the Israelites, but all people. The Jews were blessed to be a blessing. But for this reason Jesus went first to them to give them a chance to turn from their wicked ways. Many of the Jews rejected Jesus, but many others accepted him.
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