CHAPTER 3

1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
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;
3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
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.
7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
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.
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.

News spread quickly in Jerusalem and surrounding areas about the new "Christian Faith" church.
Everyone was paying close attention to what was happening with these "believers."

The story of the lame man healed is one of God's miraculous work through His people.

It was "the ninth hour" (3pm), and Peter and John were on their way to the temple to pray.
They saw a man who had been born lame.
This man was often there at the gate "Beautiful". (see vs 10)

The lame man was "asking alms" - begging, which was his only means of making a meager living.

Peter stopped, and John along with him stopped.
Peter looked strongly at the man; and the man was expecting Peter to give him some money.
But Peter surprised him!
He took the man by "the right hand" and "lifted him UP!"
While he was lifting him, 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!"

Peter KNEW His Lord, Jesus.
Peter was filled with the same compassion as His Lord, Jesus.
And, Peter was filled with great FAITH!
This Peter, who had once denied Jesus 3 times in fear, courageously took the lame man by the hand and LIFTED!
GOD did the rest!

The man not only rose, but was "walking, and leaping, and praising God!"
THAT was the reason the miracle happened!
God, in the name of Jesus, received ALL the glory!
The "investigative reporters" of the crowds in Jerusalem could not deny the simple faith and miraculous power!

Now, as the crowd is "filled with wonder and amazement," Peter realizes ears are ready to listen!
And, he spontaneously offers a quick sermon.

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?
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.
14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
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.

WOW!
That's a SHORT sermon!!

Peter exclaimed that the same Jesus whom the unbelieving crowd had crucified,
Is the very One by Whom healing had been given to the lame man.

He explained that Jesus was sent by the God of "Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob;" in other words,
The God of the Jewish people!
The One and only TRUE God!

Peter gives Jesus the title of "Prince of Life!"
Jesus OWNS life!
He is the One Who GIVES life!
And, He is the One Who gives ETERNAL Life!
See John 1:1-4

And, sensing a critical conviction in the hearts of the hearers, Peter now offers an INVITATION!

17 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.
18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
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;
20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
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.
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.
23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.
24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.
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.
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.

The people had "ignorance" of Who Christ was.
Very few prophets, and hardly any priests ever preached "that Christ (Messiah) should SUFFER!" (Vs 18)
Yet, God HAD prophesied it!

One word - REPENT!
They, who had crucified the very One Who gives life, were now to TURN AROUND.
They were to stop DENYING Christ, and begin PRCCLAIMING Him as Lord and Savior!
THAT's the way of repentance!

Peter alludes to Moses, whom the Jews thought to be the greatest of prophets.
Moses had said, in Deuteronomy 18:15, "The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;".

Throughout Jewish history, they had been LOOKING FOR "that prophet."
For, He would be MESSIAH!
See John 1:21

Peter called them to understand that JESUS is "that prophet,"
AND, they are to REPENT to Him!

Further, Peter admonished them that Jesus is God's SON! (vs 26)
He is not only "that prophet," and the Messiah, He is the very image of the invisible God!
He is the One God promised to be the "seed" of Abraham through Whom, "ALL families of the earth shall be blessed!"
See Genesis 12:3

Relative to the situation at hand, Peter simply used references to the Word of God.
God's Holy Spirit took the "word" spoken, and used it as a convicting sword!! (See Hebrews 4:12)

As God's Spirit used the Word and worked conviction,
the leaders of the Jews gathered round and put Peter and John in JAIL!
We'll see more about that in the next chapter.

Question:
Are YOU, believer, ready to go to jail for using God's WORD?