The Holy Spirit had been released on the day of Pentecost and in one day their were three thousand more followers of Jesus Christ. As they began their new life in Christ, they focused on four simple things: teaching, fellowship, sharing meals, and prayer. As they did, they were, in Acts 2:47 “having favor with all the people”. And the power of the Lord was there not only to heal, but more and more people were being healed. Faith was rising in the people of Jerusalem so much so, that in Acts 5:12 “Now many signs and wonders were being performed among the people through the hands of the apostles”. Jesus gave us the pattern in Matthew 4:23 “he went around … teaching … proclaiming the good news of the kingdom (preaching) and healing”. And we can follow this pattern today, healing follows the declaration of God’s word.
Having Favor With All the People
Acts 2:42-47
There had been one hundred and twenty in the upper room praying until the day of Pentecost. Then, in
Acts 2:41 “on that day about three thousand souls were added”
It was a whole new environment for them, not only because of the numbers, but because they now also had the baptism in the Holy Spirit. They needed to find their new way so they “were devoting themselves” in four ways:
- the teaching of the apostles
- fellowship – meeting
- breaking bread – meals together
- prayers
as we find in
Acts 2:42 “And they were devoting themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayers”
and in
Acts 2:46 “And every day, devoting themselves to meeting with one purpose in the temple courts and breaking bread from house to house, they were eating their food with joy and simplicity of heart”
As they did this, great things happened among them as miracles occurred in
Acts 2:43 “And fear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were being performed by the apostles”
And they shared everything together in
Acts 2:44 “all who believed were in the same place, and had everything in common”
And there was great impact on the community around them in
Acts 2:47 “having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding every day to the total of those who were being saved”
At The Hour of Prayer
His Name Has Made This Man Strong
Acts 3:11-18
The people recognized this man who had spent his life, in Luke 3:10 “asking alms”. It was only by these gifts that the in-firmed were able to live. But now, this man is standing and in Luke 3:11 “holding fast to Peter and John, (and) all the people ran together … utterly astonished”.
It is likely that this man had been there when Jesus was teaching in the temple (see Luke 21:37-38). So why wasn’t he healed then? Certainly Jesus had the power to heal as he demonstrated in many places (see Matthew 12:15). But there were als o times when even Jesus couldn’t cause people to be healed (see Matthew 13:55).
Now, Peter answers the crowd with his new found boldness saying in Acts 3:12 “Men and Israelites, why are you astonished at this? Or why are you staring at us, as if by our own power or godliness we have made him walk?” Peter is careful not to draw any attention to himself or John and turns the attention to God. Saying God has done this great work, but first he hits them again squarely with their responsibility for the death of Jesus in
Acts 3:13–15 “The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over … you denied the Holy and Righteous One … you killed the originator of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses!
Then, we get the answer, the reason this man is healed now, in
Acts 3:16 “And on the basis of faith in his name, his name has made this man strong, whom you see and know, and the faith that is through him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all”.
Jesus had said to them in
Matthew 17:20 “And he said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly I say to you, if you have faith like a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” “
and this was not the only time he had said that what they believe mattered, in
Matthew 21:22 “And whatever you ask in prayer, if you believe, you will receive.”
Faith was rising in the people of Jerusalem so much so, that in
Acts 5:12 “Now many signs and wonders were being performed among the people through the hands of the apostles”
and faith continued to rise so that in
Acts 5:15 “they even carried out the sick into the streets and put them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow would fall on some of them”
The power of God had not changed. The anointing, or gifts in Peter had not changed, what the people believed was possible had changed.
Peter puts the emphasis on the name of Jesus. But why on his name? Jesus had told his disciples in
John 16:23 “on that day you will ask me nothing. Truly, truly I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you”
Every Soul Who Does Not Listen …
Acts 3:19-26
This great miracle, healing a man crippled for forty years, was certainly a blessing, and gave him a whole new life to live. And this is one of the main reasons Jesus came (see Acts 10:38). Bu Peter didn’t stop with the miracle. The miracle was only a sign, a way to get their attention. The real message is what he now gives in Luke 3:19 “repent and turn back, so that your sins may be blotted out”.
Then, “Peter quotes from Deut 18:15, where Moses establishes the nature of the prophetic office: The prophet is the one through whom Yahweh speaks to His people with authority and effectiveness”.1 But Jesus is not just a prophet, he is the only way to salvation, to right standing with God. Peter also quotes “Leviticus 23:29 … at the same time, there was an expectation that the Messiah would be a second Moses”.2
Acts 3:22–23 “Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You will listen to him in everything that he says to you. 23 And it will be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet will be destroyed utterly from the people.’ “
There is though, a finality, a “destroyed utterly” judgement that comes on “every soul that does not listen”.
And While They Were Speaking
Acts 4:1-4
By What Name Did You Do This?
Acts 4:5-14
We Are Not Able to Deny It
Acts 4:15-22
Study Verses
- Acts 2:42-47 Having Favor With All the People
- Acts 3:11-18 His Name Has Made This Man Strong
- Acts 3:19-26 Every Soul Who Does Not Listen …
Today’s Reading
- Acts 2:42-47
- Acts 3:1-26
- Acts 4:1-22
References
- 1. Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ac 3:22). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
- 2. Marshall, I. H. (1980). Acts: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 5, p. 101). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.