Podcast 138, Acts, “Pt 3, Ch 3”

Podcast 138, Acts, “Pt 3, Ch 3”The apostles have come a long way since they were called to the ministry. In Matthew 4 we read the famous line of the Lord in his initial calling to Peter and Andrew. Matthew 4:18–19And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.We see the fulfillment of the above prophecy in the story of the healing of the man lame from birth by Peter which reflects the miracles of the Master when he was with them. Could those two humble fishermen have even dreamed that someday they would be performing miracles in the Savior’s name? Acts 3:1-8Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 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; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 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. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.The story of the healing of the lame man is rich with doctrine. For example, only through faith and only in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth could Peter heal the lame man. In the story Peter elevates Christ to his rightful position and takes no credit unto himself. The boldness of Peter is also a long ways away from his humbling denial of Christ after Christ’s arrest. Not the least of the lessons we learn is in the desires of the lame man. All he expected from Peter, a chosen servant of Jesus Christ, was a small coin. The coins were either copper, bronze, silver, or gold. The most the lame man expected was probably a copper coin, the smallest at that, comparable perhaps to the widow’s ‘mite.’ Rather than money, however, Peter gave him his life, a life he never knew, having been crippled from birth. The miracle of his healing defies medical knowledge, perhaps even of our own day. It is no wonder that those who witnessed the healing were astonished.Acts 3:9-11And all the people saw him walking and praising God: 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. 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.Peter quickly responds to this marvelous teaching moment. Notice how Peter immediately turns the thoughts of the people to Christ, the very being whom they so recently crucified.Acts 3:12-15And 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? 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. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.Notice the titles Peter assigns to Christ: “The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob”; the “God of our fathers”; “Jesus”; the “Holy One and the just”; the “Prince of life.” Peter made sure they knew that Jesus was the Jehovah of the Old Testament. He condemns the Jews for choosing the murderer Barabas, letting him go free, and condemning The Holy One and the Just to be crucified on the cross, when even the Roman governor, Pontius Pilot, wanted to free Jesus. Peter also teaches one of the greatest doctrines of Christianity, “whom God hath raised from the dead.” It was the Father who raise Christ from the dead. Then Peter establishes the primary role of the apostles—special witnesses of Jesus Christ: “whereof we are witnesses.”But Peter teaches another doctrine central to Christianity. Acts 3:16And 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.6 RONNotice that it is not the faith of Christ but the faith in Christ. One must be tempted to say, “But God is omnipotent! How can that be.” It would destroy everything if God took away the agency of man. He died to preserve our agency. It is the faith the lame man had in the power of Christ that led to his being healed. That is a very hard lesson to learn. Even the apostles who were with Christ daily had to earn their faith. Even Christ could not perform miracles where people had no faith.Matthew 13:58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.How many times did Christ say, ‘Thy faith hath made thee whole?”Again, Peter teaches the mission of Christ while he was on earth. Peter doesn’t ask them to take his word. He does it by referring to the Old Testament prophets. The audience would have been familiar with the ancient prophets.Acts 3:17-18And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.Then Peter declares his mission.Acts 3:19Repent 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;With that call to repentance, Peter teaches another doctrine that Christ taught and his apostles and prophets taught—that message is that Christ will return to the earth. Peter calls it “the times of refreshing.” In other words, the true Gospel will be restored, and all false doctrine shall be done away. With clarity Peter taught. Acts 3:20-22And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: 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. 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.The dictionary defines restitution as “restoring something that was lost, taken, damaged, or wrongfully withheld, making compensation for a wrong, restoration of all things to their proper or intended state.” Synonyms are restoration, recovery, reinstatement, renewal, reconstitution, reestablishment, revival, replacement, return.Paul tells us of the apostasy that shall occur.2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;It is because in the latter days people do not love the truth.2 Thessalonians 2:8-12And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.Again, as we see above, Peter appeals to the ancient prophets. Peter also refers to the destruction of the wicked in the last days, before Christ returns.Acts 3: 23-24And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.Then Peter reminds the Jews that they were the first to be chosen, that they were the children of the prophets, that they were the covenant people, that it was through their lineage that Christ came to earth. Acts 3:25-36Ye 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. 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.Peter, a master teacher, well knew his audience On the one hand he condemns them for crucifying the Lord, but in the same vein, as Christ who on the cross said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Peter also acknowledges their ignorance, “And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.”He is offering them hope through Christ if ‘they repent and become converted, that their sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.’  Peter is saying that regardless of what they have done, they can repent and come unto Christ for Christ was sent from the Father ‘to bless them and to turn them away from their iniquities.’