*Acts 3:12-4:4
Peter explains the healing of the lame man as God’s work through Jesus, whom the people rejected, and calls for repentance.
- Peter’s Sermon at Solomon’s Colonnade:
- Peter addresses the astonished crowd, clarifying that the healing was not done by his or John’s power or piety but through the name and power of Jesus Christ, whom God glorified.
- He reminds the people that they and their leaders had rejected Jesus, leading to His death, even though He was the fulfillment of God’s promises through the prophets.
- Despite their actions, Peter explains that this was all part of God’s predetermined plan, and that Jesus’ suffering was prophesied in the Scriptures.
- He calls for repentance and conversion, assuring the people that their sins can be wiped out and that they may benefit from times of refreshing from the Lord.
- Peter emphasizes that Jesus remains in heaven until the time comes for everything to be restored, as God promised long ago through His holy prophets.
- He identifies Jesus as the prophet like Moses, whom they must listen to, as mentioned in Deuteronomy. He warns that those who do not listen to this prophet will be completely cut off from their people.
- Peter concludes by affirming that the covenant God made with their ancestors, as well as the promises made to Abraham, are now being fulfilled through Jesus, who God has sent first to bless them by turning them away from their wicked ways.
- The Arrest of Peter and John:
- While Peter and John are speaking to the people, they are confronted by the temple guards, the priests, and the Sadducees, who are disturbed because the apostles are teaching the people and proclaiming the resurrection of the dead through Jesus.
- They are arrested and put in jail until the next day, as it was already evening.
- Despite their arrest, many of those who heard the message believed; the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.
3:12 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? 3:13 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.
3:14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; 3:15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
3:16 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.
3:17 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.
3:18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
3:19 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.
3:20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: 3:21 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.
3:22 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.
3:23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.
3:24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.
3:25 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.
3:26 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.
4:1 And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, 4:2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
4:3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.
4:4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.