*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.
Acts 3:12–4:4 teaches us to give God the credit for the good things He does through us and to be bold in sharing our faith. When Peter healed the man who couldn’t walk, he made it clear that the power came from Jesus, not himself. Even when some people opposed their message, Peter and John kept speaking the truth. We can apply this by remembering that our talents and blessings come from God, so we should use them to point others to Him. And when we have the chance to share about Jesus, we should do so with courage, trusting God to work through us.
Acts 3:12-4:4 (WEB)
3:12 When Peter saw it, he responded to the people, “You men of Israel, why do you marvel at this man? Why do you fasten your eyes on us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had determined to release him. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, to which we are witnesses. 16 By faith in his name, his name has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which is through him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.17 “Now, brothers, I know that you did this in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But the things which God announced by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled.19 “Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, so that there may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that he may send Christ Jesus, who was ordained for you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God spoke long ago by the mouth of his holy prophets. 22 For Moses indeed said to the fathers, ‘The Lord God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, like me. You shall listen to him in all things whatever he says to you. 23 It will be that every soul that will not listen to that prophet will be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ 24 Yes, and all the prophets from Samuel and those who followed after, as many as have spoken, also told of these days. 25 You are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘All the families of the earth will be blessed through your offspring.’ 26 God, having raised up his servant Jesus, sent him to you first to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your wickedness.”4:1 As they spoke to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came to them, 2 being upset because they taught the people and proclaimed in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 They laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was now evening. 4 But many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.