Peter heals a lame man, and then launches into a Christ-centered message that results in a multitude of conversions.

Teaching Notes:

A Miracle and a Message

Acts 3:1-26

Intro:  In Acts chapter 2 we saw how Peter capitalized on the miracle of speaking in other tongues to preach of Christ. The application of his sermon was to “repent and be baptized, and they would receive forgiveness and the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Last week we got a glimpse into the lives of these early disciples who had repented and been baptized. Downard- teaching; Upward – worship; Inward – fellowship; Outward – evangelism.  In this passage we are told that many signs and wonders were taking place through the apostles, and the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. Well, chapter 3 gives us a specific example of one of these “signs and wonders” and how the Lord added many people to the church through it. This chapter divides itself into 2 parts:  First, the Miracle, Second, the Message aroused by the miracle. 
1.   The Miracle:  (3:1-11)

The Setting of the Miracle:  Peter and John were going up to the temple at 3:00 p.m., which was the customary hour of prayer for devout Jewish people. While they were en route, they came to the Gate Beautiful. This gate led from the Court of the Gentiles into the temple precincts. It is generally thought to be the gate made of Corinthian brass, which Josephus said “greatly excelled those that were only covered over with silver and gold.” It was about 75 feet high and had huge double doors. It was here that Peter and John came across a lame man. The man was more than 40 years old (4:22), and had never walked. Evidently he had no one to take care of him (perhaps his parents were dead), and could not work. In that culture, the only option was to beg. Can you imagine being completely dependant upon someone else for your daily existence, every day of your life?! He was even dependant on men to carry him on a cot and set him down every day at the gate of the temple. It was a good place to beg – almsgiving was thought to give merit to those who participated. The worshippers minds would be more open to charity as they entered the temple to worship.

The Flexibility of the Apostles:  they were on their way to a prayer meeting, and did not want to be late, and all of a sudden, here is a man interrupting their schedule. Peter could have said, “Man, don’t bother me right now. Can’t you see we are on our way to a prayer meeting. Some other time, but not now. We have a schedule to keep, and are determined to keep to it!” But they didn’t. They had learned to be flexible from Jesus. Interruptions and changed plans were commonplace to Him. If we say, “Nobody better bother me today!” we will find ourselves being bothered all day long. But if we expect to be bothered, we will make room for God use us and miraculous things can happen. 

The Gift of Faith:  Peter and John “fixed their gaze” on this man. That is an interesting expression, and every time it is used in Acts, something miraculous is taking place. Jesus is ascending into heaven, Stephen’s face lights up like an angel’s, Stephen has a vision of heaven before he dies, Cornelius has a vision, Peter has a vision, Paul is about to smite Elymas with blindness, and a crippled man is about to be healed. I believe it was at this moment that Peter received a gift of faith. Why? Because of 3:16. Faith came through Jesus. Peter and John, and for that matter, Jesus, must have seen this man begging alms countless times before, but it was at this moment that Peter received faith from Jesus to bring healing. This teaches us some important lessons:

1)   It is not always God’s will to heal: if it were, Peter would have healed this man long before.

2)   Sometimes a person will be healed by another’s faith:  this beggar had no faith to be healed. It was Peter’s faith that brought healing. Often, televangelists and faith healers tell us that the reason we are sick is because we lack faith. But, wait a minute. Why can’t these “faith healers” bring healing through their faith?

When Peter receives the gift of faith, what does he do?  He commands the man to look at them. Then he tells them he’s not going to give him money, but he is going to give him something better. Then he commands him to walk in the name of Jesus the Nazarene. Peter is not content to wait around for this man to walk. He seizes him by the right hand and raises him up. This is faith in action! If the man is not healed, Peter is going to look foolish. Why would Peter do this? Because he had seen Jesus do it before him. Jesus did the same thing to Peter’s mother-in-law (Mk.1:29-31), and to Jairus’ daughter (Luke 8:54-55).

The Healing of the Lame Man:  evidently the man had no strength in his feet or ankles. Remember, he had not been using his feet or ankles his entire life. The muscles in these parts of his body were atrophied. First he stood upright – for the very first time in his life. Then, he began to walk. That is a miracle in itself, for a baby must learn to walk over time. He was walking instantly! Then, he began leaping! Oh, the joy he must have felt! The praise towards God that must have gushed from his heart! I can imagine him running around the temple, shouting “I can walk! I’m healed! God healed me! Praise to Jehovah forever!” 

A Crowd Is Attracted:  that seems to be one of God’s purposes in miracles. Miracles, in and of themselves, can’t bring salvation. The Pharisees who witnessed the raising of Lazarus were not converted, but plotted to kill Jesus. However, miracles can arrest people’s attention to the reality of Christ long enough to listen and consider the gospel. That’s what took place here. A huge crowd is attracted by the miracle. Just as the tongues attracted a crowd on Pentecost so that Peter could preach Christ to them, here the lame man’s healing attracts a crowd so that Peter can preach Christ to them. 

2.   The Message:  (3:12-26).  This turns out to be a 4 Point Sermon with Application.

1)  Don’t Look At Us: vs.12. We have no power to heal. Nor did this miracle happen because we are so holy. Oh, the temptation to claim we are something special when God uses us! We might insinuate it is because of our personal holiness, or devotion to prayer and fasting, or intense study of Scripture. No! Remember in The Story, that at Babel the people wanted to make a name for themselves. In a crowded room with many simultaneous conversations, if someone mentions your name, you’ll pick it up! Each of us are tuned to the sound of our own name. Salesmen know this. That’s why the first thing they do is ask you your name, and then use it often in conversation. We all love to see our name in print or hear our name on other people’s lips. We are all stuck on ourselves! Is.42:8. God is jealous for His glory. The quickest way to be taken out of ministry is to say “I want my name to be exalted.” Be careful! Don’t touch the glory. If you do, He will put you on the shelf. That’s true whether you are an evangelist, preacher, pastor, worship leader, Sunday School teacher, or whatever. Beware! The men God uses the greatest or those who continually say, “Don’t look at us – look at Jesus!”

2)  Look At Jesus: vs.13,16.  Charles Simeon sought that every sermon he ever preached would do 3 things:  Humble the sinner; Exalt the Savior; Promote Holiness.  Peter’s sermon did all three! Peter exalted Jesus:  there are 18 direct references to Jesus in this short message. He refers to Him as God’s Servant, the Holy and Righteous One, the Prince of Life, God’s Christ, the Lord, the Prophet like Moses, and the Seed of Abraham. Peter did not draw attention to himself, or the other apostles, but drew their attention to Jesus. If you want to be used of God, you must make much of Jesus. In your witnessing, teaching, or preaching, if you just speak about Him you will do fine.

When he was an older preacher Spurgeon was asked by a young preacher to listen to his sermon and give a critique.  The message was impassioned and well delivered, but Spurgeon was not impressed.  The young preacher asked, “Will you tell me why you think it a poor sermon?” asked the young pastor.  “Because,” said Spurgeon, “There was no Christ in it.” The young man said, “Well, Christ was not in the text; we are not to be preaching Christ always, we must preach what is in the text.”  The old man responded, “Don’t you know, young man, that from every town, and every village, and every little hamlet in England, wherever it may be, there is a road to London?” “Yes,” said the young man. “Ah!” said the old preacher, “and so from every text in Scripture there is a road to the metropolis of the Scriptures, that is Christ.  Dear brother, when you get to a text, say, ‘Now, what is the road to Christ?’ and then preach a sermon, running along the road towards the great metropolis – Christ.”

3)   You Killed Him:  vs.13-15. “you delivered and disowned Him; asked for a murderer; put to death the Prince of Life.”  Peter’s 2^nd sermon is following very closely his first one in Acts 2:23,36. You are guilty! You stand condemned! Your actions are diametrically opposed to God’s. You killed Him; God raised Him. You are not on God’s side. He is against you. You are in Big Trouble! He is the Prince of Life. He is the One who has given life to every creature, including you, and you snuffed out His life! This is what we must do in our witnessing and preaching – we must help men and women to see their guilt. No one will drink if they are not thirsty. They won’t take the medicine unless they believe they are sick. They won’t come to Christ as Savior unless they know themselves to be sinful. The Bad News must precede the Good News. If we allow the fear of man to keep us from telling people the truth, we are putting up a roadblock to their salvation!

4)  God Raised Him:  vs.13,15. Just as in Acts 2, Peter points to Christ raised, ascended, enthroned, exalted at the right hand of God. He enforces this point by saying that the apostles are eye-witnesses to this fact.

Application:

Repent:  3:19. the word “repent” is explained by the next word – “return.” Turn around and go in a different direction. You have been against Jesus. You disowned Him, delivered Him, killed Him. You must change your mind about Him. You must embrace Him, believe on Him, worship Him, and follow Him. You must change your mind about who is really God in your life!

If you repent, you will be receive these blessings:  3:19-21, 26.

·         Sins wiped away: when I’m have squeegeed the windows I’m cleaning, I still have to wipe the edges. In doing so, I am removing any trace of the water, so that the glass is left clean. That’s what this word is referring to. It means “to wash off, erase, obliterate.” This is the same blessing Peter mentioned in Acts 2:38.

·         Times of refreshing:  this is parallel to “receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit” in Acts 2:38. This is the refreshing, revitalizing, comforting, helping ministry of the Spirit that comes to those that repent. If you feel dry as a bone, maybe it’s because you need to repent.

·         Jesus will come for you:  Jesus will come against those that do not repent; He will come for those that repent. When He does come He will bring to pass the “period of restoration of all things.” This refers to the New Heavens and New Earth. It refers to Paradise in the Garden before the Fall. Jesus will restore this world to the way it once was, and would have been if sin had not entered. 

·         Jesus will turn you from your wicked ways: notice that it is a “blessing” for Jesus to turn you from your wicked ways. Refers to our sanctification, our growth in grace, our fight with and victory over sin, our progress in holiness.  If we repent, Jesus will make us holy! 

If you don’t repent, you will be destroyed:  3:22-25.  The phrase “Give heed” means “to pay careful attention to, to obey, to follow.”  Jesus is a Prophet. He speaks God’s Very Words. Peter says that if they don’t repent they will be Utterly Destroyed:  this, of course, is referring to the final destiny of the lost, eternal punishment, the Lake of Fire. People like to make fun of Turn or Burn messages, but that is exactly what Peter is preaching. It’s what John the Baptist preached. It’s what Jesus preached. We need to tell sinners what is at stake, and how to flee from the wrath to come. We need to point to Christ as the Rescuer from Eternal Destruction. May God help us all to flee to Christ and find deliverance in Him! 

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