Sharing Christ

Acts 3

3 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. 3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. 4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Peter Speaks in Solomon's Portico
11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon's. 12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? 13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16 And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus[c] has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
17 “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. 22 Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ 24 And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. 25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ 26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”

By Danny Sathyadass

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. Acts 3:19

As in Acts 2, the sequence of events here in Acts 3 is very similar. Let this serve as an inspiration to help us spread the good news of Christ.

Prayer (Acts 3:1) Peter and John were making their way to the temple to pray. Similarly, in Acts 1:14, all the disciples were praying together just prior to the day of Pentecost.

Supernatural Event (Acts 3:6-10) At the gate, the lame man was healed, which got the whole crowd together.

Declare the Wonders of God (Acts 3:8,9) The excitement of being healed prompted the lame man to walk, jump, and praise God, and all the people saw him. Even before Peter or John could speak, the healed man was declaring the wonders of God, not merely with his mouth, but by his very actions. All the people could see the evidence of God's work in his life.

Validate Message (Acts 3:11-26) Here again, Peter makes references to several Old Testament fathers and prophets to authenticate his message to a Jewish audience. He makes references to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Acts3:13, 25); all the prophets (Acts 3:18); Moses (Acts 3:22); Samuel (Acts 3: 24)

Share Christ (Acts 3:11-26) Peter proclaimed Christ as soon as he got the attention of everyone.

Offer Hope  (Acts 3:19-20) Peter appeals and calls for repentance. “… Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out…”. Strange as it may seem, this call was for a devout Jewish audience who prayed 3 times a day and who followed all the rules. Despite their religious fervor, Peter did not glaze over their guilt. After revealing the gravity of their ignorance and sin, he calls for repentance, which is a change of heart and mind, so that they could ‘breathe easy’, without a sense of guilt. Those who had literally condemned Jesus to die were given a new lease of life. The hope Peter was offering was not temporary; it was everlasting. Blood and animal sacrifices were no longer needed to merely cover their guilt. He declared that their guilt was completely wiped away.

As we go through life, may we prayerfully provide that everlasting hope, so that those who are weighed down with guilt, would experience times of refreshing, as they repent and turn to Christ.

*  This devotion was found at Bible.com titled “Acts Chapter Three” by Danny Sathyadass of City Light Global.