The Second Sermon of Peter – part 1
Acts 3:1-26 (1-16)
March 25, 2012
When last we met we saw a beautiful cross-section
Of what the early church looked like.
• They had Supernatural Power
• They had Sacrificial Love
• They had Sincere Testimony
• They had Steady Growth
It was apparent that God in the midst
Of this young and inexperienced congregation.
• What they lack in experience they make up for in power.
• What they lack in resources they make up for in love.
• What they lack in influence they make up for in sincerity.
And God is making the difference.
And that is what we see taking place here again in the book of Acts.
Acts 2:43 “Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.”
As we noted God was granting validity to this church
Through the power bestowed upon the apostles.
This power was even referenced by the writer of Hebrews
As he appealed to lost Jews to turn to Christ.
Hebrews 2:1-4 “For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.”
The writer of Hebrews essentially said,
We know we can believe that these men speak from God
Because God validates their message by miraculous works.
Jesus Himself said:
John 5:36 “But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish — the very works that I do — testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me.”
So it was with the apostles.
God was continually granting them an audience.
The first audience was gathered at the coming of the Holy Spirit
As He entered the scene with the sound of a mighty rushing wind.
That set the stage for Peter’s first sermon at Pentecost,
When 3,000 souls were added to the church.
Well tonight we see it all happen yet again.
Once again we see the Holy Spirit drum up a crowd
And once again we hear Peter stand and deliver.
Among other things we are reminded of exactly how the church works.
We simply join God in what God is doing.
Jesus said of Himself:
John 5:19 “Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.”
Jesus just followed His Father’s lead
And thus found Himself in the middle of His Father’s work.
That is precisely what the early church is doing.
• They aren’t surveying the community…
• They aren’t strategizing new techniques of growth…
• They aren’t studying demographics and cultural trends…
• They aren’t seeking new ways to attract the lost…
• They aren’t synchronizing their watches to line with their radio ministry…
They are just going through life and as they see God at work,
They join Him in it.
They are following Him…
They are depending upon Him…
They are just making themselves available…
If we wanted to outline the chapter
We could break it down into two main divisions.
The Sign & The Sermon
And so let’s look briefly at the sign before we dive directly into the sermon that Peter preached on this day.
(Vs. 1) “Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer.”
And this really just falls right in line with what I was just saying.
They weren’t setting up booths…
They weren’t planning block parties…
They were just going through normal life.
Jesus had once said to them:
Matthew 10:7-8 “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.”
And that is what they are doing.
They “were going up to the temple”
WHY?
Because it was “the hour of prayer.”
There were actually three hours of prayer throughout the Jewish day,
One at 9am, one at noon, and one at 3pm, which is the present one.
It was also the time of day for the evening sacrifice,
Which assures that the temple would have been busy at this time.
And Peter and John were headed there.
(2) “And a man who had been lame from his mother’s womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple.”
We understand what is going on.
This man was a legitimate cripple incapable of medical cure
And so his life’s occupation had been reduced to begging.
Beggars were routinely laid along the road where there was heavy traffic. (like they do today at busy street lights and such)
They also gathered at the gates of rich men’s houses
Luke 16:19-20 “Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day. “And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores,”
And the other obviously popular spot was the temple.
People would be coming there and coming with the intent to show off their spirituality.
This beggar was crippled, but he wasn’t stupid,
He knew where to go for the best help.
(3) “When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms.”
Of course he did.
He was playing on the sympathy and compassion
Of people going to worship God.
Certainly if you avoided him on the way in, after an hour of prayer
You’d likely catch him on the way out.
And so this man is asking for money.
(4-5) “But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, “Luke at us!” And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.”
And this is still going right as expected.
He just thought he had found a donor.
(6-8) “But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene — walk!” And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.”
This however was far from expected.
Peter did not have money to give the man,
But he did have the supernatural power of healing from Christ.
And so Peter told the man to walk in Jesus name
And then grabbed him and raised him up.
“and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened.”
And this man leapt up!
And instantly began praising God.
Now, it is beneficial to point out here what really happened.
We hear a lot of “healing” ministries today,
Certainly we see a lot of it on television,
But let me simply enlighten you to the healing ministry of the apostles.
1) IT WAS A LEGITIMATE DISEASE
There were no mystery pains here, there were no imagined illnesses.
• No inner pains…
• No one leg longer than the other…
• No supposed injuries…
This was a legitimate verifiable problem.
This man was legitimately crippled, he had been from birth.
And his healing was measurable and verifiable as well.
This man could be medically verified both before and after.
2) IT WAS A TOTAL HEALING
In short it was not partial.
This man didn’t even have to go through therapy to learn to walk.
He was totally healed.
He could walk, he could leap,
I’m sure he even did one of those heel clicking jumps.
3) IT WAS AN INSTANT HEALING
This man didn’t need time to recover.
It wasn’t a healing over a period of days, it was instant, right now totally.
4) IT WAS PERMANENT
Today we know of people healed of a disease
And the next thing you know the disease is right back.
Not this man, his feet were permanently fixed.
But know this as well.
5) IT WAS UNEXPECTED
This man did not expect healing.
• He expected alms.
• He was not believing for a healing.
• He was believing for money.
His healing had nothing to do with his faith
And everything to do with the sovereign purpose of God.
6) IT COULD BE DOCUMENTED
And that is what we see next in the chapter.
(9-10) “And all the people saw him walking and praising God; and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.”
There was no doubt that this was a documented miracle.
Even later, when Peter and John are in trouble over this:
Acts 4:14-16 “And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. But when they had ordered them to leave the Council, they began to confer with one another, saying, “What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.”
It is obvious that this was a real, instant, total, permanent,
Verifiable miracle.
This was the Supernatural power of God at work through Peter and John.
AND FOR WHAT PURPOSE?
(11) “While he was clinging to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the so-called portico of Solomon, full of amazement.”
There was the point.
The Holy Spirit was making an entrance to gain Peter a platform to speak.
This was not about satisfying the carnal desires
Of a society that only wants comfort.
This was not about simply wowing and mystifying people
To draw them more to the miracle worker.
It most certainly was not for the purpose
Of making Peter and John rich and famous.
The Holy Spirit had a message to proclaim to the visitors at the temple, and this was His chosen way to get them all together.
This was God at work, and now it is time for Peter to join Him there.
So there is the scene, now let’s listen to the sermon.
And let’s break the sermon down into three parts.
#1 THE EXPLANATION
Acts 3:12-16
Here we find Peter recognizing what God is doing.
“But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people…”
• No doubt there was a lot of excitement…
• No doubt Peter was even getting attention…
• I’m sure the solemn hour of prayer turned into quite the circus.
But Peter didn’t just let the opportunity pass by.
Peter knew it was not just a humanitarian mission.
Peter knew that this miracle was for a purpose.
And so Peter seized this next opportunity.
Just as he had done before when the crowd arrived, Peter does so again.
And just as Peter did during the Pentecost sermon,
The first thing he does is explain to the people what they are seeing.
“Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk?”
We don’t have to try hard to imagine the scene.
I’m sure that Peter and John were about to enjoy “rock star” status.
After all, Jesus commonly did after miracles.
After He fed the 5,000 they tried to force Him to become King of Israel.
Peter and John just became instantly famous.
And this really does speak to their focus and humility.
They were not about to steal God’s glory.
Peter wasted no time setting the record straight.
We did not do this.
Not “by our own power”
Meaning we don’t have it within ourselves to heal people.
Not by our own “piety”
Meaning this didn’t happen because of our extreme devotion.
In short, this miracle had nothing to do with us.
• God is not pointing to us.
• God is not magnifying us.
• God is not exalting us.
• It’s not about us at all, so “why do you gaze at us..?”
I heard David Allen say one time in regard to preachers, “The donkey that carried Jesus during the triumphal entry, knew the applause was not for him.”
That is Peter.
If people were giving him credit they were misguided in their praise.
And then he sets out to explain why this happened.
(13) “The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus”
This is why.
And really from there you could skip down to verse 16, “And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.”
The simple explanation to why this man was healed
Is that God has glorified Jesus
And granted that this miracle be worked in His name.
In other words.
God is so passionate about people placing their faith in Christ, that He has even granted miracles be done in His name in order to verify the importance.
And that is really the explanation.
This man is healed because God wants to exalt Jesus.
And as we said at Peter’s Pentecost sermon,
He really could have stopped there.
But Peter wasn’t about to let the opportunity pass him by.
That is why we also have the “Oh by the way” statement
Stuck in the middle here.
The explanation is clear, but you probably also noticed
That Peter also gave them more information than they wanted.
He also gave them an “Oh by the way”
And that is what we find in verses 13-15
Peter said, “the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus,”
And then took a moment
To remind them exactly who he was talking about.
You remember Jesus don’t you?
“the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him.”
You remember Jesus don’t you? He was God’s Holy One
“But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,”
You remember Jesus don’t you? He was the Prince of life
“but [you] put to death the Prince of life,”
Peter just has a way of rubbing salt in a wound doesn’t he.
He did at Pentecost and he does again here.
Once again he takes the most ridiculous of human mistakes
And plasters it on a billboard for all to see.
He refuses to let their denial of Jesus be a thing of the past.
At every opportunity he continually brings it up.
I mean, later the chief priests figure it out and say:
Acts 5:27-28 “When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them, saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.”
Absolutely, that is Peter’s intent.
But it shouldn’t be strange, after all was it not them who said, “His blood be upon us and on our children forever”?
Peter just wants to make sure
That they are fully aware of what they have done.
And so once again he brings up the blunder of blunders.
1) YOU DELIVERED THE AQUITTED TO DEATH
(13b) “Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him”
Remember how this went down?
Delivered:
Matthew 27:1-2 “Now when morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus to put Him to death; and they bound Him, and led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate the governor.”
The people didn’t know what to do with Him
So they decided to turn Him over to Pilate,
Because Pilate had the authority to execute a person.
But that wasn’t all they did, they also disowned Him.
John 19:13-15 “Therefore when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold, your King!” So they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”
They also cut all ties with Him.
They made it clear that they wanted nothing to do with Him.
(14) “But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One”
That is pretty much drawing a line in the sand
To say you want nothing to do with a man as righteous as Him.
They knew He was righteous, but wanted nothing to do with Him anyway.
John 18:29-30 “Therefore Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?” They answered and said to him, “If this Man were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him to you.”
He was Delivered and Disowned.
They took the Son of God and handed Him over to be killed
And then denied any affiliation with Him whatsoever.
2) YOU DESIRED THE WICKED TO GAIN FREEDOM
(14b) “and asked for a murderer to be granted to you.”
Mark 15:6-15 “Now at the feast he used to release for them any one prisoner whom they requested. The man named Barabbas had been imprisoned with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the insurrection. The crowd went up and began asking him to do as he had been accustomed to do for them. Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” For he was aware that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask him to release Barabbas for them instead. Answering again, Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?” They shouted back, “Crucify Him!” But Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify Him!” Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.”
It really spells out the depth of their depravity.
They actually wanted Barabbas to go free.
Luke 23:19 “(He was one who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection made in the city, and for murder.)”
It spells of blind hatred.
It was just an ignorant rage without reason whatsoever.
They actually denied all association with the righteous man Jesus
And chose instead to associate with a murderer.
3) YOU DESTROYED THE SAVIOR OF GOD
(15a) “but put to death the Prince of Life,”
• It’s bad enough to hand Him over to flogging.
• It’s bad enough to disown association with Him.
• It’s bad enough to desire the fellowship of a criminal over Him.
But you wouldn’t even stop there.
You demanded not only that He be detained, but that He also be killed.
Luke 23:20-25 “Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again, but they kept on calling out, saying, “Crucify, crucify Him!” And he said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has this man done? I have found in Him no guilt demanding death; therefore I will punish Him and release Him.” But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail. And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted. And he released the man they were asking for who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, but he delivered Jesus to their will.”
This really pushes the envelope.
Why not just ask for Jesus to be detained?
Why not just hold Him in prison?
It is one thing to not want Him released, but to adamantly push
For His execution this is really difficult to swallow.
And Peter lays this guilt right upon them again.
And then once again reveals to them that their decision was wrong.
(15b) “the one whom God raised from the dead, the fact to which we are witnesses.”
Just as He did at Pentecost, Peter reveals the depth of their sin
And the foolishness of their decision, for God reversed their judgment.
See, they could do everything humanly possible to see to it
That Jesus died, but that had no power to keep Him dead.
• Pilate sentenced Him to death…
• The Centurion certified His death…
• The Pharisees sealed the tomb…
• The Soldiers kept it under guard…
But the decision was the wrong one
And none could keep God from reversing it.
And so Peter once again reveals to Israel
That you did exactly opposite of the God’s will.
You killed the Messiah of God.
Then he gets back to explaining how this crippled man was healed.
(16) “And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.”
What conviction.
If you want to know how this man can now walk,
It is because the Jesus you killed is alive and He is still working miracles!
And this is probably a good place to stop until next time,
BUT UNDERSTAND WHAT PETER IS DOING HERE.
He is reminding the people
That there is no way to escape your sin or Jesus.
This world needs to understand they are on a crash course with Jesus.
They will stand before Him.
They will answer to Him.
• You can kill Him now…
• You can deny Him now…
• You can disown Him now…
But that is never the end of it.
He doesn’t go away.
And neither does your sin.
God would not let them forget about Jesus, or their sin in killing Him.
And that is why the world moves to such hostilities.
In the very next chapter, the obvious thing occurs, and that is persecution.
See you either submit to the truth of God,
Or you do everything you can to silence it.
Acts 4:1-4 “As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them and put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening. But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.”
But the point is you can’t escape it.
There is no such thing as burying your sin so that God forgets about it.
There is no such thing as staying neutral with Jesus.
Sin has offended God and Jesus is the Savior of God.
Everyone must deal with Him.
Peter made sure of this in His preaching.
When we share the gospel we do the same,
We make sure people are placed face to face with Jesus.
And we do it to such an extent that they either turn from sin
Or turn from us, that is what Peter did.
We’ll finish this sermon next time,
But rejoice in the boldness to present God’s gospel
In such a direct manner.
