Acts 3:1-26 “The Beggar and the Crowd”

Acts 3:1-26

February 1, 2009

First Church of the Brethren

H. Kevin Derr

“A Beggar and the Crowd”

1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. 11 While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. 12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: “People of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see. 17 “Now, brothers and sisters, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer. 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. 21 Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. 22 For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. 23 Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.’ 24 “Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets who have spoken have foretold these days. 25 And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’ 26 When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”

One of the things we often forget is that Jesus, and the disciples were Jewish, continued to be Jewish. Our text today reminds us of this clear fact. The disciples, as Jesus had been, continued to be observant Jews. They understood no conflict in being both Jewish and followers of Jesus. They did not assume that all people of Jewish descent would be followers of Jesus, but they attempt to convince people to follow Jesus, to believe that he was indeed the Messiah. Today, there should be no difference either, being a follower of Jesus does not suggest or demand that one leave the synagogue and come to the church. Over the centuries, gentile followers of Jesus have not embraced this truth.

Prayer

I. Our text begins with this account of apostolic activity.

a. 1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.

b. Peter and John are going up to the temple, not on a missionary trip, but to pray. They are going to the temple to pray at the appointed time of prayer.

i. There is no mystery here as to why, they continued to be observant Jews, they are following the example of Jesus.

ii. It sets up for us several key examples:

1. They were worshiping the true God,

2. Their worship of God was valid, though incomplete

3. The disciples continued to worshiping as Jews

4. So, at three in the afternoon, they are in the temple at the time of prayer.

c. This trip to the temple to pray sets up an encounter and a miracle. Luke recounts the events in this fashion.

2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts.

i. There was a man, lame from birth, who came to the temple gate called Beautiful, to beg every day.

ii. In a time when there is no security net, this is how people survived.

iii. This is how this man supported himself.

1. Remember Almsgiving was an important part of Judaism at the time.

2. So, while he is not honored for his activity, neither is he chased away from the temple, but nor is he allowed in.

iv. The plot of the story unfolds in a very predictable fashion. He sees Peter and John coming to pray, he asks for money.

3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money.

4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!”

5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

1. He sees Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asks for money. A reasonable and pious request.

2. Then Peter demands “look at us!”

3. The man assumes that they are going to make some type of display about giving alms to him, and he is anticipating a gift of money.

a. All of this is well within the normal pattern of how things like this should progress

b. And then just as we should see the man getting a gift of money, something else happens.

v. Now here is the twist,

6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”

7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.

1. They don’t have money to give. The disciples continue to live an austere lifestyle, just as Jesus had done before. If they have been in Jerusalem since Passover, two months before, they just may have run out of cash. After all, they never had much in the way of money, they were blue collar workers.

2. So, now Peter tells him, they cannot give him what they don’t have, but there is something that they can give.

a. So, Peter says, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth , Walk!”

b. Peter then takes him by the hand, and pulls him up onto strong feet and ankles.

c. Notice there was no:

i. Committee to see if Peter and John should do something for this man, and then to figure out what should be done.

ii. There was no prayer before the event

iii. There was no doubt

iv. There was attempt.

v. Peter just said, “In the name of Jesus of Nazareth walk!

d. As you look at this, consider what else is missing. Listen to the text 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

i. The man is jumping, walking, and in the temple courts praising God.

1. There is no indication that this man is now a follower, nor is there an attempt to specifically convert this man.

2. Rather they let him praise God in the temple courts, walking on his own two feet, for the first time in his life.

a. The people who saw this were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to this man

b. These people had seen him sitting at the temple gate, all of his life, for as along as they had been coming to the temple to pray.

c. Now they see him running, jumping and praising God. Amazed to say the least.

II. Now, after the people see, after the men in the temple see this man, see him clinging to Peter and John, they come to see what has transpired. Luke tells the story, 11 While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. 12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: “People of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.

a. While this man was holding onto Peter and John, people in the temple come to see what has happened, they ran to see.

i. Peter says to them, “Why does this surprise you?”

1. It would be surprising if we did this of our own power and godliness.

2. It would be surprising if we had done this on our own.

3. It was not who did this,

4. It was the work of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our Fathers, who has glorified the name of Jesus.

a. This man was healed in the name of Jesus of Nazareth

b. This Jesus is a man you know

i. You disowned him

ii. Handed him over to be killed

iii. Though Pilate wanted to release him you wanted a murderer

iv. You killed the author of life but God raised him from the dead, and we are witnesses to his fact.

ii. By faith in the name of Jesus this man, the beggar now walks

1. It was not the faith of the man who was healed

2. It was the faith of Peter and John

3. This becomes center point of the healing, by faith in the name of Jesus, this man now walks.

a. It was not this man’s obedience, nor was it is ability to pray, to read the scriptures, rather it was the prayer offered in faith that made the man well.

i. God working in and through those who believe in the name of Jesus.

ii. Those who trust in the name of Jesus. b. Now they begin to teach the crowd about Jesus. Peter says, 17 “Now, brothers and sisters, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer. 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus.

i. Peter says that they acted in ignorance, not that gives them a pass, but rather to point them to God.

ii. You didn’t know, so, let me tell you.

1. God has fulfilled what he promised

a. That the Messiah would suffer

b. Most people did not expect this, though the prophets make it clear.

2. We know scripture, but we focus on some things we like.

3. For example, Jesus said, “I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” In Matthew 10:34. The point is that people in all ages focus on specific things, though the prophets did say the Messiah would suffer, it does not mean that people spent time meditating on the passages.

4. So, now that we know the Messiah did need to suffer, the crucifixion did need to happen, what is next?

5. Repent, turn to God a. Be forgiven b. Let the refreshment of God come c. Hope for the Messiah to return, for Jesus of Nazareth to return.

III. Jesus is in essence their inheritance, what those who are listening rightly should receive as their own. Peter says, 24 “Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets who have spoken have foretold these days. 25 And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’ 26 When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.” a. Peter starts with Samuel, and declares that all who follow say the same thing.

i. In reality, those listening to Peter should know these things

ii. The prophets are theirs, they have heard them since they were children, it is part of their world view.

iii. They, those listening, are also heirs of the covenant God made Abraham, and this is part of that covenant. iv. God promised Abraham, that through your offspring, specifically Jesus of Nazareth, all people on earth will be blessed.

1. Do you wish to partake of God’s blessing?

2. It is that simple? v. So, the first to be blessed by God’s servant is those who are Abraham’s descendents, but then the gentiles will also be blessed.

b. They start to tell the message first to the Jew and then to the Gentile, the pattern first established by Jesus, now be enacted by the disciples.

Acts 2:14-47 “A Spirit Filled Sermon”

January 25, 2009
First Church of the Brethren
H. Kevin Derr Acts 2:14-47
“A Spirit Filled Sermon”

14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 ” ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ 22 “People of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25 David said about him: ” ‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, 27 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’ 29 “Brothers and sisters, we all know that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. 33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, ” ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand 35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” 36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. The Fellowship of the Believers 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

I. People respond to God in a number of ways, some will embrace and engage God, others will find ways to make it seem that they have not encountered God at all. We all do this at one point or another. There are devout believers who for some reason or a other cannot presently make the leap of faith necessary, so they will find a way to explain what has happened in a fashion that preserves their understanding of the world. These traits are not a division between believers and non-believers, but rather they are the realities of believers lives.

a. Peter stood up to address a crowd of devout Jewish men, some scoffed at what they heard and suggested that the disciples were drunk, which enabled them to speak in other languages. A more tenous position to hold. Others wanted to know what it means, Peter addresses both groups.

b. He says, 14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and    addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!

i. Peter says, these men are not drunk, it is only 9:00 AM

ii. Something else is happening here, God has unleashed his spirit.

iii. So, here is what is taking place: 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 ” ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.

1. The prophet Joel (2:28-32) says God will pour out his Spirit on all people, not on just a select few.

a. Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

i. A prophet is not fundamentally someone who fortells the future, but rather someone who speaks God’s message to his people

ii. At times that does involve what will happen, but the core of the prophets messages is always about the moral failures of God’s people, and a call to repentance and a turning to God.

b. Your young men will see visions and old men will dream dreams

i. This is not say that young men will have a plan for the future, a vision about what they want to do, or that old men will day dream about the past, glory days of old

ii. No, this is about God speaking to his people, in some very specific forms, dream and visions, the way that God communicated with Joseph and with Mary.

2. When a specific time has come, God will pour out his Spirit on both men and women, and they will prophecy. Peter says, this day has come! c. In some ways this is almost a bitter sweet announcement, because with the hope that comes with the announcement of the outpouring of the Spirit, there also comes the warnings. Joel continues: 19 I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

i. There will be signs in the heavens and signs on the earth

1. On the earth blood, fire and billows of smoke a. Classic signs of war, blood, fire and smoke b. Wars and the roomers of war

2. In the heavens a. The sun will be turned to darkness, sounds like a solar eclipse b. The moon to blood may well be a hunter’s moon, a full moon in the fall that allows hunters to be out gathering game before the winter.

3. Joel’s intent was not to be cryptic, Peter didn’t want to obscure the message, and rather he used phrases people would understand. ii. In the future there will be events that herald the coming of the spirit, Peter says this day is here. The result is that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

iii. So, Peter begins to tell them about the Lord.

II. Who is the Lord, Jesus of Nazareth. 22 “People of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. a. Peter begins to preach what becomes known as the Kyrigma, the message, the core of the early church’s preaching about Jesus.

i. Jesus of Nazareth, they identify a specific person, not any Jesus but Jesus from the town of Nazareth.

ii. God accredited this man to you, God was his reference, how did God accredit Jesus of Nazareth to the people of Israel?

1. by miracles, wonders and sings which God did through him, as you can bear witness to

2. In other words, there is no dispute that Jesus worked miracles

iii. You handed Jesus of Nazareth over to sinful men, this was God’s plan and intent.

1. While you are responsible for your actions

2. This was none the less God’s plan

iv. And according to God’s plan, you killed him by nailing him to the cross.

1. Peter places the blame on the shoulders of those present, and yet keeps this in tension with God’s plan.

2. Peter does not say, if you had only listened to Jesus, and not killed him he would be on the throne today….

3. No, he said this is God’s plan.

v. Again, God takes action, and raises Jesus to life, death was unable to keep Jesus. Jesus was freed from the agony of death by the Father, this is again in accordance with God’s wishes.

b. So, what does all this mean? Peter continues to display the truth for us: 25 David said about him: “‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, 27 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’

i. Peter quotes a psalm of David, Psalm 16:8-11 from the Septuagint. That Luke uses the quote from the LXX suggests he knew Greek and not Hebrew.

ii. This Psalm is about Jesus, as if Jesus is speaking, a prophetic utterance from the Psalms. How can I say this, simply, you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay.

iii. It is precisely in this light that Peter understands this Psalm, he says, 29 “Brothers and sisters, we all know that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. 33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.

1. There is no way that David can be speaking of himself, he is in the grave, at the time of Peter the grave was commonly known.

2. That was not a question.

3. God made David a promise that one of his line would sit on the throne, and so the promise must speak of another.

4. He was speaking of the Messiah, of Jesus who God raised to life

5. Now, the day has come when the Holy Spirit is being poured out, just as God has promised.

a. They understand several of God’s promises coming to be seen in Jesus and now in the out poring of the Holy Spirit.

b. This is a significant day. c. Just in case there were still any questions, Peter takes this a step further, and builds his case from scripture again. This time from Psalm 110:1. Peter preaches,

i. 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, ” ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand 35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” 36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

ii. David is still in his tomb, this is the witness of the community.

1. So, David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he wrote

2. The Lord, God the Father, said to my Lord, Jesus of Nazareth, Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool

a. The Father says to the Son, seated on his right, I will accomplish this. b. And there is no way that this can be about David

i. It is about Jesus

ii. Another would have to have spoken these words about David, for it to be about David.

iii. So, who would David’s Lord be, someone greater than himself and yet not the Father?

1. Could this be about Moses? He is not seated at the right hand of the Father

2. It could not be about Saul, he was disobedient to God

3. Jesus of Nazareth is the only one that makes sense.

III. Those who heard Peter’s preaching were moved, moved to action, but they didn’t know what to do. Luke tells us, 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

a. There is only one proper response, repentance, and in the case of those outside the community, baptism as well. That is the answer to what shall we do. Anytime we encounter God our first response will be repentance, not euphoric feelings, but a realization of our own distance from God, we too will be cut to the heart. Luke recounts the experience for us in the following: 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

b. Repent and be baptized

i. Repent, turn from the sin you know, and follow Jesus

ii. If you have never made a formal commitment to follow Jesus, the next step is to be baptized, and state that I now am a follower of Jesus.

iii. If we repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins, we are then able to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

iv. And Peter continued to encourage them, plead with tem, to be saved from the corrupt generation.

v. That day, three thousand were added to the church.

c. So, what are we to do next? 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

i. Devotion to the apostles teaching

ii. Devotion to fellowship

iii. Devotion to the break of bread, communion,

iv. Devotion to prayer

v. The results are awesome:

1. Many signs and wonders were preformed by the apostles

2. All believers were together and held all things in common

a. They sold property as there was need

b. Daily the meet together in the temple for worship and prayer

c. They spent time together, in each others homes with glad and sincere hearts

3. Daily God added to their number those who were being saved