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.