Acts: CHAPTER 3 & 4
Pentecost and the arrival of the Holy Spirit!
If you need an online bible, you can check out TecartaBible here: Acts Chapter 3
AcTS 3:1-10
Peter heals a lame beggar
- What Jesus continued to do and to teach (1:1-2) & signs and wonders done by the apostles (2:43)
- A man crippled from birth (40+ years (4:22)) now leaping for joy (different Greek words in Isa. 35:6 and Luke 1:41, 44; 6:23, but word for “bubbling up” in John 4:14 is the same word as here) and walking, walking, walking, walking
- by the hand – Luke 8:54 (Jairus’ daughter)
- Compare this with Jesus healing a paralytic (Luke 5:17-26) or paralytic at the Temple (John 5)
Lk. 4:18-19 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." [quoting Isa. 61:1-2] Lk. 7:22 And he answered them, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.
- “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth”
- praising God // wonder and amazement yes, but faith … ?
- what role do miracles play in the growth of the church?
ACTS 3:11-26
Peter’s speech to the crowd who sees the lame beggar healed
What is it that Peter focuses on?
- “His servant/son Jesus” – Greek word can go either way
- Holy and Righteous One
- The Author of life
What do you learn about Jesus through Peter’s speech?
Note the contrasts between what “you” have done vs. what God has done
Blessings of repentance and faith in Jesus
- Forgiveness of sins (blotting out)
- Times of refreshing from the Lord
- Jesus’ return and the restoration of all things through Him
- Moses: Deut. 18:15ff., cf. Luke 9:35 – The Prophet
- Samuel and the prophets: 2 Sam. 7:12ff. – The King
- Abraham: Gen. 12:3, but also Gen. 3:16 – The Seed of Blessing
What is required is not mere astonishment, but repentance!
Acts 4:1-4
Peter (and John) brought before the Sanhedrin
Who were the Sadducees?
- Jews, distinct from Pharisees
- Wealthy aristocrats, connected to the high priest and the Temple authority
- Ingratiated with the Romans, policy of collaboration
- Denied the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead (Luke 20:27)
“Many of those who heard the Word believed, and the number of men came to about 5,000” (4:4, cf.
3,000 in 2:41)
Peter and John arrested and jailed overnight until a trial could be held in the morning
Acts 4:5-12
Interrogation and Peter’s defense
Their rulers -> The Sanhedrin (transliteration of a Greek word) = a council of 71 with the high priest
as the presiding member – the ultimate authority in religious matters (Luke 22:66)
Déjà vu? // Annas and Caiaphas (John 18:12ff.)
By what power or name?? (cf. Luke 20:2ff.) -> By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth!
The rejected stone (Psalm 118:22) in whom alone salvation is found!
The one crucified is now the one God raised from the dead!
Acts 4:13-22
The Council’s decision
The Council’s conundrum: they can’t deny or acknowledge the miracle, just like they can’t deny or acknowledge Jesus’ resurrection even though this was the central tenet of their message!
“Don’t speak or teach in the name of Jesus!”
We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard! (Acts 1:8)
The Council let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened (4:21) (cf. John 9, esp. 9:22)
ACTS 4:23-31
The Church Prays
Their demand is not for vengeance, but for miracles of mercy
They prayed to God as the God of creation, revelation and history (“you made, you spoke, you predestined”)
“They were filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the Word of God with boldness”
