ActsSample

Acts 3

What’s happening?

Right before Jesus ascended into Heaven, He had told His followers that they would be His “witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth.” True to Jesus’ mandate in Acts 1:8, the witness that began with Pentecost in Acts 2 was pursued first and foremost in Jerusalem. In fact, all the events in chapters 3-5 are set entirely within the holy city.

The first miracle of the Spirit performed through the apostles appears in 3:1-10. When a lame man asks for alms, Peter and John have no money to give. Instead, they give him something far greater, and through the name of Jesus, they heal the man. This gives the man the capability of an entirely new life; it is an act that portrays what salvation does. “In the name of Jesus,” Peter commanded the man to walk. To invoke the name of Jesus is to call upon his authority and power. In a real sense, Jesus, through Peter, continued his healing ministry. Jesus can transform and give new life, and so can the deeds of those He works through.

Once again, as in Acts 2, an event leads to an explanation (vv. 11-26). Peter preaches of Jesus as the exalted servant who fulfills God’s promise and so possesses the power to heal this lame man. The scriptural argumentation of the speech relies heavily on the Torah since God is invoked as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This speech is one of the most Christologically rich addresses in Acts, as Jesus is the servant, the Holy and Righteous One, the Author of life, the prophet like Moses, the Christ, and the seed of Abraham. The proper response to His coming entails turning and repenting (v. 19), as blessing comes from turning to God through Jesus (v. 26).

What do we learn?

Peter and John are fulfilling their role as witnesses to the gospel by showcasing the power of the Spirit. In the name of Jesus, they heal a man, and anyone familiar with Jesus’ ministry would instantly see the parallels. This miracle shows the power of God accompanies the message of God. Because we see his power of physical healing, we can believe in this message of spiritual healing.

What should we do?

As we read about miracles, some of us wish we could see God moving more consistently in this way. How cool would it be to see people being healed while proclaiming the gospel? Yet, we know that the greatest miracle God performs is transforming broken people from death and life. Our message carries extraordinary power, and we communicate this power best when we share the story of how God transformed our own lives.