The
Prophet Sent From God
–
Acts Three
There are many sad situations in our
word. As Peter and John entered the Beautiful Gate of the
The people were astonished at what had happened. "And all the
people saw him walking and praising God: And they knew that it was he which sat
for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder
and amazement at that which had happened unto him." (Acts 3:9-10) The
apostles were quick to let the people know that the lame man was not healed by
their own power. He was healed through the power of Jesus of Nazareth, whom the
people had crucified.
The purpose of Peter's sermon was to bring these people to Christ.
They were taught to repent of their sin and be converted. The motivation for
such obedience was the fact that Jesus was that prophet spoken of by Moses. The
Old Testament worthies
pointed to Jesus and to the salvation
that can only be obtained through Him. Christ came as fulfillment of the
covenant God had made with Abraham. The purpose of His coming was to turn
sinners from their iniquities.
A lame man needed help – Acts 3:1-5: Peter and John
were together often. Here they go together into the
As the apostles entered the
A notable miracle was performed – Acts 3:6-10: How
disappointed the poor man must have been when the apostles told him that they
had no money. His disappointment quickly turned to joy when they said,
"such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus
Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." (Acts 3:6) Just as Peter had seen
Jesus do, he took the man by the right hand and lifted him up. Where there had
been weakness, immediately there was strength.
The reaction of the man was beautiful. He leaped up, stood and
walked. His cure was perfect and complete. The man joined the apostles as they
went into the
An opportunity to preach the gospel – Acts
The apostles charged these people with delivering up Jesus and
killing the Prince of Life. Peter explained that God had glorified Jesus by
raising Him from the dead, setting him at His own right hand, and by this
notable miracle that had been done on the lame man. He gave the people hope by
showing that God had raised Jesus from the dead. Peter said that it was through
ignorance that these people had denied the Son of God. It was no surprise that
Christ suffered. The prophets had predicted that He would.
Recognizing their duty to God – Acts 3:19-26: The
people were told to repent and be converted, so that their sins might be
blotted out. Refreshment, joy, and peace come with the blotting out of sins.
God sent Jesus to give them hope. He is that prophet like Moses. The one that
does not hear Jesus will be destroyed from among the people. The work of Jesus
Christ is redemption by His blood.
The primary and immediate thing in view here is the accomplishment
of all those things that had been prophesied by the Old Testament prophets.
They are now being completed in and by Jesus Christ. The message was, "For
Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up
unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things
whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul,
which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the
people." (Acts 3:22-23)
All of His doctrines are to be believed, and all His commands are
to be obeyed. The person that will not believe what He says, nor do what He commands will be destroyed. God will hold us
responsible for what we do with His message. Let us learn that Jesus, the seed
of Abraham, will gladly bless people through the forgiveness of sins.
Have you been converted? Faith in the Christ is the beginning point of an acceptable relationship with God. (Romans 10:17) None can have salvation without hearing and believing the salvation message. (Mark 16:15-16) Repentance is necessary for salvation. (Luke 13:3) Repentance is a change of mind that leads to a change of action or a change in life. A simple confession of faith in Jesus made by one's mouth is a necessary step in conversion. (Romans 10:9-10) Those that put on Christ must be baptized into Him. "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Galatians 3:27) At baptism one stops being out of Christ. If you are saved praise God for what He has done for you.