Lesson 5 –Healing A Lame Man November 25, 2012. A Lame Man Acts 3:1 – 1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of

Lesson 5 –Healing A Lame Man

November 25, 2012

A Lame Man• Acts 3:1

– 1Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer

The Acts of the Apostles 2

Review• Christianity was not suddenly a

“new” religion• The faithful Jews who accepted Jesus

as Messiah continued their religious practices – probably with a deeper understanding of their meaning

• Peter and John are headed to the Temple at one of the customary times of prayer


A Lame Man• Acts 3:2

– 2And a man who had been lame from his mother's womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple.


For Discussion• A man is being carried to the

Beautiful Gate• Gate not specifically identified• Probably the gate on the east side of

the Temple• Led to Court of Women• Perhaps worshippers more likely to

give


The Temple


BeautifulGate

No Gold or Silver• Acts 3:3-6

– 3When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms. 4But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, "Look at us!" 5And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6But Peter said, "I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!"


For Discussion• Note the marked difference between

what happened here and what the man usually experienced– Most people probably looked away– Peter looks at the man– Peter directs the man to look at him

• Peter has something important to share with him

• He invokes the Name of Jesus to heal


Healed!• Acts 3:7-8

– 7And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. 8With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.


For Discussion• Note Dr. Luke’s description of what

happened– “His feet and his ankles were

strengthened”– Not a psychosomatic illness; He was

crippled from birth• His excitement was uncontrollable

– At first he stood, with help from Peter– Then he walked– Then he began leaping with joy


Amazed!• Acts 3:9-10

– 9And all the people saw him walking and praising God; 10and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.


For Discussion• The reaction of the people confirms

Luke’s diagnosis– They knew that this man was at the gate

everyday– They knew that he was crippled– They knew that something significant

had happened• Their quiet reverence was

interrupted• They were amazedThe Acts of the Apostles 12

Solomon’s Portico• Acts 3:11

– 11While he was clinging to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the so-called portico of Solomon, full of amazement.

• Tradition held that is was built from stones remaining from Solomon’s day

• The portico was on the east side of the Temple Mount


Herod’s Temple


Listen!• Acts 3:12-13

– 12But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, "Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? 13The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him.”


For Discussion• Peter speaks without being asked• He shifts the credit for the healing to

Jesus• He invokes the God of Abraham,

Isaac, and Jacob to connect his hearers to Jesus


Rejected• Acts 3:14-15

– 14“But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses.”


For Discussion• Peter seizes the opportunity to

preach to those who have gathered around

• The Holy One would be understood as Messiah

• Peter raises a paradox– They killed the Prince (or Author) of Life– We are just as guilty

• However, God raised Jesus• Peter claims witnessThe Acts of the Apostles 18

Jesus’ Name• Acts 3:16

– 16“And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.


For Discussion• Faith is key

– Whose faith?• Peter again shifts credit for the

healing– It was Jesus’ Name that healed

• It happened in your presence


In Ignorance• Acts 3:17-20

– 17“And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also. 18But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; 20and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you,”


For Discussion• Peter cuts the crowd some slack• They acted in ignorance, not

recognizing Jesus as Messiah• It was they who killed Jesus, but God

allowed it to happen to fulfill all things

• Salvation is possible; Repentance is required


A Prophet to Come• Acts 3:21-23

– 21“whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. 22Moses said, 'THE LORD GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN; TO HIM YOU SHALL GIVE HEED to everything He says to you. 23~And it will be that every soul that does not heed that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.‘”


For Discussion• Jesus had to return to Heaven to

fulfill the Scriptures• Peter reminds the crowd of Moses’

prophecy about a Prophet to come• Jesus is that Prophet• Refusing to heed the prophet brings

destruction


All Nations Blessed• Acts 3:24-26

– 24“And likewise, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and his successors onward, also announced these days. 25It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, 'AND IN YOUR SEED ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED.' 26For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways."


For Discussion• The Prophets have been consistent in

their message• The children of Israel are the sons of

Promise• Jesus is the fulfillment of the promise

made to Abraham• The Jews were the first recipients


Conclusion• God enabled Peter and John to

perform a miraculous healing• The healing caught the attention of

the people• Peter used the opportunity to speak

to them from the Old Testament to prompt them to repentance


Next Week• Lesson 6 – Peter and John

Arrested


Documents

Lesson 5 –Healing A Lame Man November 25, 2012. A Lame Man Acts 3:1 – 1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of