Acts 3:12-19 Peters Message
1. Peter and John come upon a lame man who desires alms vs. 3
• The lame man is healed vs 7
• Onlookers are amazed at what they have witnessed vs 9-11
• Now consider the problem the assumption of the crowd vs 12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people , Ye men of Israel , why marvel ye at this ? or why look ye so earnestly on us , as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk ?
2. It is this assumption that provokes Peters Message
• Peter evidently suspects them of imagining that the miracle that they have witnessed is due to Peter or John's own power or piety (v. 12).
• Peter makes it clear that it is neither their power nor their piety that is responsible for the miraculous healing.
• Peter is assured it is God who is responsible for this mighty act of healing vs 13The God of Abraham , and of Isaac , and of Jacob , the God of our fathers , hath glorified his Son Jesus vs 16And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong
3. Peters message tells us what they did
• God glorified His Son Jesus but look what they did ;"ye delivered up , and denied him in the presence of Pilate , when he was determined to let him go ." Vs 13
• Peter says they refused the anointed One But ye denied the Holy One and the Just , and desired a murderer to be granted unto you ; look at Isaiah 53:11
• Peter says they have taken the life of the one who is the "Author of life." The rare word translated "author" is "leader" (as in Acts 5:31) or "pioneer" (as in Hebrews 2:10 and 12:2). Regardless of translation, however, it is clear that Peter is establishing Jesus as the pinnacle of life. And killed the Prince of life , whom God hath raised from the dead ; whereof we are witnesses .
4. Peters message shares it is the actions of God who is responsible for the establishing of the church and providing a sacrificial Lamb
• God fulfilled (v. 18), But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets
• God foretold (v. 18), that Christ should suffer , he hath so fulfilled .
• God announced (v. 21), Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things , which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began .
• God made a covenant (v. 25) Ye are the children of the prophets , and of the covenant which God made with our fathers , saying unto Abraham , And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
• God raised up a servant (v. 26). Unto you first God , having raised up his Son Jesus , sent him to bless you , in turning away every one of you from his iniquities .
5. Peters message tells them and us what we should do, when we era like Israel did.
• Have you messed up have you failed miserably, have you made unfixable mistakes, have you refused the anointed one, have you denied him then,
• repent" and "turn to God" (v. 19). Repent ye therefore , and be converted , that your sins may be blotted out , when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord ;
• The result of this repentance, Peter explains, is that their sins will be wiped out. The image of sins being wiped away is reminiscent of Psalm 51:1-2
