The Power Of Jesus Name:

THE POWER OF JESUS NAME: Acts 3:1-16 + 4:1-20

Today we’ll talk for a little while about the power of the name of the Lord Jesus.

First of all I want to read us the account of the lame man that was healed, and how the religious leaders of that day rebuked Peter and John for proclaiming Jesus, and the using of His name.

ACTS 3:1-16

Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. –3:pm—and let me say that the Jews had certain appointed hours that they would go to the temple to worship, 3 times a day--- Psalm 55:17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. –3 pm- 9 am-12 noon-

2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; 3 who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.

4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

7And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: --not that Peter helped him up, its much the same as in John 2; “the water pots that held the wine that was water was changed, in that miracle had nothing to do with the pots--- and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them** into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:

10 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. 11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, --out of joy and HAPPINESS--all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.

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?—notice peter and John let it known right away that they were not the reason this man was healed--

13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.

14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; --Barabus-- 15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by Him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.—let me say that “this faith” was that of Peter and Johns faith in the Lord Jesus, the lame man didn’t even know who Peter and John were until then and knew very little about Jesus.—

Now lets read of the response of the religious leaders:

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Acts 4: 1-20:

1And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, 2Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.—let me say that the Sadducees didn’t believe in the resurrection of the dead—

3And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide. 4Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand. –this is not counting women and children--

5And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, 6And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.

--Well we notice the people that were present were Annas, the senior ex-High Priest, his son-in-law Caiaphas, the present High Priest, John, Alexander, and other kinsmen of the High Priest who cannot be identified with certainty. They were not at all concerned that a man was healed or that a sermon was preached, but in what power, or by what name, have ye done this?