Acts 3 & 4
Acts 3
1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 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. 7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: 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.
The Doctrine of Almsgiving: The lame man should have asked for ‘legs’, not ‘alms’… Almsgiving is basically ‘kindness’ or ‘righteousness’ giving; it is money that is given out of mercy for the poor. “Begging alms at public places was common in antiquity, although other peoples did not stress charity as the Jewish people did. In Judaism only those who could not work made their living this way, but charity was highly regarded, and the lame or blind would not have to go hungry, especially if they were near the temple. Congenital infirmities were thought harder to cure than other kinds.” (IVP Bible Background Commentary)
The Doctrine of Giving: Is it ok to witness to people beggin for money? Should one give a beggar money (or the needed item), or should they simply give them their real need, the gospel?! Is the typical Missionary loaded with money? Apparently Peter and John had no money on them. The life of a Missionary might be summed up as “Silver and gold have I none…”.
The Doctrine of Healing: It was important for this man to look on Peter and John… he was distracted and asking everyone that was passing by. There is something to fastening your eyes on someone who is in spiritual need; a boldness, a seriousness, a compassion. This is the type of healing that took place with the sign gifts; complete, immediate, impressive. There were no questions about it; the man was indeed healed. This healing involved strengthening to the poorly developed muscles around his ankles. There was no need to develop coordination and balance…he immediately leaped up and walked, and leaped. There was no doubt about this healing…it was 100%. <TOPIC:Benny Hinn needs to have the supposedly healed folk jump up and down, leaping! The healings were designed to be used as an evangelistic tool; to promote interest in Jesus Christ.
11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, 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? 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; 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. 17 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. 18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
The Doctrine of Healing: Once one was healed, it was important to get the people’s attention off of the ‘healers’ and on to Jesus Christ. What was required for this lame man to be healed was his having faith in the name of Jesus Christ.
Put your faith in His name…His title…who He is…all that you know about Him.
Today, people are filled with wonder and amazement at the charismatics, but, sadly, not the fundamental Baptists! That’s why these groups are growing so fast. Satan, the great counterfeiter, is stealing away the people by the masses!
The Doctrine of the Crucifixion:
One of the main purposes for the apostles was to be as witnesses of Jesus Christ’s resurrection. Pilate was determined to let Jesus go, but the Jews chose to have Him crucified and to have a murderer, Barrabas, to go free. The Jews had Jesus killed; but, Peter states that they did this through ignorance. There’s a difference between willingly ignorant and just plain ignorant. Which were these men? If those men really knew that that was the Messiah, then, I assume, they would not have had him crucified. Why don’t the Jews believe that Jesus was the Messiah? The O.T. speaks much about a suffering Saviour. It is a ‘known’ fact of scripture. This truth about Jesus Christ was not hidden or found in an obscure passage of scripture.
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; 20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
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. 22 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. 23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. 24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. 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. 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.
The Doctrine of Repentance: Repentance is necessary in order to have your sins blotted out. <TOPIC:The theThe main sin to repent of is false or un-belief. When one repents here, the change is a correct belief in Jesus Christ. I firmly believe, however, that there needs to be other real specific sins in one’s life that they acknowledge as such and repent of (heart change towards it). Back then, the main sin to repent of was not believing that Jesus was the Messiah. Today, many easily believe that Jesus is the Messiah, but have a myriad of wordly sins that they are drowning in which need to be repented of.
What is being ‘converted’ mean here? It most likely refers to converting over to believing Jesus is the Messiah. We hear terms like ‘conversion experience’ and ‘converts’…hopefully we know what is being referred to with them.
The Doctrine of Prophecy: This is the only use of ‘times of refreshing’ in our Bible. The Rapture, or the Millenium, may herald in this ‘times of refreshing’; there certainly will be refreshing times with either of these two events! This ‘sending’ of Jesus Christ could either be His incarnation, the Rapture, or the 2nd Coming.
This is the only use of ‘restitution’ in our Bible. Are the times of refreshing the same as the times of restitution?
Restitution speaks of getting even, payback, making things right. This could be the Tribulation, or the Millenium, or after the Millenium. Both refreshing and restitution may simply be referring to the ‘day of the Lord’ (Rapture to New world). The verses (20,21) seem to say that Jesus Christ will be in heaven until these ‘times’ begin, i.e. the 2nd Coming.
This ‘Day of the Lord’ has been spoken of throughout the Old Testament (especially in many of the major and minor prophets). Moses spoke of this (v.22) in Deut. 18:15,18. The Messiah would be a Prophet, Jewish, and like Moses (widespread acceptance as the leader, with God’s power clearly being shown through Him). In Abraham’s seed (offspring) would come a blessing upon everyone on earth; Jesus Christ God’s Son would come in order to turn everyone from their iniquities.
Acts 4
1 And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, 2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide. 4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand. 5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, 6 And 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. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
The Doctrine of Persecution: The Sadducees did not believe in the ‘resurrection of the dead’ (the Pharisees did), and they were wanting these preachers stopped. Who are churches’ biggest enemy? Often-times it is the religious community. They (including the government) will become ‘grieved’ at some doctrine or practice that you are teaching or following and will seek for legal authorities to lay hands on you and put you in hold.
Do you think the Mormons or JW’s or Catholic leaders would be happy if you were teaching their members the truth of the Bible? How about the Charismatics when we teach that their ‘sign gifts’ are most likely originating from Satan himself?! How about the liberal United Methodists or United Church of Christ or the American Baptist Convention as we preach that homosexuality is an abominable sin. If these religious groups could get you thrown in Jail, they would….and they just might.
It may very soon be illegal to tell others the gospel in our country (i.e., ‘cold calling’, door to door evangelism, street preaching, etc.). But, will we stop our evangelism efforts? I will not… Even though we have a lot of negative responses to our evangelism efforts, at least ‘a few’ will believe…maybe even ‘many’! Being arrested for preaching the gospel can give you a great ‘forum’ for speaking about Jesus Christ (before the court…which may be covered by the media). Are we to obey God, or man…you decide…?
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
The Doctrine of Evangelism: Being filled with the Holy Ghost will manifest itself through bold, courageous speaking (preaching) of the truths of the Bible to Christ-rejecting Bible-deniers….as Peter did here. There were probably many other men named ‘Jesus’ in that region, so Peter clarified which one (of Nazareth). We need to clarify which ‘Jesus’ we are talking about: i.e., God Almighty, the only Saviour, the Creator. Make sure to speak of Jesus’ death and resurrection. And, it is paramount to tell them that there is salvation in no other name. What other ‘names’ do people say there is salvation in? Buddha, Krishna, Allah, Hindu gods, the Mediatrix, New Age Christ…
This is probably the most provacative statement that one could make today (neither is there salvation in any other)! It pierces into peoples’ whole system of religious thought; it goes to their very soul.
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. 14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. 15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 16 Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. 17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. 18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. 21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done. 22 For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.
The Doctrine of Persecution: Sometimes Christians will be persecuted in part because they are looked as unlearned and ignorant but when they see their boldness they marvel…and probably become intimidated and frustrated. Do people take notice of you and know that you have been with Jesus today? Do they marvel at you and figure out that you are one of those fundamentalist old-fashioned type of Baptists? Religious groups may try and get us arrested when they perceive that we are going out and witnessing to all that live in the city and many will then get saved and/or start attending our church services; thus, they don’t want to lose their church’s impressive status and popularity amongst their community.
We may soon be ‘threatened’ by governmental officials (judges, police, etc.) to try and get us to stop evangelizing, or to stop preaching against abortion and homosexuality, but we must not let their ‘scare-tactics’ affect us. Our Baptist heritage is full of these threatenings and way beyond that; it is all a part about being a Baptist. Peter and John had a very logical reasoning for what they did. God and the Bible (and the church) is of higher authority than the government! Who do you fear more?… The government, the denominational hierarchy, the citizens of your town, your relatives…..??? Always obey the Bible (God), even when the government has straightly commanded you to do otherwise or else… Here is a good ‘soulwinning motto’: ‘we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard’.
23 And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. 24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: 25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? 26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. 27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, 28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, 30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
The Doctrine of Persecution: Just think, though, if the populus was not on Peter and John’s side; they would have ‘punished’ them. How often does it happen where the populus is on the side of the ultra-conservative, fundamentalist, extremist, Baptist??!!….. The liberal segment of the government, and special interest groups, seem to be trying to ‘threaten’ the more conservative, non-compromising parts of Christendom; they are using scare tactics. “Can’t spank”; “Can’t homeschool”; Can’t bring a Bible to school”; “Can’t preach against homosexuality”; “Can’t speak about politics behind the pulpit”; etc.. But, can they ‘punish’ us? Are there laws against these things? Not yet, but soon there may well be some!…. After you have been persecuted, make sure to pray to God for more boldness to speak His word.
31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. 32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. 33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35 And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. 36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, 37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
The Doctrine of the Holy Ghost: Is this a repeat of ‘the Day of Pentecost’ experience? No. It is somewhat similar except that there were no apparent tongues being spoken, no cloven tongues of fire, and no rushing wind. God had this happen to encourage them after the rough treatment that was coming their way. These were filled on Pentecost, but needed to be filled again…and again… Once again the filling is followed by bold speaking of the word of God.
The Doctrine of Unity: What should happen if a church is very united? They will want to give what they have to help the others in the body who are lacking (i.e. ‘commonism’). Can this work today?… I say yes. They sold their assets voluntarily; some even sold their real estate and gave the money to the church. Who should be in charge of all these monies that come in for benevolence needs? The leaders of the church (Pastors). A Pastor should oversee this, but maybe shouldn’t be the ‘holder’ of the monies, per se (Treasurer).