Acts 3:1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.
Peter and John were leading a large church, but still took time for prayer. They could’ve been planning events, feeding the poor, or doing outreach. Instead, they went to a prayer meeting at three in the afternoon. This may’ve been due to something Jesus said the night before his death. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:5).
The apostles understood that the most important thing they did each day, was to strengthen their relationship with Christ through prayer. The effectiveness of their ministry wasn’t determined by the strength of their personality, but by their relationship with Jesus Christ. Likewise, the better we know him, the more others will see him in us, and take him seriously. Without Jesus Christ, we can do nothing of spiritual value.
Acts 3:2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts.
We don’t know the man’s name, but we know he was lame from birth, and was over forty years old (Acts 4:22). He was put at the temple gate because people are more inclined to be generous when they’re on their way to worship. There he sat, year after year, a nameless beggar on the lowest rung of the social ladder.
But there was another benefit to sitting near the temple. Since Jesus and the apostles were often there, he may’ve heard their sermons. When Peter and John approached, the man asked for money (Acts 3:3). Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk (Acts 3:6), said Peter. Taking him by the hand, Peter helped him up, and his feet and ankles became strong. He began walking, jumping, and praising God (Acts 3:7-9). It was a miracle.
There are about a hundred miracles in the Bible (depending on how you count) and they tend to cluster around a few specific people such as Moses, Elijah, Elisha, Jesus, Peter, and Paul—with Jesus doing the most by far.
Miracles point ahead to a time when prayer will be answered immediately. Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear (Isaiah 65:24), said God. In the age to come, prayer will be answered before it’s even offered. But what about today?
God can do miracles anywhere and anytime he pleases. You are the God who performs miracles (Psalm 77:14), wrote the Psalmist. But God also works through ordinary means such as doctors, friends and family. The things God does providentially are just as much from him as when he acts directly. We ought to pray for a miracle, whenever one is needed, but we should also thank God for his providence, since that’s how he normally works today.
Acts 3:11 While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them.
Since Peter had a crowd, he began to preach to thousands, like on the day of Pentecost. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you (Acts 3:14). Jesus’ crucifixion was still fairly recent, and Peter referred to an event that many apparently knew. Since it was the custom to let a prisoner go free at Passover, Pilate offered the people a choice: they could have the Holy and Righteous One or they could have a murdering insurrectionist by the name of Barabbas.
Which of the two do you want me to release to you? . . . Barabbas, they answered. What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah? Pilate asked. They all answered, Crucify him! (Matthew 27:21-22). This was a terrible stain on the nation from which we can learn three things.
First, some people prefer murderers over the Messiah. Sinners love sinners more than the Savior, as long as they’re living in sin. As long as we think little of sin, we’ll never think highly of Christ.
Second, the crucifixion of Jesus allowed Barabbas to go free. He was on death row, without any hope. But because of Jesus Christ he was set free from the punishment he deserved. Likewise, Jesus took the punishment we deserve, so we could be set free from our sin and the terrible judgment to come.
Third, Barabbas means son of the father. And the reason Jesus died was to make us sons and daughters of the Father. See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God (1 John 3:1), wrote John. Jesus gives hope to people like Barabbas.
Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out.
Imagine you’re in court on Judgment Day, and there’s a massive whiteboard listing all your sins. The smaller sins are written small, and the bigger sins are written big. God is out of the room but, when he comes back and sees what you’ve done, it could go very badly. So you go to the whiteboard and try to erase your worst sins, only to discover they’ve been written in permanent ink. No matter how hard you try to erase them, they won’t come off.
Then Jesus comes into the room and pulls out an eraser dipped in his own blood. One by one he erases your sins until the white board is absolutely glistening (1John 1:7). Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, said Peter. With an offer like that, the number of believers grew to five thousand men (Acts 4:4), plus women and children.
Reflection and Review
Why is it important to spend time in prayer?
What can we learn from Barabbas?
How thoroughly does Jesus forgive?
Peter and John were leading a large church, but still took time for prayer. They could’ve been planning events, feeding the poor, or doing outreach. Instead, they went to a prayer meeting at three in the afternoon. This may’ve been due to something Jesus said the night before his death. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:5).
The apostles understood that the most important thing they did each day, was to strengthen their relationship with Christ through prayer. The effectiveness of their ministry wasn’t determined by the strength of their personality, but by their relationship with Jesus Christ. Likewise, the better we know him, the more others will see him in us, and take him seriously. Without Jesus Christ, we can do nothing of spiritual value.
Acts 3:2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts.
We don’t know the man’s name, but we know he was lame from birth, and was over forty years old (Acts 4:22). He was put at the temple gate because people are more inclined to be generous when they’re on their way to worship. There he sat, year after year, a nameless beggar on the lowest rung of the social ladder.
But there was another benefit to sitting near the temple. Since Jesus and the apostles were often there, he may’ve heard their sermons. When Peter and John approached, the man asked for money (Acts 3:3). Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk (Acts 3:6), said Peter. Taking him by the hand, Peter helped him up, and his feet and ankles became strong. He began walking, jumping, and praising God (Acts 3:7-9). It was a miracle.
There are about a hundred miracles in the Bible (depending on how you count) and they tend to cluster around a few specific people such as Moses, Elijah, Elisha, Jesus, Peter, and Paul—with Jesus doing the most by far.
Miracles point ahead to a time when prayer will be answered immediately. Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear (Isaiah 65:24), said God. In the age to come, prayer will be answered before it’s even offered. But what about today?
God can do miracles anywhere and anytime he pleases. You are the God who performs miracles (Psalm 77:14), wrote the Psalmist. But God also works through ordinary means such as doctors, friends and family. The things God does providentially are just as much from him as when he acts directly. We ought to pray for a miracle, whenever one is needed, but we should also thank God for his providence, since that’s how he normally works today.
Acts 3:11 While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them.
Since Peter had a crowd, he began to preach to thousands, like on the day of Pentecost. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you (Acts 3:14). Jesus’ crucifixion was still fairly recent, and Peter referred to an event that many apparently knew. Since it was the custom to let a prisoner go free at Passover, Pilate offered the people a choice: they could have the Holy and Righteous One or they could have a murdering insurrectionist by the name of Barabbas.
Which of the two do you want me to release to you? . . . Barabbas, they answered. What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah? Pilate asked. They all answered, Crucify him! (Matthew 27:21-22). This was a terrible stain on the nation from which we can learn three things.
First, some people prefer murderers over the Messiah. Sinners love sinners more than the Savior, as long as they’re living in sin. As long as we think little of sin, we’ll never think highly of Christ.
Second, the crucifixion of Jesus allowed Barabbas to go free. He was on death row, without any hope. But because of Jesus Christ he was set free from the punishment he deserved. Likewise, Jesus took the punishment we deserve, so we could be set free from our sin and the terrible judgment to come.
Third, Barabbas means son of the father. And the reason Jesus died was to make us sons and daughters of the Father. See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God (1 John 3:1), wrote John. Jesus gives hope to people like Barabbas.
Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out.
Imagine you’re in court on Judgment Day, and there’s a massive whiteboard listing all your sins. The smaller sins are written small, and the bigger sins are written big. God is out of the room but, when he comes back and sees what you’ve done, it could go very badly. So you go to the whiteboard and try to erase your worst sins, only to discover they’ve been written in permanent ink. No matter how hard you try to erase them, they won’t come off.
Then Jesus comes into the room and pulls out an eraser dipped in his own blood. One by one he erases your sins until the white board is absolutely glistening (1John 1:7). Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, said Peter. With an offer like that, the number of believers grew to five thousand men (Acts 4:4), plus women and children.
Reflection and Review
Why is it important to spend time in prayer?
What can we learn from Barabbas?
How thoroughly does Jesus forgive?