A New Beginning, Part One

Acts 3:1-10
P. G. Mathew | Sunday, January 05, 1997
Copyright © 1997, P. G. Mathew

Just before his ascension, Jesus instructed his apostles to stay in the city of Jerusalem until they were baptized with the Holy Spirit. Once they had received power from on high, they could proclaim the gospel, not only in Jerusalem, but also in Samaria, Judea, and to the ends of the earth. In Acts 2 we read that the Holy Spirit was poured out upon them, and in Acts 2:43 we read that many wonders and miraculous signs began to be performed by the apostles.

We read about such a miracle in the third chapter of Acts. Luke, the author of both the gospel of Luke and the book of Acts, wrote about this miracle to illustrate the kind of wonders and miracles the apostles performed. Why did he do this? Luke was a historian. He was a careful investigator who interviewed eyewitnesses and wrote down the historical facts that we find in the gospels. After the founding of the church, he continued to write down the historical facts that he and others observed. He wanted all who are believers in Christ to have absolute certainty that what they are reading in the Scriptures is absolutely true.

A Miracle at the Temple

In the third chapter of Acts we read of Peter and John going up to the temple at the time of the evening prayer. There was morning prayer at the time of the morning sacrifice, around 9 a.m., and evening prayer at the time of the evening sacrifice, around 3 p.m. Many people observed these times of prayer, even Gentile God-fearers like Cornelius. In fact, in Acts 10 we read how God gave Cornelius a vision once while he was praying around 3 p.m. During these times of sacrifice and prayer a priest would go into the Holy Place to offer incense at the altar of incense. The people would gather outside and pray, as we read in Luke 1:10. After the Holy Spirit was poured out on them, the apostles continued to worship at the temple in Jerusalem. So we see John and Peter going up to the temple at the time of the evening prayer.

Peter and John were friends. They had been fishing partners in Galilee and were in the inner circle of Jesus’ disciples. Jesus had sent them ahead of the rest of the disciples to prepare his final Passover meal and they are mentioned together at the trial of Jesus. After the resurrection of Jesus, Peter and John went to the empty tomb together, and Jesus spoke special words to both of them in Galilee during his post-resurrection appearance.

Jesus had previously sent the apostles out two by two to preach, to teach, and to heal the sick as we read in Mark 6:7. So here we see Peter and John going to the temple for prayer and for ministry, two by two, following the principle of Jesus.

The Beggar by the Gate

Peter and John came into the court of the Gentiles and were about to enter the court of women. From there they were planning to go to the court of Israel, where all Jewish men gathered for prayer. Beyond the court of men was the court of the priests, the Holy Place, and the Holy of Holies.

The disciples entered through the gate known as the Beautiful gate, which is probably the Nicanor gate. It was an enormous gate made of Corinthian brass. It was considered by Josephus to be more beautiful and valuable than all the other gates, which were overlaid with silver or gold. At the entrance of this beautiful gate Peter and John found a man who was over forty years of age, crippled from birth, a beggar. His friends or relatives would daily carry him to this location and place him there just as worshipers arrived for prayer.

The beggar was shrewd in his choice of location. Beggars should go where people are. In Luke 16:20 we read how Lazarus was placed at the gate of the rich man, and in Mark 10 we find blind Bartimaeus sitting by the Jericho roadside begging. In a recent missionary journey to the city of New Delhi in India, I saw many beggars at the entrance of a church that I visited. They were waiting for the worshipers to give them some money.

Beggars had good reason to expect contributions from worshipers at the temple. In Judaism almsgiving was practiced widely and was considered to be a meritorious act that contributed to one’s salvation. Jesus taught his disciples to give alms privately, “that your giving,” he said, “may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matt. 6:4). In New Testament times there was no state welfare system, no Medicare, no Medicaid. Everyone knew that poor people were dependent on the good will and charity of others, and people responded accordingly.

The Beggar’s Request

So we see this poor cripple at the entrance to the gate Beautiful, and as I said, he was a shrewd person. He knew that people could not truly pray with a good conscience inside the temple precinct unless they gave him something.

When this man saw Peter and John, he asked them for money. We must note here that this man did not seem to be interested in seeking healing for his crippled body and soul. We know that Jesus of Nazareth had been at the temple many times in his life. He had even been there just weeks earlier, preaching, teaching, and healing the sick. So I do not doubt that this man had heard of Jesus of Nazareth.

Yet although Jesus had visited the temple many times, he had not healed this man. Generally Jesus did not heal every sick person he met, but only those who came to him for healing. We must therefore conclude that, like some of us, this physically challenged man was not seeking healing of his body and soul. He just wanted money. He believed that money would solve whatever problems he had. He knew that money buys bread, that man lives by bread, and that man gets money by working. This man worked as a beggar, which was all that he could do. Therefore, when he saw Peter and John, he asked them for money.

The Apostles’ Response

Peter and John were materially challenged. They were poorer than this poor man. Peter and John were poorer than the poor widow we read of who had only two mites to give to the Lord. Therefore, when the beggar asked them for money, the disciples did not give him any.

Peter and John fixed their eyes on this physically and morally challenged person, and I suspect the Spirit of God was guiding them to show this man the biggest favor of God. “Look at us!” said Peter. In other words, “Give us your full attention! Don’t look on us as you look on others, as people who will give you money. We are different from them. Others can only give you money, but God has given us the deposit of his gospel. We are the apostles of Jesus Christ, ordained to declare the gospel of eternal salvation to the poor. We want you to know that man is not just body. Man is soul. He needs not only bread but also God’s word of life.”

The Beggar’s Need

What was wrong with this man? He was suffering from total inability, total depravity. He was a cripple from his mother’s womb, we are told, just as the blind man in John 9 was blind from his mother’s womb. This crippled man was over forty years of age, yet he had never walked. He had depended on others to carry him around. He had never gone into the temple to worship as others did, or sought healing and change for his condition. He was used to his condition.

This man is a picture of all mankind. In this man we see the total inability of man to do anything to please God. As we read in Romans 3, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. All are under God’s wrath and are unable to save themselves.

To save anyone from sin and God’s just condemnation requires divine initiation. This beggar, then, gives us a good illustration of the total inability of man. He was totally unable to save himself and he was not even seeking salvation.

But God loved this man as he loved the impotent man at the pool of Bethesda that we read about in John 5. He loved him as he loved blind Bartimaeus of Jericho, who cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy upon me!” It is true that a person will not be saved unless God seeks and saves him, but through Peter and John God was seeking this poor man.

Will Money Save?

In Matthew 19 we read the story of the rich young ruler, who came to Jesus and asked what he needed to do to gain eternal life. Jesus told him to go, sell all that he had, give it to the poor, and follow Jesus. But the rich young man trusted in his money. He went away sad because he was a materialist and believed in the false notion that money could save him.

We must ask ourselves: Can money save us? And if we know anything about the Bible, we must answer: No. Peter himself wrote in 1 Peter 1:18 that we are not redeemed by perishable silver or gold but by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. So here in Acts 3 he told the beggar, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give to you.”

That is what the church must declare today: “What I have I give to you.” And yet, tragically, we see many ministers who are not preaching this. What are they preaching? How to make money. I say to such men, “Preachers, you must preach Jesus Christ.” What did Peter say? “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give to you.” The disciples did not have money, but they possessed something infinitely better.

Let me ask you: Are you seeking money? Are you a Marxist? Are you a materialist, having no interest in soul, in angels? Are you a Sadducee, having no belief in the resurrection? Do you think that this world is all there is? People who answer yes to these questions will seek money and all that money can bring to them.

What We Received, We Give to You

The apostles did possess something but it was not theirs. What was it? The gospel. God gave the apostles the good news concerning salvation through Jesus Christ. In 1 Corinthians 11:23 Paul wrote, “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you. . . .” and in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 he said, “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance. . .” What had Paul received? The gospel– “that Christ died for our sins, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,” and that he appeared to many of the disciples, including, finally, Paul himself.

In 2 Corinthians 3:5, 6 Paul said something about himself which was also true of Peter and John. “Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant–not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” And in 2 Corinthians 6:10, while speaking of his qualifications as a minister Paul said he was, “poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything” in Jesus Christ.

How tragic that some Christians run after money, fame, and position! They do not realize that God has given them everything in Jesus Christ.

Jesus Alone Saves

Peter told the crippled man, “In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, walk!” Peter could not give the man silver or gold, but what he could give was Jesus Christ–the one who was crucified, dead, buried, and raised on the third day; the one who is Sovereign Lord of the universe; the one who has received all authority in heaven and on earth. Jesus Christ alone is able to forgive sins and raise the dead.

What was Peter telling the man? Why did he say, “in the name of Jesus of Nazareth”? Peter was saying, Listen, poor man, crippled from birth! Listen, all physically and morally challenged people of the world! You have heard of Jesus–Jesus of Nazareth–Jesus of history, who lived, died, and rose again. Jesus of Nazareth taught in the temple, preached here, and performed wonders. It is he whom you did not seek, to whom you did not express your need, but who healed and raised the dead. This Jesus is God and man. He was crucified a few weeks ago but he has been raised from the dead. He is alive and is life-giving Spirit. He has all power and authority in heaven and on earth. He is still healing the sick and raising the dead. What he began he is continuing by the Spirit through his apostles.

Furthermore, Peter was saying, we are his apostles. Jesus is with us and works through us. He is the author and giver of health and salvation. We do not speak to you in our own authority. Only Jesus has the authority to heal and forgive sins.

As we mentioned before, in John 5 we find another crippled man. But this one was worse off than the one we read about in Acts because he had no friends to help him. But in John 5:8 we read, “Then Jesus said to him, ‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’ At once the man was cured. He picked up his mat and walked.” And we must notice here that Jesus did not say “in the name of somebody else.” He did not have to act in another’s name and authority. Why? He is God. He is life. He is sovereign. He is almighty. As the Almighty he can tell a cripple to get up and that person will get up. Jesus Christ is the only one who has authority on earth to forgive sins.

Peter and John were not saying “in our name.” No one can say that. The church can only say, “In the name of Jesus Christ, rise up, walk!”

God Commands and Enables

Peter told the man, “Walk!” This was a command. It was not a suggestion to the morally and physically challenged forty-year-old wretch of a man. It was a command from the almighty God coming to him through the apostles. Peripate –walk!

In the same way, when God tells us, “Repent and believe on Jesus Christ,” it is a command, not a suggestion. It is not mere philosophical sophistry. We must repent and believe. Why? We will die. Our days are numbered. So just as God spoke to this man through Peter, “Rise up! Walk!” God in his rich mercy comes to us and commands us, “Repent! Believe!”

The crippled man must obey the command to believe in Jesus. He must act immediately. But how could he rise and walk? He had never stood up before in his life. He was crippled from birth. He had never walked. Everything was new: rising, walking, leaping, singing, and worshiping. This was a realm that he had never entered before. It was the kingdom of God.

As I said, his inability was total. How, then, could he do what Peter commanded him to do? Let me tell you, if God commands us to rise and walk, he will also enable us to do it. We need to trust in him because all things are possible for him.

So Peter took the man by his right hand and helped him up. Oh, yes, God gives us help. As Paul wrote in Philippians 2:13, “it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” As he grasped his hand and lifted him up, a miracle took place, the text tells us. The man jumped up and stood. Instantly his feet and ankles became strong. God gave life to his limbs. The power of God that raised Jesus Christ from the dead came into this crippled man’s being and changed him, making him alive. He walked and jumped and praised God. For the first time in his life he experienced life in the kingdom of God.

Repent and Believe

This was a miracle. Let me assure you, it is also a miracle when God says, “Repent and believe,” and you do so. Because of your total moral inability you cannot repent and believe on your own, but God will give you life. He will regenerate you, grant you repentance, give you faith, and cause you to enter into the kingdom of God, which is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. You will be saved.

“Repent and believe” is a command from the Sovereign Lord of the universe to whom the Father has given all authority in heaven and on earth. But if you are inclined not to trust in Jesus and honor him, read what he says in Matthew 10:33: “But whoever disowns me before men I will disown him before my Father in heaven.” That is a threat from the one who has all authority in heaven and on earth and we must take it seriously. But it is also a great encouragement for those who trust in him.

In 1 John 2:22 John says, “Who is the liar? It is the man who denies Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist–he denies the Father and the Son.” A person who refuses to trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation is a man who dishonors the Father and the Son. He is a liar.

What else does John say about those who fail to believe God? In 1 John 5:9-10 John speaks of people who believe everything else every day, but fail to believe in the very word of God. “We accept man’s testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because” here is a tautology “it is the testimony of God,” who is truth, who does not lie. In him there is no darkness, no mutability. God has given a testimony about his Son. John continues, “Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son.” Everyone who refuses to trust in Jesus Christ is telling God every day of his life , “God, you are a liar.” But that only increases our guilt.

Only One Savior

There is only one Savior–Jesus Christ of Nazareth, very God and very man. He alone has all authority. Peter recognized this and spoke these solemn words to the Sanhedrin, who murdered the Lord Jesus. In Acts 4:10 he said, “It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised up from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.”

Peter knew that Jesus had healed this crippled man. But Acts 3:11 tells us that all the people came running to Peter and John. They thought that the apostles were great magicians who could perform miracles. They were amazed because they had known this cripple for a long time. This was an indisputable miracle, so the crowd looked upon the disciples as those who could work great miracles in their own name.

How did the apostles react? They refused the praise of the crowd and pointed them to Jesus, the only true Savior. I don’t know how many modern preachers would act this way. I am sure many of them would just suck up all the praise. “You are right,” they would say, “I am a great man, and I think I will write a book about this experience. In fact, I think I will create my own evangelistic association and ask you to send me money because I am greater and holier than you. After all, haven’t you seen all the great miracles I performed?”

Peter and John refused to receive any glory for this man’s healing. All glory must go to Jesus Christ of Nazareth. So Peter told the Sanhedrin, “Salvation is found in no one else. . .” I have said many times that people are free to believe in any religion and any guru they want. But here is the declaration from the word of God: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Under heaven! It is a lie when a new religion comes or a new guru comes, declaring himself or herself to be some kind of a savior. People have the freedom to believe it. But those who are ordained to salvation, true salvation, will come and bow their knees to Jesus Christ and confess him Lord of all.

Did the Sanhedrin believe the apostles? They knew Jesus had been raised from the dead, as Peter asserted, saying, “It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. . .” As F. F. Bruce says, the Sanhedrin–these educated, powerful people–made no attempt to refute the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ. They could have easily done so had Jesus not been raised from the dead. But they knew he had been raised, and they paid the guards to put a lid on the story. Yet the truth is, the whole book of Acts tells us that as a nation the Jewish people refused to believe in Jesus Christ and thus brought judgment upon Jerusalem.

Who Is Jesus?

Who, then, was Jesus? Well, listen to what Peter told the crowd as found in Acts 3, beginning with verse 13. When they finished worshiping, Peter and John went out into the eastern part of the court of the Gentiles called Solomon’s Colonnade. A large crowd of people ran up to them and Peter began to preach to them.

Who did Peter tell the crowd that Jesus was? First, he called him the servant of God. There was only one servant of God who always obeyed the will of the Father, and that was Jesus Christ. Remember, Romans 3 says “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God”? But there is one, Ebed-Yahweh, the servant of the Lord, that Isaiah speaks about. Jesus is that servant of God. He was commended by God himself in Matthew 17:5, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well-pleased. Listen to him!” Jesus was the one who alone pleased the Father.

Second, Peter called Jesus the Holy One. We read about this holy One in Psalm 16. He who knew no sin is the Son of God.

Third, Peter called Jesus the Righteous One. In Isaiah 53:11 the servant is also identified as the Righteous One who alone has righteousness. We are all unrighteous and depend on him to impute to us his own perfect righteousness. No one else is righteous in the whole world.

Fourth, Peter tells the crowd that by killing Jesus, they killed the author of life. That is a great paradox. What does author of life mean? It means author of resurrection life. Through his death and resurrection Jesus is the source, the author, and the giver of eternal life to us. He is the life-giving Spirit. Just as all Israel became victorious through the victory of David against Goliath, so also through Christ’s victory over death and hell his people enjoy his resurrection life. They can say with Paul, “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (1 Cor. 15:55). Death has been swallowed up for us in his victory.

Next, in Acts 3:22-23 Peter said that Jesus is the prophet that Moses spoke about. We should listen to him, and if we do not listen, we will be condemned.

Finally, in Acts 3:25 Peter said that Jesus is the seed of Abraham. The promised seed is not Isaac, Jacob, or David. Jesus is the seed of Abraham in whom all the families of the earth will be blessed. And what is his specific responsibility in this capacity? There is a beautiful description in Acts 3:26 of the current specific function of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who ascended into the heavens while he was blessing his disciples. He went up blessing, and he is now seated on the right hand of God the Father, blessing us. His job is to bless every person who comes to him and trusts in him.

In Acts 3:26 Peter concluded his speech, “When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.” What is our problem? Slavery to sin and wickedness. This is our great moral inability, and Jesus Christ sets us free from it. If the Son sets us free, we are free indeed. There is only one person in this universe under heaven who is able to bless us. That is Jesus Christ. He invites all of us to receive his blessing. He is the blesser of cripples.

Trust in Christ

As Peter finished speaking to the crowd, he gave an exhortation, which we read about in Acts 3, beginning with verse 19. What did he tell them? Repent! The members of the crowd needed to forsake their attitude toward Jesus. Yes, they had thought previously that he was a blasphemer and criminal. Yes, they had even murdered him. But now Peter was giving them the opportunity to change their attitude toward Jesus and embrace the attitude of the Father toward him. He urged them to acknowledge that Jesus is God, the Holy One, the Righteous One, the Prophet, the seed of Abraham in whom all the families of the earth will be blessed. Now they must acknowledge Jesus is the Christ, the one who was raised from the dead, the only Savior. Peter urged the crowd to repent and turn to God and trust in him.

Now we must realize that no one can repent unless God gives you life and enables you to repent. Only God can enable us to turn to him. The Bible says, “Turn us, O Lord, that we may be turned.”

And when God performs that miracle, and we turn, what will happen next? Our sins will be wiped out completely. Read Psalm 51:1, 9; Isaiah 43:25; and Isaiah 44:22. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all unrighteousness. Nothing in all the world can erase the stain of our sin, but here Peter says sin shall be wiped out, obliterated, totally erased and remembered no more through Jesus Christ.

In Psalm 90:8 we read, “You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.” Every sin we ever did is before God. Big ones and small ones–all are there. But they will all be wiped out the moment we repent and turn to God and trust in Jesus Christ the only Savior. No stain remains on the saints. Oh, that is wonderful news, isn’t it? If that is true for you, may you join me in praising our God!

Refreshment from the Lord

Not only will our sins be wiped out when we repent and turn to the Lord, but then Peter says, “that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” Isaiah mentions this refreshing: “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat . . .and your soul will delight in the richest of fare” (Is. 55:1-2). There is refreshment in God. Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28).

This is Christianity. Money cannot buy this for us. “Silver or gold I do not have,” Peter said. But he had something of infinitely greater worth–the good news of forgiveness of sins and refreshment of our souls through Jesus Christ.

We read about this refreshment in Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. . .You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. . .” Doesn’t that sound like refreshment? God is bringing all the cripples of the world into health and nourishing them by his own life.

Christianity is rest. It is refreshing. In Romans 5:1 Paul says, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God.” This is refreshing. And what else does it include? It means pouring out the Holy Spirit upon us. Remember, Peter said in Acts 2:38, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit comes down and comes into us to be with us forever. And we are told in Romans 5:5 that God pours out an abundance of love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

Why Aren’t We Refreshed?

What is the result of the Holy Spirit being poured out into us? It is the fruit of the Spirit being manifested in our lives. Galatians 5:22-23 tells us we will have “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Doesn’t that sound like real refreshing?

But many people do not want this life of refreshing. Why? They are rebels. They want to dishonor Jesus Christ. We can never have this life of true refreshment if we remain rebels. We can never have it without repentance and faith. We will only have the superficial joy of what money can get. If you are a rebel, I feel sorry for you because, like all of us, your days are numbered. When you come to the end of your days, even the joy that money gives will not help you. You will be left with nothing and your children will get your money. You will not experience times of refreshing.

What do you want? Are you seeking money, silver, gold, bread, and all that money can bring? Are you seeking the pleasures of sin for a season which will bring us down into a vicious circle, into a whirlpool of hopelessness, angst, and misery? From this story of the man who was healed we see that God is able to save a cripple. We must realize that we are all cripples because all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. We must forget about our degrees, our accomplishments, or any other outward signs of achievement. The Bible says God looks at the heart, and in our hearts we are all sinners.

The Purpose of Miracles

Peter emphasized again and again that this miracle was performed by the authority of Jesus of Nazareth. Yes, there was a great miracle, but we must realize miracles are signs pointing to Jesus of Nazareth whose business it is to save us and give us eternal life.

What do we want? Money? Physical health? A promotion? If God gave us any of these things, would our minds be stuck on the miracles God performed? Or would we look away from the miracle, as God wants us to do, and look to the one who is the the Lord of miracles, that we may repent and trust in him?

Look to Jesus

We must adjust our thinking in reference to who Jesus Christ is. We must forsake our own ideas and sophisticated, modernistic ideas. Yes, there is an air of intellectual sophistication when we speak against a God who created the heavens and the earth. But the tragedy is, we are going to die. Our days are truly numbered. Therefore, we must redeem the time. We must repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. And God will lift us by our hand, and our ankle bones, feet and limbs will receive strength instantly. The resurrection and life shall come into us and cause us to confess Jesus is Lord.

Why did Peter say God sent his Son? To bless us (Acts 3:26). What is that blessing? To turn us away from our wicked ways. As we read in Matthew 1:21, his name is Jesus, “because he will save his people from their sins.”

Are you looking for refreshment and contentment? You are probably looking everywhere for it. Do you think marriage will do it? No. Do you think getting out of marriage will do it? No. Do you think a lot of money will do it? No. Let me assure you, nothing will refresh your soul except Jesus Christ.

Have You Believed?

Have you repented and trusted in Jesus Christ of Nazareth? I urge you to trust in him alone for salvation. There is no other Savior. There is no other salvation. Trust in him. Adjust your views. Believe in what God has said about him and you shall be saved.

Praise God! Although we did not seek salvation and though we were crippled in every respect, God sought us and sent his Son to bless us. May he save his people even today. Amen.