Lesson 7 : Healing and Preaching at the Temple (3:1-26)

1. Lesson 7:Healing and Preaching at the Temple (3:1-26)

2. I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study • The Miracle Performed By Jesus’ Power • The Recipient • Man lame from birth and known by the multitudes • The Place • The temple, an ideal place and time to find people to teach • The Miracle • Immediately, he stood, walked and leaped; and the people saw • The Power • Not the power of man, but the power of Christ (through faith) • The People • All the people knew the man was healed and ran together

3. II. • Significant Truths from this Passage for Our Understanding • Doing all by the authority of Christ is so critical. • The miracles of the Bible were real & amazing; so-called “Modern-Day Healers” are not! • This man was lame from birth (for over 40 years). Modern-Day’ers wouldn’t try it! • The healers in Acts 3 were poor. Modern-Day’ers are all about silver and gold! • The lame man was healed “immediately.” Modern-Day’ers are ok with “eventually”! • The faith of the lame man had no bearing on his healing. Modern-Day’ers blame failed miracles on the lack of faith. • The lame man was given “perfect health” (3:16). Modern-Day’ers cannot/do not! • Miracles in the Bible had God behind them. Modern-Day’ers do not!

4. I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study • The Message Proclaimed About Jesus’ Preeminence • When the people gathered & Peter saw the opportunity, he began to preach (3:11-12). • Peter dispelled any notion that human power or godliness healed the man (3:12). • Peter referred to Jesus in various ways: “Jesus Christ of Nazareth” (3:6); “His Servant Jesus” (3:13, 26); “the Holy One and the Just/Righteous” (3:14); “the Author of life” (3:15); “the Christ” (3:18); “a Prophet…that Prophet” (3:22-23).

5. I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study • The Message Proclaimed About Jesus’ Preeminence • Peter preached God’s “Servant Jesus” and what the people had done (3:12-16). • Peter first rebuked them with a series of contrasts leading to a climax (3:13-15). • God glorified Jesus, but you delivered Him up and denied Him. • Pilate would have released Him, but you refused His release. • You denied the Holy/Just One, but then demanded a murderer set free. • You killed Jesus, but He is the Author of Life. • You put Jesus to death, but God raised Him from the dead. • Peter then affirmed the power of faith in the name of the One they killed (3:16).

6. I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study • The Message Proclaimed About Jesus’ Preeminence • Peter preached God’s “Servant Jesus” and what the people needed to do (3:17-26). • Through His prophets, God foretold of all the events taking place (3:18, 21-26). • God foretold that the Christ would suffer (3:18). • God foretold of the Gospel age & His desire to reclaim fallen man (3:21-24). • God foretold of the coming of a Prophet like Moses (3:22-23; Deut. 18:15-19). • God foretold that Abraham’s seed would be blessed first through Christ, the fulfillment of which was men turning away from their sin (3:25-26).

7. I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study • The Message Proclaimed About Jesus’ Preeminence • Peter preached God’s “Servant Jesus” and what the people needed to do (3:17-26). • God gave a plan for men to be saved from the destruction of sin (3:19-20, 23, 26). • Repent (change of will) and turn again (change of conduct to start a new life). • Hear/Heed Jesus “in all things, whatever He says” (3:22); He has all authority. • Those who do not obey will retain their sins and will be utterly destroyed. • The purpose of God sending Jesus was to turn men from their sins (3:26).

8. II. • Significant Truths from this Passage for Our Understanding • God’s plan of salvation is emphasized again, with a parallel to Acts 2:38! • Acts 2:38RepentBe baptizedRemission of sinsGift of the Holy Spirit • “Turn again” is a better translation than “be converted” (it is active, not passive). • “Turn again” is a separate act that is done after one repents and before salvation. • One returns to the right path and enters a new life when baptized (cf. Rom. 6:3-4). • Acts 3:19RepentTurn againSins blotted outSeasons of refreshing

9. II. • Significant Truths from this Passage for Our Understanding • The Old Testament prophets were inspired of God and united in message! • God spoke “by the mouth” (3:18, 21) – “mouth” is singular. • God spoke “by the mouth of all His prophets” – “prophets” is plural. • All of the prophets of God testified with one mouth/voice! That’s inspiration!

10. II. • Significant Truths from this Passage for Our Understanding • “Restoration of all things” was prophesied & will happen before Christ returns (3:21-24). • “Restoration of all things” (3:21) is not universal salvation or restoring national Israel. • In the context of Peter’s sermon: • The second coming of Jesus will occur after the restoration, not before it. • “The times of restoration” parallels “these days” (i.e., Christian age) in verse 24. • “Restoration” is God’s fulfillment of His attempt to reclaim fallen man thru the gospel. • This has nothing to do with premillennialism or events after Christ’s return. • The Holy Spirit affirmed that Moses wrote the book of Deuteronomy (3:21-23).

11. III. Practical Points of Application for Our Lives • What the Lord has given us (the power of His Word), let us give to others! • Let us remember it is not our power, our word or our goodness that saves, but God’s! • May we learn to joyfully praise God on a continual basis for all He has done for us! • Let’s make sure we have the authority of Christ for all we do and say! • Let’s not try to take credit for doing the Lord’s work; let’s give the credit to Him! • Let us hear/heed all that Jesus teaches and do whatever He says! • May we remember what sin did to Jesus and do all we can to turn away from sin! • If Jesus Himself was described as “God’s Servant,” let us strive for the same “title”!