The Miracle Explained
TRANSLATION
(11) While the (healed) man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Portico. (12) When Peter saw this, he addressed the people: “Fellow Israelites, why are you amazed at this? Why do you stare at us as if we, by our own power or godliness, caused this man to walk? (13) The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has (in this way) glorified his servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered over (to die) and denied in the presence of Pilate when he had determined to release him. (14) But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer to be given to you (15) and killed the Author of Life whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. (16) And it is by faith in the name of Jesus that this man has been made strong whom you both see and know. Yes, it is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him as you can see.
(17) “And now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance as also did your leaders. (18) This is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets saying that his Messiah would suffer. (19) Repent, then, and return to God so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, (20) and that he may send his Messiah who has been appointed for you, even Jesus. (21) Heaven must receive him until the time comes for the restoration of all things which God promised long ago by his holy prophets. (22) For Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people. You must listen to everything he tells you. (23) And anyone who does not listen to that prophet will be completely cut off from the people.’ (24) Indeed, beginning with Samuel all the prophets who have spoken have foretold these days. (25) You are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your forefathers. He said to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all families of the earth will be blessed.’ (26) When God raised up his servant (Jesus), he sent him to you first to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.”
OBSERVATIONS
Luke in this segment gives us an extended recounting of Peter’s second sermon to the people of Israel. Repetitions of names again stand out in this portion of Acts: “Peter” twice (vss. 11 & 12), “Abraham” twice (vss. 13 & 25) along with “Isaac, Jacob, Pilate” (vs. 13), “Moses” (vs. 22) and “Samuel” (vs. 24). We find also several designations of deity including “God” eight times (in vss. 13, 15, 18, 21, 25, & 26), “his servant Jesus” (vss. 13 & 26), “the holy and righteous one” (vs. 14), “the Author of Life” (vs. 15), “Messiah” (vss. 18 & 20), and two more uses of “Jesus” (vss. 16 & 20). Both “faith” and “name” were repeated (in vs. 16). “Prophet(s)” was used six times (vss. 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, & 25). Finally, the verb, “listen” was repeated (vss. 22 & 23).
OUTLINE
I. Peter explained that it was by faith in the name of Jesus that the lame man had been healed. (11-16)
II. Peter exhorted his listeners to repent and trust in the one who had been raised from the dead. (17-26)
IDEA STATEMENT
After explaining how the lame man had been healed, Peter exhorted the crowd to repent and trust in the one whose life and death had fulfilled all the Old Testament prophecies regarding the Messiah.
APPLICATION
Peter’s sermon to the crowd after healing the lame man contained several great truths about Jesus, a virtual introduction to Christology. What follows are a listing of the points that he made:
#1 – The God of Israel glorified “his servant Jesus” in his suffering and death (vs. 13).
#2 – The nation had denied “the holy and righteous one” in condemning him to death (vs. 14).
#3 – Israel had “killed the Author of Life whom God has raised from the dead” (vs. 15).
#4 – It was by “faith in the name of Jesus” that the lame man had been healed (vs. 16).
#5 – Jesus’ death had fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies about the suffering Savior (vs. 18), one like Moses (vs. 22).
#6 – Christ is now in heaven awaiting the moment God ordained for his return to establish his kingdom on earth (vss. 20 & 21).
#7 – Repentance and submission to God’s servant is the only way to escape God’s coming judgment. (vss. 23-26).
While Peter in his sermon did not delve into other theological issues that were fleshed out later such as the nature of Christ’s person (one person with two natures, divine and human) or the nature of our atonement (penal substitutionary), he covered enough to be sure that his hearers were not left with any doubt that the one who had died on the cross was the long-awaited Savior, the only one through whom they could receive forgiveness for their sins and reconciliation with the Father.