Pastor's Sermon Notes: An Apostolic Miracle of Physical Healing: The Amazing Occasion for the Second Petrine Sermon (Acts 3:1-11)

An Apostolic Miracle of Physical Healing:

The Amazing Occasion for the Second Petrine Sermon

Acts 3:1-11

 

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. 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.

Introduction:

Reminder:  Title(s) of Acts? 

           

The Acts of the Ascended Christ through the Holy Spirit by His Apostles

Overview/Introduction of Chapter 3:

Patterns: Acts 2, Acts 3-4

Cp. Jn. 5, Jn. 9 and Acts 14

Outline:

I.  The Curtain Opens (3:1-3) - The Need to Ask

II.  The Main Act (3:4-8) - The Power to Heal

III.  The Grand Finale (3:9-11) - The Time to Wonder

I.  The Curtain Opens (3:1-3) - The Need to Ask

The stage is set with the meeting of three men!

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.

Peter and John often linked together:

Acts 3:3-4 - 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.

Acts 3:11 - 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.

Acts 4:13 - 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.

Acts 4:19 - 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.

Acts 8:14 - Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

Lk. 22:8 - And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.

Entering the Temple was a daily activity:

Acts 2:46 - And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

Entering the Temple daily for corporate prayer was a daily activity for the residents of Jerusalem:

Lk. 18:10 - Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

Time, and especially times of corporate worship activities were measured in 3 hour blocks:

Acts 10:3 - He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.

Acts 10:9 - On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:

Acts 10:30 - And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

Mt. 27:45-46 - 45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

1 Ki. 18:29 - And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.

Dan. 9:21 - Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.

Ps. 55:17 - Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

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;

Lk. 16:20 - And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

Jn. 9:1 - And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

Jn. 9:8 - The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?

Acts 14:8-10 - ⁸ And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked: ⁹ The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, ¹⁰ Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.

Acts 3:10 - 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.

³ Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.

What role do you play in this event?

What are you asking for?

Do you limit your asking to “alms”, your legitimate “daily bread”, or do you expect God to do what He is “…able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Eph. 3:20)?

II.  The Main Act (3:4-8) - The Power to Heal

The healing power of Jesus Christ is more than the cripple bargained for!

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.

⁴ And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

Acts 6:15 - And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

Acts 10:4 - And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

Acts 13:9 - Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,

Acts 14:8-10 - ⁸ And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked: ⁹ The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, ¹⁰ Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.

Acts 23:1 - And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.

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.

The unnamed crippled beggar is going to get the immediate attention, and and excited crowd will be drawn, but one Name will be witnessed before the crowd and the authorities by this event.  It is not the name of the beggar.

Acts 3:16 - 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.

Acts 4:7 - And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?

Acts 4:10 - 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.

Acts 16:18 - And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

Acts 2:22! - Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:

Acts 9:34 - And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.

Jn. 5:8 - Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

Mt. 8:15p - And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.

Lk. 18:37 - And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.

Jn. 19:19! - And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.

            We are beggars!

2 Cor. 6:10 - As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

⁷ And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

Lk. 4:39 - And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.

 ⁸ And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

The repeated word for “leaping” in this context is a rare word that is found outside of Acts in John’s Gospel and in the Greek Old Testament in Isaiah.

Jn. 4:14 - But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Acts 14:8-10 - ⁸ And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked: ⁹ The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, ¹⁰ Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.

Is. 35:6 - Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

Is. 35:6, LXX - τότε ἁλεῖται [note 1] ὡς ἔλαφος ὁ χωλός, καὶ τρανὴ ἔσται γλῶσσα μογιλάλων, ὅτι ἐρράγη ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ ὕδωρ καὶ φάραγξ ἐν γῇ διψώσῃ, [note 2]

Acts 3:8, BYZ - Καὶ ἐξαλλόμενος [note 3] ἔστη καὶ περιεπάτει, καὶ εἰσῆλθεν σὺν αὐτοῖς εἰς τὸ ἱερόν, περιπατῶν καὶ ἁλλόμενος [note 4] καὶ αἰνῶν τὸν θεόν. [note 5]

Note 1:  Future active indicative 3rd person singular of ἅλλομαι.  ESV Study Bible (Wheaton: Crossway, 2008), pg. 2086, s.v. note on Acts 3:8: “The reference to the man’s leaping employs a rare word (Gk. hollomai),which is found in the Septuagint (Greek OT) of Is. 35:6 with reference to the messianic age.”

Note 2:  Septuaginta: With morphology. 1996 (Is 35:6). Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft.

Note 3:  Present middle participle nominative masculine singular of ἐξαλλόμενος. 

Note 4:  Present middle participle nominative masculine singular of ἅλλομαι.  ESV Study Bible (Wheaton: Crossway, 2008), pg. 2086, s.v. note on Acts 3:8: “The reference to the man’s leaping employs a rare word (Gk. hollomai),which is found in the Septuagint (Greek OT) of Is. 35:6 with reference to the messianic age.”

Note 5:  The New Testament in the original Greek: Byzantine Textform 2005, with morphology. 2006. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

III.  The Grand Finale (3:9-11) - The Time to Wonder

The time to “stop, look and listen” is coming, but for now the multitude sees, knows and wonders!

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. 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.

⁹ And all the people saw him walking and praising God:

Acts 2:47 - Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Acts 4:16 - 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.

Acts 4:21 - 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.

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.

There are specific elements in this Apostolic miracle in common with those of Christ recorded in the Gospels:

Jn. 9:8 - The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?

Lk. 5:9 - For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:

Lk. 5:26 - And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.

 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.

The unnamed crippled beggar who is crippled no longer had never made it this far into the Temple before!

Jn. 10:23 - And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch.

Acts 5:12 - And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.

Conclusion:

1.  Alms - What are we asking for?  This is on the level of common grace.

2.  Healing - How does God answer?  This is an example of special grace.

3.  Wonder - How do we react when God does above and beyond anything that we ask or think?  This is our response of worship to God’s amazing grace!

[Sermon preached 4 AUG 2013 by Pastor John T. “Jack” Jeffery at Wayside Gospel Chapel, Greentown, PA.]