Acts 3:11-16

 Acts 3:11-16

While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon's. And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.  But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.  And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

What does one do in the face of a miracle?  A man who had been born lame was jumping around and clinging on Peter.  The crowds began to gather, and Peter was on the cusp of receiving celebrity status.  Crowds can be the source of temptation and distract a minister from the purpose of ministry.  Peter’s response to this situation is a primer on how Christian leaders ought to handle the crowds that gather around their ministries.  Miracles are acts of God and should not be treated as if they are the works of men.

PETER REFUSES TO TAKE CREDIT: When the people recognize that a miracle had occurred, they began to gather around Peter and John.  They had seen the beggar at the gate when they entered.  Apparently, he was in that same spot on a daily basis and was well known by the people who frequented the temple.  Now they see him running and jumping on completely restored legs.  This was an obvious miracle and the man was crediting Peter for what was done.  As the crowd gathers, Peter makes sure to set things straight.  First, he makes it clear that the miracle was not performed by their power or piety.  It is interesting that he mentions both of these.  First, he wants everyone to know that the power to perform these works came from the Lord.  Second, he wants to make sure that the Lord did not work His power through him because he was such a godly man.  All of the credit for this miracle belongs to the Lord.  It is a wonderful thing to be used by the Lord.  When He graces us in this way, it is important that we honor Him and make sure that others honor Him too.

PETER REMINDS THEM OF JESUS: Peter starts out by talking about the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  All those who were hearing Peter speak would have held these patriarchs in high esteem.  Peter then point out that the God of these forefathers glorified Jesus.  The same Jesus who only weeks earlier these people had rejected and called for His crucifixion.  It is possible the Jews might have tried to excuse themselves by blaming Rome and Pilate for having crucified Jesus.  Peter nips this excuse by reminding them that Pilate had tried to release Jesus.  However, these people had preferred to call for the release of a murderer over Jesus.  Peter’s argument is important to see.  They had accused Jesus of Blasphemy because He claimed to be God.  However, the very God they worshiped had glorified Jesus before the people demonstrating that He was who He said He was.  They crucified Jesus, the Son of God and asked for the release of a known murderer.  Peter wants them to understand two important things: who Jesus is and what they had done.  The identity of Jesus and the sinfulness of man are the truths we are called to proclaim to the nations of the world.

PETER REFERS THEM TO FAITH: Peter understands who he is and what has happened.  He identifies himself and John as witnesses to the things that Jesus said and did.  The key ingredient to the miracle that was done is faith in Jesus.  The reason God chose to work this miracle through Peter was simply because Peter believed who Jesus is and what Jesus could do.  This continues to be the case for life and ministry today.  It is impossible to please God apart from faith.  That does not mean that anytime something goes wrong in our lives that we lack faith.  We are called to trust God and depend on Him in both favorable and unfavorable circumstances.  He is our hope and our help in good times and bad.  It was God’s will to heal this man and authenticate the message Peter was preaching.  Peter and John were walking in faith and were convicted of that fact by God and they simply believed that God would accomplish what He called them to do.

APPLICATION: No matter how God chooses to use us in life, we need to remember it is not because of our power or piety.  Humility and dependence on the Lord are the most important qualities for a follower of Christ to demonstrate.  In all we do, we must point others to the Lord Jesus Christ.  We are also called to make mankind aware of their sinful condition.  However, we also can offer the eternal hope through faith in the Lord Jesus.