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Acts Chapter Three

Acts 3

In chapter 3 the Spirit addresses His testimony to the people by the mouth of Peter. God still acted in patience towards His foolish people, and with more than patience. He acts in grace towards them, as His people, in virtue of the death and intercession of Christ-alas! in vain. Their unbelieving leaders silenced the word. [1] The attention of the people is attracted by a miracle that restored strength to a poor lame man, known to all who frequented the temple; and, the multitude crowding to behold him, Peter preaches Christ to them. The God of their fathers, said he, had glorified His servant Jesus, whom they had denied, when Pilate would have set Him free. They had denied the Holy One and the Just-desired a murderer-killed the Prince of Life; but God had raised Him from the dead. And His name, through faith, had healed the impotent man. Grace could esteem their act done as through ignorance, and that as to their rulers also. We here see the Holy Ghost responding to the intercession of Christ: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!" Guilty of the ten thousand talents, the great King remits it them, sending the message of mercy which calls them to repentance. To this Peter invites them: "Repent ye, and be converted; [2] that the time of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send Jesus, whom the heaven must receive," he tells them, until the time ordained of God for the restoration which should accomplish all that the prophets had foretold. That is to say, he preaches repentance to the Jews as a nation, declaring that, on their repentance, Jesus, who had ascended up to heaven, would return; and the fulfilment of all the blessings spoken of by the prophets should take place on their behalf. The return of Jesus with this object depended (and still depends) on the repentance of the Jews. Meanwhile He remains in heaven.

Moreover Jesus was the prophet announced by Moses: and whosoever would not hear Him should be cut off from the people. His voice still sounded in especial grace by the mouth of His disciples. All the prophets had spoken of these days. They were the children of the prophets, the natural heirs of the blessings which they had announced for Israel, as well as of the promises made to Abraham of a seed in whom all nations should be blessed. To them also in consequence, God, having raised up His servant Jesus, [3] had sent Him to bless them, in turning away every one of them from his iniquities.

Footnotes

[1] It is striking to see the counsels of God and their accomplishment in grace, as far as they were now being fulfilled, so clearly distinguished from the responsibility of those with whom God was dealing. In chapter 2 Peter says, "Save yourselves from this untoward generation." God was gathering, according to His own knowledge of what was coming. In chapter 3 he says, "God hath sent him to bless you in turning every one of you away from his iniquities." So He had, and patience still waited, though God acted in present grace according to the result known to Himself: 80 in Jeremiah often. Had they repented, God would surely have turned from judgment, as stated also in Jeremiah.

[2] Not "when." There is no pretence for so translating it.

[3] This refers to the time of His life on the earth, though on His intercession there was a renewal of the mercy in testimony to a glorified Christ, who would return on their repentance.

── John Darby《Synopsis of Acts》

Acts 3

Chapter Contents

A lame man healed by Peter and John. (1-11) Peter's address to the Jews. (12-26)

Commentary on Acts 3:1-11

(Read Acts 3:1-11)

The apostles and the first believers attended the temple worship at the hours of prayer. Peter and John seem to have been led by a Divine direction, to work a miracle on a man above forty years old, who had been a cripple from his birth. Peter, in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, bade him rise up and walk. Thus, if we would attempt to good purpose the healing of men's souls, we must go forth in the name and power of Jesus Christ, calling on helpless sinners to arise and walk in the way of holiness, by faith in Him. How sweet the thought to our souls, that in respect to all the crippled faculties of our fallen nature, the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth can make us whole! With what holy joy and rapture shall we tread the holy courts, when God the Spirit causes us to enter therein by his strength!

Commentary on Acts 3:12-18

(Read Acts 3:12-18)

Observe the difference in the manner of working the miracles. Our Lord always spoke as having Almighty power, never hesitated to receive the greatest honour that was given to him on account of his Divine miracles. But the apostles referred all to their Lord, and refused to receive any honour, except as his undeserving instruments. This shows that Jesus was one with the Father, and co-equal with Him; while the apostles knew that they were weak, sinful men, and dependent for every thing on Jesus, whose power effected the cure. Useful men must be very humble. Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to thy name, give glory. Every crown must be cast at the feet of Christ. The apostle showed the Jews the greatness of their crime, but would not anger or drive them to despair. Assuredly, those who reject, refuse, or deny Christ, do it through ignorance; but this can in no case be an excuse.

Commentary on Acts 3:19-21

(Read Acts 3:19-21)

The absolute necessity of repentance is to be solemnly charged upon the consciences of all who desire that their sins may be blotted out, and that they may share in the refreshment which nothing but a sense of Christ's pardoning love can afford. Blessed are those who have felt this. It was not needful for the Holy Spirit to make known the times and seasons of these dispensations. These subjects are still left obscure. But when sinners are convinced of their sins, they will cry to the Lord for pardon; and to the penitent, converted, and believing, times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord. In a state of trial and probation, the glorified Redeemer will be out of sight, because we must live by faith in him.

Commentary on Acts 3:22-26

(Read Acts 3:22-26)

Here is a powerful address to warn the Jews of the dreadful consequences of their unbelief, in the very words of Moses, their favourite prophet, out of pretended zeal for whom they were ready to reject Christianity, and to try to destroy it. Christ came into the world to bring a blessing with him. And he sent his Spirit to be the great blessing. Christ came to bless us, by turning us from our iniquities, and saving us from our sins. We, by nature cleave to sin; the design of Divine grace is to turn us from it, that we may not only forsake, but hate it. Let none think that they can be happy by continuing in sin, when God declares that the blessing is in being turned from all iniquity. Let none think that they understand or believe the gospel, who only seek deliverance from the punishment of sin, but do not expect happiness in being delivered from sin itself. And let none expect to be turned from their sin, except by believing in, and receiving Christ the Son of God, as their wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.

── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on Acts》

Acts 3

Verse 2

[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;

At the gate of the temple, called Beautiful — This gate was added by Herod the Great, between the court of the Gentiles and that of Israel. It was thirty cubits high, and fifteen broad, and made of Corinthian brass, more pompous in its workmanship and splendour than those that were covered with silver and gold.

Verse 6

[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.

Then said Peter, Silver and gold have I none — How unlike his supposed successor! Can the bishop of Rome either say or do the same?

Verse 12

[12] And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

Peter answered the people — Who were running together, and inquiring into the circumstances of the fact.

Verse 13

[13] The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.

The God of our fathers — This was wisely introduced in the beginning of his discourse, that it might appear they taught no new religion, inconsistent with that of Moses, and were far from having the least design to divert their regards from the God of Israel.

Hath glorified his Son — By this miracle, whom ye delivered up - When God had given him to you, and when ye ought to have received him as a most precious treasure, and to have preserved him with all your power.

Verse 14

[14] But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;

Ye renounced the Holy One — Whom God had marked out as such; and the Just One - Even in the judgment of Pilate.

Verse 16

[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.

His name — Himself: his power and love.

The faith which is by him — Of which he is the giver, as well as the object.

Verse 17

[17] And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.

And now, brethren — A word full of courtesy and compassion, I know - He speaks to their heart, that through ignorance ye did it - which lessened, though it could not take away, the guilt.

As did also your rulers — The prejudice lying from the authority of the chief priests and elders, he here removes, but with great tenderness. He does not call them our, but your rulers. For as the Jewish dispensation ceased at the death of Christ, consequently so did the authority of its rulers.

Verse 18

[18] But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.

But God — Who was not ignorant, permitted this which he had foretold, to bring good out of it.

Verse 19

[19] Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Be converted — Be turned from sin and Satan unto God. See Acts 26:20. But this term, so common in modern writings, very rarely occurs in Scripture: perhaps not once in the sense we now use it, for an entire change from vice to holiness.

That the times of refreshing — Wherein God largely bestows his refreshing grace, may come - To you also. To others they will assuredly come, whether ye repent or no.

Verse 20

[20] And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:

And he may send — The apostles generally speak of our Lord's second coming, as being just at hand.

Who was before appointed — Before the foundation of the world.

Verse 21

[21] Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

Till the times of the restitution of all things — The apostle here comprises at once the whole course of the times of the New Testament, between our Lord's ascension and his coming in glory. The most eminent of these are the apostolic age, and that of the spotless Church, which will consist of all the Jews and Gentiles united, after all persecutions and apostacies are at an end.

Verse 22

[22] For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.

The Lord shall raise you up a prophet like unto me — And that in many particulars. Moses instituted the Jewish Church: Christ instituted the Christian. With the prophesying of Moses was soon joined the effect, the deliverance of Israel from Egypt: with the prophesying of Christ that grand effect, the deliverance of his people from sin and death. Those who could not bear the voice of God, yet desired to hear that of Moses. Much more do those who are wearied with the law, desire to hear the voice of Christ. Moses spake to the people all, and only those things, which God had commanded him: so did Christ. But though he was like Moses, yet he was infinitely superior to him, in person, as well as in office. Deuteronomy 18:15.

Verse 23

[23] And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.

Every soul who will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people — One cannot imagine a more masterly address than this, to warn the Jews of the dreadful consequence of their infidelity, in the very words of their favourite prophet, out of a pretended zeal for whom they rejected Christ.

Verse 24

[24] Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.

These days — The days of the Messiah.

Verse 25

[25] Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

Ye are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant — That in, heirs of the prophecies. To you properly, as the first heirs, belong the prophecies and the covenant. Genesis 12:3.

Verse 26

[26] Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

To bless you, by turning you from your iniquities — Which is the great Gospel blessing.

── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on Acts》

Chapter 3. The Author of Life

Silver or Gold I Do Not Have
Give You What I Have

I. Servants Working Together

1. The Time of Evening Prayer
2. Peter and John
3. Go Up to the Temple

II. Miracle at the Gate Called Beautiful

1. Crippled from Birth
2. The Authority of the Name of the Lord
3. Walking, Jumping and Praising God

III. Peter's Second Message

1. Repent and Turn to God
2. Sins be Wiped Out
3. Times of Refreshing

── Chih-Hsin Chang《An Outline of The New Testament》
  
Chapter Three general Review
 
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
 
1) To study the healing of the lame man, noting various aspects of the
 miracle
 
2) To examine Peter's second gospel sermon, his call to repent and the
 blessings to follow
 
SUMMARY
 
The chapter opens with Peter and John going to the temple where they
encounter a man lame from birth begging for alms at the gate called
Beautiful. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Peter commands him
to rise up and walk. Taking the lame man by the right hand and lifting
him up, the man is healed instantly and completely. Walking, leaping,
and praising God, he accompanies Peter and John into the temple to the
wonder and amazement of the crowd (1-11).
 
On Solomon's porch, Peter explains that the healing occurred by faith in
the name of Jesus. God has glorified His Servant Jesus, the Holy One
and the Just, the Prince of life, whom they denied and killed, but whom
God raised from the dead as witnessed by Peter and John. While their
crimes were done in ignorance, even foretold and fulfilled by God, they
are commanded to repent and turn. Those that do are promised to have
their sins blotted out and experience other blessings from Jesus who
will remain in heaven until the times of restoration of all things.
Those who do not heed Jesus will be utterly destroyed as foretold by
Moses (cf. Deu 18:15,18-19). As sons of the prophets, and of the
covenant God made with Abraham to bless all families through his seed
(cf. Gen 22:18), to them first God has sent Jesus to bless them in
turning them away from their iniquities (12-26).
 
OUTLINE
 
I. THE HEALING OF THE LAME MAN (1-11)
 
 A. THE MIRACLE AT THE TEMPLE GATE (1-8)
 1. Peter and John go to the temple
 a. At the hour of prayer
 b. Which was the ninth hour (3 p.m.)
 2. The lame man at the temple gate called Beautiful
 a. Lame from his mother's womb
 b. Carried daily to the gate to ask for alms
 c. Seeing Peter and John, asks them for alms
 3. Peter heals the lame man
 a. They fix their eyes on the man, and Peter tells him to look
 at them
 b. The man gives them his attention, expecting to receive
 something
 c. Peter has no gold or silver, but gives what he has
 1) He commands the lame man in the name of Jesus to rise up
 and walk
 2) He takes him by the right hand and lifts him up
 d. Immediately his feet and ankle bones receive strength
  1) Leaping up, the man stands and walks
 2) He enters the temple with Peter and John
 3) He is walking, leaping, and praising God
 
 B. THE RESPONSE OF THE CROWD (9-11)
 1. The people see the lame man walking and praising God
 2. The people know him as the one who begged alms at the Beautiful
 Gate
 3. They are filled with wonder and amazement at what happened
 4. As the lame man holds on to Peter and John, the people run to
 them in Solomon's Porch
 
II. PETER'S SECOND SERMON (12-26)
 
 A. THE MIRACLE EXPLAINED (12-16)
 1. Peter questions why the crowd marveled
 a. Why look at Peter and John so intently?
 b. As though by their own power or godliness they made the man
  walk?
 2. God has glorified His Servant Jesus
 a. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of their
 fathers
 b. Has glorified Jesus
 1) Whom they delivered up and denied
 a) In the presence of Pilate
 b) When he was determined to let Him God
 2) The Holy One and the Just
 a) Whom they denied
 b) And asked for a murderer to be granted to them
 3) The Prince of life
  a) Whom God raised up
 b) Of which Peter and John are witnesses
 3. It was through faith in His name that made the man strong
 a. A man whom they see and know
 b. Faith which comes through Jesus has given him perfect
  soundness in their presence
 
 B. THE CALL TO REPENT AND BE CONVERTED (17-26)
 1. Peter knows they and their rulers crucified Christ in their
 ignorance
 a. Those things God foretold by the mouth of His prophets
 b. How Christ would suffer, God has fulfilled
 2. Peter commands them to repent and be converted
 a. That their sins may be blotted out
 b. That times of refreshing may come from the presence of the
 Lord
 c. That God might send Jesus Christ
 1) Who was preached to them before
 2) Whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration
 of all things
 a) Which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy
 prophets
 b) Since the world began
 3. Even as Moses warned the fathers (cf. Deu 18:15,18-19)
 a. That God would raise up for them a Prophet from their
 brethren
 b. Whom they should hear in all things, whatever He says
 c. Those who will not hear that Prophet will be utterly
 destroyed from among the people
 d. As all the prophets foretold these days, from Samuel and
 those who followed
 4. They are the sons of the prophets, of the covenant God made
 with their fathers
 a. Saying to Abraham, "And in your seed all the families of the
 earth shall be blessed"
 b. To them first, God sent His Servant Jesus to bless them
 1) Having raised Him up
 2) To turn every one of them from their iniquities
 
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER
 
1) What are the main points of this chapter?
 - The healing of the lame man (1-11)
 - Peter's second sermon (12-26)
 
2) When did Peter and John go up to the temple? (1)
 - At the hour of prayer, the ninth hour (3 p.m.)
 
3) What was the name of the gate of the temple where the lame man begged
 for alms? (2)
 - Beautiful
 
4) When Peter and John spoke to the lame man, what he expecting? (3-5)
 - To receive something from them
 
5) As Peter prepared to heal the lame man, what did he say? What did
 Peter then do? (6-7)
 - "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk."
 - Took the lame man by the right hand and lifted him up
 
6) How soon was the lame man healed? How did the lame man respond?
 (7-8)
 - Immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength
 - Leaping up, stood, walked into the temple, leaping and praising God
 
7) Who saw the lame man walking in the temple? What was their reaction?
 (9-10)
 - All the people, who knew he had been the lame beggar at the gate
 Beautiful
 - Filled with wonder and amazement
 
8) Where did the crowd gather in the temple area? (11)
 - Solomon's porch
 
9) What did Peter first deny? (12)
 - That by their own power or godliness they made the man walk
 
10) What had God done through this miracle? (13)
 - Glorified His Servant Jesus
 
11) Of what did Peter accuse of the crowd concerning Jesus? (13-15)
 - They delivered and denied Him in the presence of Pilate, who wanted
 to let Him go
 - They denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for murderer to be
 granted to them
 - They killed the Prince of life
 
12) What did Peter then proclaim regarding Jesus? What evidence does he
 provide? (15)
 - God raised Him from the dead; he and John as witnesses
 
13) To what does Peter attribute the healing of the lame man? (16)
 - The name of Jesus and faith in His name
 
14) What does Peter say regarding their guilt? What else about their
 actions? (17-18)
 - They did it in ignorance, as did their rulers
 - It was foretold by God through His prophets, which God has now
 fulfilled
 
15) What two commands does Peter give to the people? (19)
 - Repent
 - Be converted (lit., turn)
 
16) What three blessings are extended to those who obey? (19-20)
 - That your sins may be blotted out
 - That times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord
 - That He may send Jesus Christ
 
17) How long must Christ remain in heaven? As described by whom? (21)
 - Until the times of restoration of all things
 - God, by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began
 
18) What did Moses promise to the fathers? What did he also warn
 them? (22-23)
 - God would raise up a Prophet like him whom they should hear
 - Those who do not hear Him will be utterly destroyed
 
19) Who else foretold of these days? (24)
 - All the prophets, from Samuel and those who followed
 
20) How did Peter describe his audience? (25)
 - As sons of the prophets
 - As those of the covenant God made with their fathers
 
21) What promise did God make to Abraham? (25)
 - "And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
 
22) How was God seeking to bless the people? (26)
 - Having raised up Jesus, sending Him to bless them in turning people
 away from their iniquities

The 2000 At Solomon's Porch (3:1-4:4)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. In our previous lesson, we considered the conversion of "The 3000 On
 Pentecost"...
 a. Precipitated by the outpouring of the Spirit - Ac 2:1-21
 b. Where Peter proclaimed the resurrection and exaltation of Jesus
 - Ac 2:22-36
 c. In which 3000 souls responded to the gospel commands to repent
 and be baptized - Ac 2:37-41
 
2. The next example of conversion in Acts is one often overlooked...
 a. Many charts listing examples of conversions in the Book of Acts
 do not include it
 b. Perhaps because little is said about those converted, other than
 "many of those who heard the word believed" - cf. Ac 4:4
 
3. But since our purpose includes looking at the sermons which led 
 people to Christ, we should certainly consider...
 a. Peter's second gospel sermon, proclaimed on Solomon's Porch in 
 the temple court
 b. A sermon that led 2000 more people to believe in Jesus Christ! 
 - cf. Ac 4:4
 
[As we did in the previous study, let's begin with...]
 
I. THE BACKGROUND OF THE CONVERSION
 
 A. PETER AND JOHN HAD GONE TO THE TEMPLE - Ac 3:1
 1. Christians had been gathering daily in the temple - Ac 2:46
 2. Peter and John arrived at the "hour of prayer, the ninth hour"
 (3 p.m.)
 
 B. A MAN LAME FROM BIRTH HAD BEEN HEALED - Ac 3:2-8
 1. Who was left daily at the gate of the temple called
 "Beautiful" - Ac 3:2-3
 a. To ask alms from the people entering the temple
 b. Who asked Peter and John for alms
 2. Peter healed him in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth 
 - Ac 3:4-8
 a. The lame man expected alms
 b. But Peter offered him something much better than silver or
 gold!
 c. The miracle was immediate and total!
 
 C. A CROWD HAD GATHERED - Ac 3:9-11
 1. Drawn by the scene of the man walking, praising God; one they
 knew had been lame from birth - Ac 3:9-10
 2. Amazed and wondering, they gathered in the porch called 
 Solomon's - Ac 3:11
 
[The similarity to the events in Acts 2 are apparent. A miraculous 
event occurs, it attracts the attention of the people. As before,
Peter uses the opportunity to proclaim Jesus...]
 
II. THE SERMON AND ITS RESPONSE
 
 A. JESUS IS PROCLAIMED, AS THE MIRACLE IS EXPLAINED...
 1. Peter explains the true source of the miracle - Ac 3:12-16
 a. It was not by the power or godliness of Peter and John 
 themselves
 b. It was through faith in the One whom the people killed!
 1) God's Servant, Jesus...
 a) Whom the God of their fathers had glorified!
 b) Whom they had delivered up and denied in the presence
 of Pilate!
 -- Calling Jesus God's "Servant" may be an allusion to
 Isa 52:13-53:12
 2) The Holy One, The Just, The Prince of Life...
 a) Whom they denied, asking for a murderer to be 
 released in his stead!
 b) Whom God raised from the dead, as seen by witnesses!
 -- Calling Jesus by these terms emphasized His true 
 person and power
 c. It was through faith in His name that the lame man was 
 healed; note, however...
 1) It was Peter and John's faith in Jesus, not the lame 
 man's faith
 2) For the lame man had not expected a miracle, but silver
 or gold
 2. Peter acknowledges their ignorance, but still calls upon them
 to repent - Ac 3:17-26
 a. He recognizes that they and their rulers acted in ignorance
 b. That what happened was...
 1) Foretold through God's prophets
 2) Fulfilling God's predetermined plan - cf. Ac 2:23
 c. Yet ignorance is no excuse, so they must "repent and be
 converted" - Ac 3:19
 d. Several reasons to so respond are given - Ac 3:19-26
 1) That "your sins may be blotted out"
 a) Alluding to the ancient practice of erasing mistakes
 made on papyrus
 b) I.e., another way to describe the remission of sins
 through Jesus' blood
 2) That "times of refreshing may come from the presence of
 the Lord"
  a) Here is a positive counterpart to the remission of 
 sins (Stott)
 b) God provides more than just remission of sins, but
 refreshment for our spirits (Stott)
 3) That God "may send Jesus Christ" (a reference to His 
 second coming)
 a) Who was preached to them before (via the prophets)
 b) Whom heaven must receive until the times of 
 restoration of all things (of which the prophets of 
 God had also spoken)
 1] As an example of the prophets who had spoken, 
 Moses is quoted
 2] Others since Samuel have likewise told of these 
 days
 4) They were "sons of the prophets, and of the covenant"
 God made with their fathers
 a) A covenant made with Abraham, to bless the world in 
 his seed
 b) A promise fulfilled by God through His Servant Jesus,
 Whom He raised
 1] Who was sent by God to bless them
 2] To bless them by turning them away from their sins
 
 B. THE RESPONSE TO PETER'S SERMON...
 1. A negative response by the religious leaders - Ac 4:1-3
 a. They were greatly disturbed, because in preaching Jesus, 
 Peter preached the resurrection of the dead
 b. The Sadducees in particular denied the idea of a bodily 
 resurrection - Ac 23:6-9
  c. So they had Peter and John placed in custody for trial the
 next day
 2. A positive response by many who heard - Ac 4:4
 a. Many who heard the word "believed"
 b. As many as two thousand men accepted the preaching of 
 Peter!
 
[The power of the gospel to convict the hearts of men continues to be 
seen, though with some the effect appears to be a hardening of their 
hearts. As we focus on the sermon and its response, what can we glean
from this example of conversion?]
 
III. AN ANALYSIS OF THE CONVERSION
 
 A. OBSERVATIONS REGARDING PETER'S SERMON...
 1. Again we note the Christ-centeredness of Peter's preaching
 a. As in his sermon on Pentecost
 b. While explaining the miracle, he directs their attention to
 Jesus, not the sign
 2. Again Peter's main theme is the resurrection and exaltation of
 Jesus - Ac 3:13-15
 a. The One they killed, God raised from the dead
 b. The One they killed, God has glorified
 3. Yet Peter also introduces a new element...
 a. The coming of Jesus from heaven!
 b. Jesus is coming again! - Ac 3:20-21
 4. The sermon's climax is the call to "repent therefore, and be
 converted" - Ac 3:19
  a. From this we learn that repentance and conversion are not
 same thing
 1) Otherwise, Peter was redundant
 2) I.e., he would have been saying "repent and repent"
 b. Repent (metanoeo) means "a change of mind"
 1) True repentance is brought on by "godly sorrow" - 2 Co
 7:9
 2) Such repentance then leads one to "salvation" - 2 Co 
 7:10
 -- Thus they were being called to change their minds 
  regarding Jesus and their sinful ways
 c. What is meant by "be converted"?
 1) The NKJV and KJV suggest a passive act, but the Greek is
 aorist active imperative, implying there is something we
 must do
  a) The key idea is to "turn" or "return"
 b) The NIV has "turn to God" and the NASB has "return"
 -- But how does one turn to God?
 2) Compare Peter's word's Ac 3:19 with Ac 2:38
 a) "Repent" (Ac 2:38) and "Repent" (Ac 3:19)
 b) "Be baptized" (Ac 2:38) and "Be converted" (Ac 3:19)
 3) Could Peter be referring to baptism when he says "be 
 converted"?
 a) When one submits to baptism, they so do with an 
 appeal for a clear conscience - cf. 1 Pe 3:21
 b) In baptism they are calling upon the name of the Lord
 - Ac 22:16
 -- Therefore I believe the call to "turn" likely involved
  baptism 
 5. The blessings promised are similar to those found in the first
 sermon
 a. There is the forgiveness of sins...
 1) Described as the "remission of sins" in the first 
 sermon - Ac 2:38
 2) Described now as having one's sins "blotted out" - Ac
 3:19
 b. There is the positive counterpart to the remission of
 sins...
 1) Described as "the gift of the Holy Spirit" in the first
  sermon - Ac 2:38-39
 2) Described now as "the times of refreshing...from the
 presence of the Lord" - Ac 3:19
 3) I understand Peter to refer to the same thing...
 a) I.e., the Spirit as a gift to the Christian - Ac 5:
 32; Ga 4:6; Ep 1:13-14
 b) Whom Jesus promised as a refreshing blessing - Jn 7:
 37-39; cf. also Jn 4:10-14
 6. In this sermon we find a warning
 a. In the first sermon Peter pleaded with the people to "be
 saved from this perverse generation" - Ac 2:40
 b. Now we find a reason why, with Moses' prophecy: "every soul
 who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed
 from among the people" - Ac 3:23
 
 B. OBSERVATIONS REGARDING THE RESPONSE...
 1. As mentioned in the introduction, little is said, other than 
 many "believed" - Ac 4:4
 2. Are we to conclude from this that was all they did?
 a. Did they not also "repent"?
 b. Did they not also "turn"?
 3. I think it fair to conclude that the term "believed" 
 encompassed more than simply an acceptance of the facts that 
 had been proclaimed
 a. That it involved a complete reception of the message 
 preached
 b. That it included an obedience to whatever conditions had 
 been proclaimed by the apostles (such as repentance, 
 turning, baptism)
 c. That just as faith was not explicitly mentioned in the
 first sermon, but is fairly inferred, so also with baptism
 here
 
 C. LESSONS FOR TODAY...
 1. When preaching the gospel...
 a. We must not lose the Christ-centeredness of our focus
  1) That includes preaching his death, resurrection and 
 glorification
 2) That Jesus provides more than just the forgiveness of 
 sin; but as the Prince of Life, He is the source of 
 every spiritual blessing from above - cf. Ep 1:3
 3) That preaching Christ includes preaching His return from
 heaven, for He is coming again!
 b. The clarion call of the gospel is one of repentance!
 1) Faith and baptism are certainly important even essential
 2) Yet repentance was an important theme of preaching by:
 a) John the Baptist - Mt 3:1-2
 b) Jesus - Mt 4:17; Lk 13:3,5
 -- And now by the apostles - Ac 2:38; 3:19; cf. Lk 24:
 47; Ac 20:21
 2. When people respond to the gospel, we should expect to see...
 a. A change of mind (repentance), brought about by "godly 
 sorrow" - cf. 2 Co 7:9-10
 b. A change of life, as they "turn" from their sins and "turn"
 to God - cf. 2 Co 7:11
 1) Implied by the word "converted" (turn)
 2) A process that involves their baptism into Christ, in 
 which they die to sin and rise to walk in newness of 
 life - cf. Ro 6:3-7
 -- All of which can be summarized as having "believed"!
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. With this example of conversion, Peter continues to fulfill the 
 commission of his Lord...
 a. To preach the gospel - Mk 16:15-16
 b. To preach repentance and remission of sins in His name - Lk 24:47
 
2. We saw that not all responded in the same way...
 a. Yes, 2000 heard the word and believed
 b. But some religious people with their preconceived ideas were 
 resistant to the gospel
 -- Sadly, many people today reject the apostolic preaching of the 
 gospel for similar reasons
 
I pray that such is not the case with you; that as we study the 
preaching of the apostles and responses to it, your heart will be open
to the Word of God. Especially to this key verse in our study:
 
 "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted
 out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of
 the Lord" (Ac 3:19)

－－《Executable Outlines》