ACTS 3 - HEALING OF THE LAME MAN

The Day of Pentecost is over, but the power of Pentecost is continuing as the disciples continue to preach the Word of God.

The Contact for Healing

A. The healing was at an unplanned time - Acts 3:1

Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer. (Acts 3:1)

B. The healing was in an unplanned manner - Acts 3:2-6

And a certain man who had been lame from his mother's womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple. And when he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms. And Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze upon him and said, "Look at us!" And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, "I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene-- walk!" (Acts 3:2-6)

The Confirmation of and Cause for Healing

A. He stood, he walked, and he entered into the temple - Acts 3:7-8

And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. And with a leap, he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. (Acts 3:7-8)

B. That Christ might be glorified - Acts 3:11-13

And while he was clinging to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the so-called portico of Solomon, full of amazement. But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, "Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? "The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered up, and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. (Acts 3:11-13)

The Commitment to Christ

A. The need for a commitment to Christ - Acts 3:14-18

"But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses. "And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all. "And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also. "But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ should suffer, He has thus fulfilled. (Acts 3:14-18)

B. The factors in a commitment to Christ - Acts 3:19-26

1. repentance, conversion, and forgiveness of sin - Acts 3:19

"Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; (Acts 3:19)

2. obedience - Acts 3:20-22

and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. "Moses said, 'THE LORD GOD SHALL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN; TO HIM YOU SHALL GIVE HEED in everything He says to you. (Acts 3:20-22)

3. we will be judged if we do not obey and blessed if we do - Acts 3:23-26

'And it shall be that every soul that does not heed that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.' "And likewise, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and his successors onward, also announced these days. "It is you who are the sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, 'AND IN YOUR SEED ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED.' "For you first, God raised up His Servant, and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways." (Acts 3:23-26)

Study Questions

1. What time of the day was the ninth hour? - Acts 3:1 (consult a Bible dictionary)

Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer. (Acts 3:1)

2. What did Peter have that was better than silver or gold? - Acts 3:6

But Peter said, "I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene-- walk!" (Acts 3:6)

3. How long did it take for this man to be healed? - Acts 3:7

And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. (Acts 3:7)

4. Do you think that God can still do these things today?

5. Why was Peter careful to give God the credit for what had happened? - Acts 3:12-13

But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, "Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? "The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered up, and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. (Acts 3:12-13)

6. What were the two things that Peter said the people must do to have their sins blotted out? - Acts 3:19

"Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; (Acts 3:19)

7. In Acts 3:22, a prophesy is quoted from Deuteronomy 18:15. Why was this important?

"Moses said, 'THE LORD GOD SHALL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN; TO HIM YOU SHALL GIVE HEED in everything He says to you. (Acts 3:22)

8. How many other prophets foretold the events recorded in the New Testament? - Acts 3:24

"And likewise, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and his successors onward, also announced these days. (Acts 3:24)