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Charles Spurgeon · Citado em PreceptAustin
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Spurgeon - Peter and John seem to have been linked in closest friendship. Peter had been brought back by John when he was almost despairing after having denied his Master. John lovingly found him out, and made him his associate; and now they “went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer.” Now Peter and John were going up to the temple - Notice Luke does not say they went up to the Temple on the Sabbath. In fact we know it was not the Sabbath because the lame man was healed and Peter and John were not accused of healing on the Sabbath. So what's the point you say? The point is that the first church's idea of worship and prayer was not a once a week event, but it was their "lifestyle," as already alluded to in Acts 2:42, 46+. Apple asks "Have you ever been involved in a fellowship group where you met daily for prayer? Creates a strong bond of community – to say nothing of the power of answered prayer." I might even add have you ever been involved in a group meeting weekly for prayer? I'm sure some of you have and you could and would testify to the power of prayer. The apostles continued the habit they had established... And they, after worshiping Him (AFTER JESUS' ASCENSTION), returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising God. (Lk 24:52-53) Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, (Acts 2:46)
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Spurgeon - Observe here how Old Testament dispensation melts into the new. The temple was no longer what it had been before. The type was of no further use now that the great antitype of the temple had come. Yet these apostles still went to it at the hour of prayer. Some men are great at destroying. It will be time to destroy the old when the new is ready, and even then it may be possible to let the darkness gradually melt away into a twilight, and so the day will come with no great gap, no marked surprise. Remember that the believers are Jewish and although they have been freed from the burden of the Law, they were still attached to the Temple and the traditional times of prayer which go back to the Old Testament... Ps 55:17 Evening and morning and at noon (THREE TIMES), I will complain and murmur, And He will hear my voice. Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously. The attachment of the Jewish believers to traditional times of prayer persisted for Luke records Peter, albeit now not in the temple but in his house like Daniel.. Acts 10:30 Cornelius said, “Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during the ninth hour; and behold, a man stood before me in shining garments,
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Spurgeon - This seems to have been the custom about the Temple gates, as it is about the doors of many churches on the Continent. For instance, you could not approach the door of a certain church in Rome without being solicited, perhaps, by a score of beggars. I do not suppose that it was so in Judea in its prosperous days; but when religion does not prosper, beggars are sure to be multiplied; and now that the very spirit of godliness had gone, almsgiving was done in public, and hence the beggars appeared in public. Whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the Temple which is called Beautiful - Attempts by scholars to agree on the identity of the gate by one of its recognized names have met with little success although both the upper inner gate, the Nicanor Gate (which led from the Court of the Gentiles into the Court of Women and was on the eastern side of the Temple, facing the Mt. of Olives, close to Solomon’s Portico), and the lower outer gate, the Shushan on the eastern wall, have been suggested as candidates. See Leen Ritmeyer's depiction of the locations of the Nicanor Gate and the Shushan Gate. David Thompson - Josephus, in his description of the Temple, says all gates were beautiful, but there was one specific gate that was more beautiful than the others. It was called the “Corinthian gate” because it was covered with Corinthian brass along with silver and gold. It was located on the eastside of the Temple. Josephus claimed that it was richer and more beautiful than all other gates (SEE QUOTE BELOW). There is no question that this would be a good place to beg for money because many people would just want to see this spectacular gate, so it would be an area of high traffic. Beggars know how to figure out high traffic areas. In fact, one person who actually studied beggars in cities all over the world claimed that beggars not only know where the high traffic areas are, they also watch people’s eyes because they have learned the type of person who is likely to respond. Josephus' Description - Now nine of these gates were on every side covered over with gold and silver, as were the jambs of their doors and their lintels; but there was one gate that was without [the inward court of] the holy house, which was of Corinthian brass, and greatly excelled those that were only covered over with silver and gold. (202) Each gate had two doors, whose height was severally thirty cubits, and their breadth fifteen. (203) However, they had large spaces within of thirty cubits, and had on each side rooms, and those, both in breadth and in length, built like towers, and their height was above forty cubits. Two pillars did also support these rooms, and were in circumference twelve cubits. (204) Now the magnitudes of the other gates were equal one to another; but that over the Corinthian gate, which opened on the east over against the gate of the holy house itself, was much larger; (205) for its height was fifty cubits; and its doors were forty cubits; and it was adorned after a most costly manner, as having much richer and thicker plates of silver and gold upon them than the other. These nine gates had that silver and gold poured upon them by Alexander, the father of Tiberius. (206) Now there were fifteen steps, which led away from the wall of the court of the women to this greater gate; whereas those that led thither from the gates were five steps shorter. (Wars 5.201-206) J
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Spurgeon on immediately - The man had never stood upon his feet in all his life, and was so unable to move that he had to be carried to the Temple gates to beg; and yet, at the mention of the great and glorious name of Jesus, his feet and ankle-bones immediately received strength. Vincent on feet (basis) - A peculiar, technical word, used by Luke only, and described by Galen as the part of the foot lying beneath the leg, upon which the leg directly rests, as distinguished from the tarsos, the flat of the foot between the toes and heel, and pedion, the part next the toes." BDAG adds that basis is "that with which one steps, usually of the area below the ankle, foot." VGNT says basis was "common in the inscriptions for the “base” of a statue...“base mouldings and capitals” of pillars...The medical use of basis = “foot”... Its geometrical meaning, as the “base” of a triangle." Feet (939)(basis) means that with which one steps, and usually refers to the area below the ankle, possibly the soles of the feet. Used only here in the NT. Ankles (4974)(sphudron from sphura = a hammer because the ankle resembles a hammer) means ankle. Used only here in the NT. What was the lame man's malady? Luke's description specifically focusing on the feet and ankles (these are the only 2 uses of these Greek words in the NT) man was crippled on the part of the feet that one would step. Luke's description suggests that this malady may have been club foot (picture) a birth defect where one or both feet are rotated inwards and downwards, but that is only my educated guess as a medical doctor. Today clubfoot is amenable to treatment medically and surgically, but in the first century the only physician who could cure clubfoot was Jesus the Nazarene! G Campbell
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Spurgeon - You remember, dear friends, how Peter denied his Lord in the time of his trial. Now notice what a change was wrought in him after the Holy Spirit had fallen upon him on the day of Pentecost. Peter could well see that the people attributed to himself and John more than was right, so he thus had an opportunity of preaching the gospel to them, and you may be certain that he did not miss it. Acts 3:13 "The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His Servant Jesus, the One Whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. KJV Acts 3:13 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. God of Abraham Acts 5:30; 7:32; Exodus 3:6; Ps 105:6-10; Mt 22:32; Heb 11:9-16 has glorified His servant Jesus Acts 2:33-36; 5:31; Ps 2:6-12; 110:1,2; Mt 11:27; 28:18; John 3:35,36; John 5:22,23; 7:39; 12:16; 13:31,32; 16:14,15; 17:1-5; Eph 1:20-23; Philippians 2:9-11; Heb 2:9; Rev 1:5,18 the one whom you delivered and disowned Acts 2:23,24; 5:30; 13:27,28; Mt 27:2,17-25; Mk 15:11; Luke 23:16-23; John 18:40; 19:15 Acts 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries NOT TO US O LORD BUT TO THY NAME BE THE GLORY! Psalm 115:1 would be an excellent "title" for this section Not to us, O LORD, not to us, But to Thy name give glory Because of Thy lovingkindness, because of Thy truth. Peter preached Christ to them using several names, all of which had Messianic connotations, for all in one way or another had been described in the Old Testament. The point is the Jews should have known, but Peter is going to give them a Spirit filled reminder. "His Servant Jesus" (Acts 3:13, 26) "The Holy and Righteous One" (Acts 3:13) "The Prince of Life" (Acts 3:15) "Jesus" (Acts 3:16, 20) "His Christ" (Acts 3:18, 20) "Lord" (Acts 3:19) "A Prophet" (Acts 3:22) "Your Seed (Christ)" (Acts 3:25) Related Resources: Listen to this absolutely beautiful simple but profound song The Names of God. You will be moved to a time of worship and praise! Here is one other old song on Name of God through the books of the Bible - He Is. Elmer Towns - The Names of Jesus "Over 700 names of Jesus to help you really know the Lord loves you." List from Blue Letter Bible with associated Scripture in KJV - many are descriptive Cyberhymnal Hymns with Jesus' Name Cyberhymnal Hymns with Descriptive Names of Jesus (e.g., Advocate, Cornerstone, etc) The Name of the Lord - A Strong Tower - Summary Name of the LORD is a Strong Tower: Why Should You Study It? Christ The Breaker Christ Our Rock Christ The Rock of Ages Christ The Rock of Our Salvation Christ The Smitten Rock Christ Our Rock of Refuge-Pt 1 Christ Our Rock of Refuge-Pt 2 Christ the Stone Christ Mighty God - El Gibbor Jesus Name Above All Names Jesus Mighty to Save In his sermon John MacArthur alliterates the Names Peter uses (6 of the 8 listed above) - As
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Spurgeon - It is always easy to draw a crowd, but there was really something wonderful to be seen that day. The apostle was careful to turn to the very best account the curiosity of the crowd. See how quickly he carried their thoughts away from the man before him to the greater Man, the Divine Man, the Son of God whom they had rejected. Acts 3:14 "But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, KJV Acts 3:14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; the Holy and Righteous One Acts 2:27; 4:27; 7:52; 22:14; Ps 16:10; Zech 9:9; Mark 1:24; Luke 1:35; James 5:6; 1 Pe 3:18; 1 John 2:1; Rev 3:7 asked for a murderer to be granted to you Mark 15:7; Luke 23:19 Acts 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries PETER ACCUSES THE JEWS OF MAKING A FATAL "PRISONER EXCHANGE" Wikipedia says "A prisoner exchange or prisoner swap is a deal between opposing sides in a conflict to release prisoners: prisoners of war, spies, hostages, etc." But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One - The first word in the Greek text is YOU (humeis), which places emphasis on the Jews as the culprits of this cosmic crime! You Jews did this! You Jews are responsible! And just to make sure his audience "gets it," Peter repeats the fact they disowned Him. This must have been a painful thing for Peter to say for after all, had he himself not disowned Jesus? As Mark recorded Seeing Peter warming himself, she (one of the servant-girls of the high priest) looked at him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Nazarene.” But he denied (arneomai = same verb Peter used twice in this sermon to his fellow Jews!) it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are talking about.” And he went out onto the porch. (Mk 14:67-68) Disowned (rejected = NET, NLT, denied = ESV)(720)(arneomai from "a" = negation + rheo = say) literally means "to say no", to say one does not know about or is in any way related to some person or some thing. Webster says that to deny implies a firm refusal to accept as true, to grant or concede or to acknowledge the existence or claims of. Jesus' first use should have frightened His hearers but sadly His warning did not deter them from disowning Him - "But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. (Mt 10:33). Paul wrote "If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us." (2 Ti 2:12+) Paul wrote that there would be some who "profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed. (Titus 1:16+) Spurgeon on you disowned the Holy and Righteous One - See how plain-spoken Peter is, — how boldly he presses home upon the crowd around him the murder of Christ, — the rejection of the Messiah! It took no small amount of courage and faith to speak like that, and to speak so to persons who were full of admiration of him before, and who would be pretty sure to be filled with indignation against him directly. A man can speak boldly against those who are his enemies; but, when people begin to flatter you, and admire you, a softness steals over the bravest heart, and he is inclined to be very gentle. I admire Peter that he puts it thus plainly: “Ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; and killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.” MacArthur sums it up - "And so their denial had remained in persistent relentlessness. He was Holy, but they desired Him killed as if He were unholy. He was the deliverer, but they delivered Him. He was the servant whom God glorified, but they debased Him. You see all the way through they’re in contrast to God and to Christ. And every man without Jesus Christ is living in just that contrast, open, vile, relentless, rebellion against God. And to those judgment comes." HOLY AND RIGHTEOUS ONE Holy and Righteous One - Who did they disown? Peter presents his second description of Jesus. For Peter to use this description would draw the attention of the Jews to Messianic passages in the Old Testament. So while the full phrase Holy and Righteous One is not found in the OT, the individual descriptions are found. Peter referred to the Holy One in Acts 2:27+ (see also Acts 13:35) quoting the Messianic psalm, Ps 16:10 which prophesied "You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay." This was a prophecy that the Messiah would not remain in the grave, but would be resurrected. In the Gospel of John Peter declared his allegiance to Jesus saying "We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.” (Jn 6:69, cf Peter's confession in Mt 16:16). Even the demons recognized Jesus as the Holy One declaring "“Let us alone! What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are–the Holy One of God!” (Lk 4:34+). It is tragic that the demons knew Jesus was the Messiah, the Holy One of Israel, but the Jews (for the most part) did not know! Contrary to the common idiomatic, proverbial statement, their ignorance was NOT bliss! In essence, Peter is saying to the Jews they did not know what the demons know! Now that is twisted theology for sure! Peter is saying to these Jews that they are living in open rebellion against God, against the Holy One, against Jesus their Messiah! Isaiah had heard the angels cry out "one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.” And as John wrote "These things Isaiah said, because he saw His glory (WHOSE "GLORY?" JESUS, THE HOLY ONE'S GLORY), and he spoke of Him." (Jn 12:41) Jesus was the Holy One, the One who dwelt in the Holy of Holies in heaven and who came to earth to live a holy life. Holy (40)(hagios - root hagi- = different, other) properly means different, set apart, distinct, holy. It describes one who is set apart by God and for God's use (as was the Messiah "the Servant of God"). Hagios is one can be brought near or into God's holy presence, which describes every believer, for ever believer is a "holy one" (little letters), because we are in an immutable covenant with THE Holy One, Who is always in the presence of His Father. Jesus as God is holy by His very nature (God's attribute - holy), but as God's Servant He was also separated by God to accomplish His will. Holy One is used 58x in 56v in the Old and New Testaments - 2 Ki. 19:22; Job 6:10; Ps. 16:10; Ps. 71:22; Ps. 78:41; Ps. 89:18; Ps. 106:16; Prov. 9:10; Prov. 30:3; Isa. 1:4; Isa. 5:19; Isa. 5:24; Isa. 10:17; Isa. 10:20; Isa. 12:6; Isa. 17:7; Isa. 29:19; Isa. 29:23; Isa. 30:11; Isa. 30:12; Isa. 30:15; Isa. 31:1; Isa. 37:23; Isa. 40:25; Isa. 41:14; Isa. 41:16; Isa. 41:20; Isa. 43:3; Isa. 43:14; Isa. 43:15; Isa. 45:11; Isa. 47:4; Isa. 48:17; Isa. 49:7; Isa. 54:5; Isa. 55:5; Isa. 60:9; Isa. 60:14; Jer. 50:29; Jer. 51:5; Ezek. 39:7; Dan. 4:13; Dan. 4:23; Dan. 8:13; Hos. 11:9; Hos. 11:12; Hab. 1:12; Hab. 3:3; Mk. 1:24; Lk. 4:34; Jn. 6:69; Acts 2:27; Acts 13:35; 1 Pet. 1:15; 1 Jn. 2:20; Rev. 16:5 Hab 3:3+ describes the Second Coming of Messiah - God comes from Teman, And the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah. His splendor covers the heavens, And the earth is full of His praise. Peter says to the Jews they did not desire the righteous (just) One but the unrighteous (unjust) one! They did not desire the innocent One, but the guilty one! "You murdered the innocent and freed the guilty murderer!" This is another tragic paradox. Righteous (1342)(dikaios from dike = right, just) defines that which is in accordance with high standards of rectitude. Dikaios of God and Christ as just, righteous, upright, fair (Jn 17:25; Jesus = "righteous Judge" =2 Ti 4:8); of Jesus as upright, innocent (Lk 23:47 = "Certainly this man was innocent.”, cf. Mt 23:35, 27:24). In this context in which they asked for a murderer to be granted, Peter's statement that Jesus is dikaios is like a stab into the hearts of his Jewish brethren, because as dikaios clearly speaks to Jesus' innocence! Peter is saying in essence you disowned and rejected and denied Jesus the innocent One and asked for Barrabas the guilty one! That's the description of a bad exchange! We find the title of Jesus as the Righteous One used by Stephen in his great sermon before the Jews in Acts 7:52 when he asked “Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become." Isn't it interesting that in Acts 3 the persecution of the Church had not yet begun (even though the events in Acts 3 would catalyze coming persecution), but by the time of Stephen's sermon in Acts 7, the persecution was in full flame, and Stephen's convicting message brought his martyrdom, while Peter's was used by the Spirit to bring 2000 souls into the Kingdom. But God's ways are so much higher, for the Spirit used Stephen's martyrdom to prepare a man named Saul for his conversion (see Acts 7:58-60, 9:3-6), whose witness and writings have brought countless souls into the Kingdom! In Acts 22:14 we again see this title of Messiah "And he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear an utterance from His mouth." The adjective dikaios is used in the Septuagint in Jeremiah 23:5 which is clearly a Messianic prophecy which says "Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “When I will raise up for David a righteous (dikaios) Branch (THE MESSIAH); And He will reign as king and act wisely And do justice and righteousness in the land." Jeremiah of course was prophesying of the Messiah's return and rule in His 1000 year Messianic Kingdom. In Isaiah 53:11+ another Messianic passage we read "As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous (Lxx = dikaios) One, My Servant (Lxx = douleuo - the One Who serves - present tense), will justify (Lxx - dikaioo - declare righteous) the many, As He will bear their iniquities." In summary, Peter's use of the phrase Holy and Righteous One to describe Jesus would have been further evidence to his Jewish audience that Jesus was in fact their Messiah who they disowned, rejected and denied, but Who was in fact alive. And asked (aiteo) for a murderer to be granted to you - Very likely some of those listening to Peter's sermon had been among those who had asked for the murderer Barrabas in place of the Righteous (innocent) One, Jesus. There is an interesting play on words here, for Barrabas means "son of Abba" (BDAG) while Jesus was the only begotten "Son of the Father!" Mark records the request by the Jews to Pontius Pilate ... Now at the feast he used to release for them any one prisoner whom they requested. 7 The man named Barabbas had been imprisoned with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the insurrection. 8 The crowd went up and began asking him to do as he had been accustomed to do for them. 9 Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” 10 For he was aware that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask him to release Barabbas for them instead. (Mark 15:6-11) Luke records that the Jews... Cried out all together, saying, “Away with this man (JESUS), and release for us Barabbas!” 19 (He was one who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection made in the city, and for murder.) 20 Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again, 21 but they kept on calling out, saying, “Crucify, crucify Him!” 22 And he said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has this man done? I have found in Him no guilt demanding death; therefore I will punish Him and release Him.” 23 But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail. 24 And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted. 25 And he released the man they were asking for who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, but he delivered Jesus to their will.(Luke 23:18–25+) Granted (5483)(charizomai from charis = grace, undeserved merit or favor) has the basic meaning of to give as a favor. It means to bestow as a gift of grace or out of grace, an amazing nuance given the context! One of the lexicon definitions of charizomai is a bit ironic for it says to show grace by providing undeserved help to someone unworthy, which is in fact what transpired, as Barabbas the unworthy one was exchanged for Jesus, the only One Worthy (Rev 5:12+)!
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Spurgeon reminds us we are ALL guilty because “Every sin in the essence of it is a killing of God.” David Thompson adds that "There are two ways the blood of the murdered Jesus may relate to you - (1) It does condemn you, (2) It may cleanse you!" (Acts 3:11-26)
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Spurgeon - The resurrection is a fact better attested than any event recorded in any history, whether ancient or modern. Raised (1453) (egeiro) means to rise (stand up) from a sitting position (as with the lame man in Acts 3:7 which uses the same verb), to awaken from sleep (Mt 8:25), figuratively as in this passage to "awaken" from death and so to rise up. In Acts 3:7, the lame man was raised from the ground by Peter but ultimately by Jesus Who Himself was raised from the dead! Peter has already mentioned the resurrection in Acts 2:23-24, 32+ This Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. 24 “But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power....This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses.
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Spurgeon - “You killed the Source of life, Whom God raised from the dead; we are witnesses of this.” See how plainspoken Peter is—how boldly he presses home upon the crowd around him the murder of Christ, the rejection of the Messiah? It took no small amount of courage and faith to speak like that, especially to persons who were full of admiration of him before and who would soon be filled with indignation against him. A man can speak boldly against those who are his enemies, but when people begin to flatter you and admire you, a softness steals over the bravest heart, and he is inclined to be gentle. I admire Peter that he puts it thus so plainly. Acts 3:16 "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. KJV 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. His Name Acts 3:6; 4:7,10,30; 16:18; Mt 9:22 through faith Acts 14:9; 19:13-17; Mt 17:19,20; 21:21,22; Mark 11:22,23; 16:17,18; Luke 17:5,6; John 14:12; 1 Corinthians 13:2 faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health Acts 3:8; 8:14-16; Dt 32:4; John 7:23 Acts 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries PETER POINTS TO JESUS And on the basis of faith in His name - Literally "upon faith in His Name." Frankly, there is no other basis (ground) for faith than the Name of Jesus. And remember that Name in Scripture was not just what one was called, but it spoke of the character and nature, and so was representative of everything that the person was, and in this case speaks of everything the Bible teaches us about Jesus - His deity, His humanity, His sacrificial death for sinners, His authority to be our Lord, etc. In a sense the Name then speaks of the Person Himself. Jesus was both the Source of the faith and the Object of faith! Note Peter's repetition of Name and Jesus for emphasis. It's not Peter. It's not John. It is Jesus. He is the Healer, the Great Physician, Jehovah Rapha. Knowling on “the faith which is through Him,” says "not by it, i.e., the Name—not only the healing power is through Christ, but also the faith of the Apostles as of the man who was healed, cf., especially, 1 Pet. 1:21+. τοὺς διʼ αὐτοῦ πιστοὺς εἰς Θεόν, i.e., his converts who through Christ are believers in God: He is the Object and the Author of our faith." (The Expositor's Greek Testament The Acts of the Apostles) ESV Study Bible - By faith in his name refers to Peter’s faith rather than to any faith on the part of the lame man. Jesus healed the man, and faith (or trust) in Jesus also healed the man, because Jesus worked through Peter’s faith. The faith that is through Jesus. Jesus himself imparts this kind of miracle-working faith to people’s hearts. Albert
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Spurgeon wrote "The Lord of glory surrendered to the faith of the woman." John
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Spurgeon adds “You see him now, and you know what he used to be; there is no question about the identity of the man.” Charles Rolls on the Name "Jesus" - The Hebrew equivalent of this name is Joshua, which means, "Jehovah the Saviour," or, "Jehovah will save." The Greek designation means virtually the same, together with the additional insight into its inner significance as declared by the prophet, which signifies that it includes in its meaning, "God with us." The references in which Joshua is rendered Jesus are found in Acts 7:4-5 and Hebrews 4:8. How suggestive that the Old Testament word is appended to a prince, a prophet, and a priest. Jesus in the New Testament is all three. As a name, Jesus is more grandly honored and more grievously hated, more acclaimed and more accused than any other. We find it imprinted over six hundred times on the pages of the four Gospels, and it is the most charming, consoling, comforting name by which our beloved Saviour is known. We are aware that all the sweetest hymns, the richest poems, and choicest music are woven about its wealth of value and worth of virtue. The name stands as a synonym for free healing, friendly help, and full salvation, and is broadcast today in a thousand languages. Jesus was the first in this world to be called the Friend of sinners. As a title, the name signifies that Jesus is the veracity of truth, the visibility of God, the verity of love, and the victory of grace in all perfection. From heavenly altitudes He descended to the level of humanity, and transformed temporal things with His tender touch, while His teaching of celestial truth transfigured the lives of men. Enshrined in this precious title are the richest theme in music, the sweetest note in song, the worthiest word in worship, and the princeliest name in praise. The One who bears this designation of delightful dignity is the fairest Flower in the fragrant garden of virtue, the rarest Treasure in the palatial mansion of truth, the greatest Gift amid the riches of eternal glory, the loveliest Legacy in the lasting heritage of life, the brightest Ray in the brilliant beams of ineffable light, the purest Pleasure in the peerless delights of perennial peace, and the choicest Companion in the celestial courts of communal love. How we revel in the glories of His wondrous grace, while we devotedly sing in worshipful praise. (Names and Titles of Jesus Christ) Jesus, the very thought of Thee With sweetness fills my breast: But sweeter far Thy face to see, And in Thy presence rest. Jesus, the name that charms our fears, That bids our sorrows cease; 'Tis music in the sinners' ears; 'Tis life and health and peace. Jesus shall reign where'er the sun (another version) (Scott Wesley Brown) Doth his successive journeys run; His kingdom stretch from shore to shore, Till moons shall wax and wane no more. Come, let us sing the matchless worth Of Him who came in lowly birth, And died to save our ruined race, Jesus, the blessed Lord of grace. To Jesus every day I find my heart is closer drawn, He's fairer than the glory of the gold and purple dawn, He's all my fancy pictured in its fairest dreams and more, Each day He grows still sweeter than He was the day before. The eternal Father meant this name to mean more than any other. That is why He bestowed it upon His beloved Son. If we carefully consider its fullness of meaning, we shall find it to be the best and most suited that could possibly be borne by One who was sent to save from sin. For it is very evident that the sick of soul needed healing, the far and faulty needed redeeming, the bad and banished needed reconciling, the cruel and corrupt needed regenerating, and the lost and lone needed saving. The Saviour is the only One who can adequately meet these various needs. Paul presents the case negatively and says, "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). These ten classes have been appropriately referred to as the ten lepers. How grandly the title Jesus befits the One who can grapple with such deplorable cases and not only deliver, but save to the uttermost and perfect forever them that are set apart. Therefore, this blessed name is like honey to the taste, harmony to the ear, health to the soul and hope to the heart. When we attempt to tabulate the treasure, with the weight of wealth, the value of virtue, the measure of merit, and to estimate the excellence, price the perfection, and calculate the comfort contained in His name, we are astounded at the riches of grace and riches of glory that therein reside. Is not the name Jesus a pearl from paradise and a gem from the gloryland? Is it not a sapphire from the heavenly sanctuary of the Most High? Yea, it causes the enlargement before our minds of God's mine of mercy, and enriches greatly His legacy of love. To an undefinable degree, the name enhances the harp of hope, engraces the jewels of joy, embellishes the vessels of virtue, endears the mansions of memories, and ennobles the sweetest of songs. Jesus still stands loftiest in renown, He soars highest in rank and sits chiefest in rule, governing in the power of an endless life, enthroned a Priest forever. (Names and Titles of Jesus Christ) Jesus! Name of all names above, Jesus best and nearest, Jesus! Fount of perfect love, Holiest, tenderest, dearest, Jesus! Source of grace repletest, Jesus choicest, sweetest, Jesus! Saviour all divine, Thy name forever, only Thine. Acts 3:17 "And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also. KJV Acts 3:17 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. I know Acts 7:40; Ge 21:26; 39:8; 44:15; Ex 32:1; Nu 22:6; Ro 11:2; Php 1:22 You acted in ignorance Acts 13:27; Nu 15:24-31; Lk 23:34; Jn 7:26,27,52; 16:3; 1 Cor 2:8; 2 Cor 3:14; 1 Ti 1:13 Acts 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries IGNORANCE IS NOT INNOCENCE! And now, brethren - He identifies himself with them, which is only reasonable considering he too had temporarily disowned or denied Jesus. Albert Barnes makes an excellent point on Peter's use of brethren - Though they had been guilty of a crime so enormous, yet Peter shows the tenderness of his heart in addressing them still as his brethren. He regarded them as of the same nation with himself, as having the same hopes, and as being entitled to the same privileges. The expression also shows that he was not disposed to exalt himself as being by nature more holy than they. This verse is a remarkable instance of tenderness in appealing to sinners. It would have been easy to have reproached them for their enormous crimes; but it was not the way to reach the heart. He had indeed stated and proved their wickedness. The object now was to bring them to repentance for it; and this was to be done by tenderness, and kindness, and love. Men are melted to contrition, not by reproaches, but by love. (Barnes' Notes on the New Testament) I know (eido) that you acted (prasso) in ignorance, just as your rulers did also - This is a statement literally "dripping" with divine mercy (not giving them what the deserved). In one sense they have had "less" guilt than their evil leaders (but here Peter even shows them mercy!), but they still were not guiltless! Undoubtedly, many of the Jews who went along with the dictates of their religious rulers were not fully award of what they were doing. Ignorance (52)(agnoia from the a = not + noéō = to perceive, understand) means literally "not knowing" and so to not have information about— want of knowledge, ignorance. But ignorance is not "bliss" for it leads to mistaken conduct. (Acts 17:30) “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, (Eph. 4:18) being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God ( SPEAKS OF GENTILES) because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; (1 Pet. 1:14) - As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, John MacArthur on the Jewish ignorance - He may be alluding to the Old Testament distinction between willful sins and sins done in ignorance (Num. 15:22-31). Jesus prayed for those who crucified Him, saying "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34). Paul wrote that if the rulers had understood who Jesus was, "they would not have crucified the Lord of glory" (1 Cor. 2:8). Their ignorance was certainly inexcusable, since the evidence that Jesus was the Messiah was clear from the Old Testament, the words and works of Jesus, and His death and resurrection. Yet, none of them were beyond the reach of God's grace, if they would repent and turn to Christ. (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Acts) Spurgeon - How like his Master does Peter now speak! Instead of drawing his sword, as he did when he cut off the ear of Malchus, he puts the truth thus mildly: “I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also,” NET Note on ignorance - The ignorance Peter mentions here does not excuse them from culpability. It was simply a way to say “you did not realize the great mistake you made.” Albert
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Spurgeon says that there is no better definition of it than in the children’s hymn: “Repentance is to leave the sins we loved before, and show that we in earnest grieve, by doing so no more.” No matter how terrible your sins have been, if you will repent, you will experience in advance “times of refreshing” from God, because He will wipe away your sins and bless you." Paul Apple - To “repent” means to have a heartfelt change of mind about sin, to agree with God about the ugliness of their disobedience to God, about the rightness of His standard, about the reality of their own sin. Repentance involves a sorrow over the harmful effects of sin toward God, toward others, and toward self. It involves a decision to turn from sin and to Christ. Just as we receive Christ by repentance and faith we need to continue to walk in the same way as we grow. (The Spread of the Gospel) Thomas
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Spurgeon writes - My revolts, my excesses, are all recorded against me; but, Lord, erase the lines. Draw Thy pen through the register. Obliterate the record, though now it seems engraven in the rock forever; many strokes of Thy mercy may be needed, to cut out the deep inscription, but then Thou has a multitude of mercies, and therefore, I beseech thee, erase my sins." Isaiah 43:25 (JEHOVAH) “I, even I, am the One Who wipes out (Lxx = exaleipho) your transgressions for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins. Paul uses this verb in Colossians 2:14+ writing... having canceled out (exaleipho) the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. To understand the word exaleipho is to understand the amazing mercy and lovingkindness of God. The substance on which ancient documents were written was either papyrus, a kind of paper made of the pith of the bulrush, or vellum, a substance made of the skins of animals. Both were fairly expensive and certainly could not be wasted. Ancient ink had no acid in it; it lay on the surface of the paper and did not, as modern ink usually does, bite into it. Sometimes a scribe, to save paper, used papyrus or vellum that had already been written upon. When he did that, he took a sponge and wiped off the writing. Because it was only on the surface of the paper, the ink could be wiped out as if it had never been! God, in his amazing mercy, banishes the record of our sins so completely that it was as if it had never been; not a trace remained. Hallelujah! TIMES OF REFRESHING In order that - Another purpose clause John
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Spurgeon - “Repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out.” After the notable miracle of healing the lame man, when the wondering people clustered around Peter and John, Peter began at once to preach the gospel to them without a single second’s hesitation. Peter came at once to the essence and heart of his message. He did not beat around the bush. He preached Christ, the person of Christ—Christ crucified, Christ risen, Christ glorified by his Father. The strength of the Christian witness is when it is saturated with the name and person and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. Notice how often Peter said “you”: “You” handed him over; “you” denied him; “you” killed him; “you” preferred a murderer. Peter is not afraid of being personal; he rather makes them feel their sins. Nor did Peter, after he had enunciated the gospel, neglect to make the personal application by prescribing its peculiar commands—“Repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out.” “Repent” signifies, in its literal meaning, to change one’s mind. But although that is the meaning of the root, the word has come in scriptural use to mean a great deal more. Repentance is a discovery of the evil of sin, mourning over the fact that one has committed it, and a resolution to forsake it. It is, in fact, a change of mind of a deep and practical character that makes a person love what once he hated and hate what once he loved. “Turn back” refers to conversion, a turning round, a turning from and a turning to—a turning from sin, a turning to holiness—a turning from carelessness to thought, from the world to heaven, from self to Jesus—a complete turning—with the result that “your sins may be wiped out.” John MacArthur The Kingdom "Postponed" Below are excerpts from Dr MacArthur's very informative sermon series on Matthew 13)... And so as you come to Matthew 13, you can see the shadow of the cross looming in the background. Already in Mt 12:14, they had sought to destroy Him. They had reached the point of wanting only to kill Him. They have rejected the King. They have rejected His kingdom. Now, the question that immediately comes into my mind and in the mind of any intelligent reader or any thoughtful reader is this. If Jesus came to offer the kingdom, if Jesus came to bring His kingdom to earth, to reign and to rule and to establish that which was promised, and they refused Him and refused His kingdom, what happened to the kingdom? What happens now? And that is the question answered by Matthew 13. It tells us what is going to happen....The kingdom cannot come...until the nation of Israel receives the King. And so the kingdom had to be postponed in terms of its full fulfillment....Because they (ED: ISRAEL AS A NATION) rejected the King, the Kingdom in its full fulfillment had to be postponed. And it had to be postponed to a future time. What time? The Second Coming of Christ. That is why Christ is coming a second time, to bring the Kingdom that was refused the first time. He came and His message was, “Repent for the Kingdom is at hand.” (Mt 4:17) And the message of John the Baptist,His forerunner, was the same. “Repent for the kingdom is at hand.” (Mt 3:2) And the message of the apostles in Mt 10:7 was the same "‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand." They were preaching the Kingdom, the Kingdom, the Kingdom. And the people said "NO" to the King and "NO" to the Kingdom and the Kingdom therefore was postponed. You say, “Well, why didn’t God just eliminate it altogether?” Because God made a promise to Israel and God keeps His promises. God is a God of His Word. And if God just set the Kingdom aside and said, “Forget it, I gave you one shot at it,” and dropped it, then his prophecies would not come to pass and His Word would be violated. And so, it is postponed until they (ED: ISRAEL AS A NATION) believe. And the day will come when they do. For example, Zechariah says, “The day is coming when they will look on Him whom they have pierced and they will mourn for Him as an only Son, and at that moment a fountain of salvation will be opened up to the line of Israel and the nation will all be regenerated.” (Zech 12:10) They will be redeemed. There’s coming a day when they look on the one they’ve pierced and they will have a fountain of cleansing opened to them (Zech 13:1). They will be redeemed. So, "all Israel will be saved," Paul says (Ro 11:26). We know that’s to come and we believe it to come in the time known as the Great Tribulation. At that time it says in Revelation 7:9, 14+, “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands....“These are the ones who come out of the Great Tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” So, you have the nation of Israel redeemed." You have worldwide Gentile salvation and when the Kingdom of God comes into the hearts of men, internally, (ED: THE "INVISIBLE" ASPECT OF THE KINGDOM THAT EXISTS DURING THE CHURCH AGE) then it will realize its full fulfillment, externally, as Christ reigns on the earth for a thousand years in the millennium, spoken of in Revelation 20:4-6+. And so, when we talk about the full fulfillment of the Kingdom, we mean that Kingdom which comes to pass on the earth both internally, that is in the hearts of believing people, and externally, as Christ rules and reigns as King on the earth. Now, there was a remnant (OF ISRAEL) who received the King (ED: AND HIS KINGDOM) internally. And there are today those who receive the King internally. But someday there will be a massive response, and when the kingdom comes internally at the level that it does in the tribulation time, then it will come externally in the wonderful millennial reign of Christ on the earth for a thousand years. But what happens in the middle? What happens between now and then? This is the period that some theologians have called “The Parenthesis.” Some have called it “The Interim.” Some have called it the “Interregnum.” But it is a period that is not seen in the Old Testament. And so, Jesus calls it the mystery (Mt 13:11, Mk 4:11, Lk 8:10+), that which was hidden from time past. They (THE OLD TESTAMENT PROPHETS) didn’t see this period of time. That’s why you have to have Matthew 13 because they had no teaching on what it would be like. And so, in Matthew 13, you have a series of eight parables from verse 1 on to verse 52,and in those parables…listen now…Jesus describes the interim period. He describes that parenthesis in which we live. We’re in that period. And that is what makes this so profound for us, because if we can understand what Jesus says about this period, then we can understand how to be about doing what He wants done in this period, you see? (Read his full message Kingdom Parables, Part 1) In Kingdom Parables, Part 2 Dr