Atos 3
J. Vernon McGee · Citado em PreceptAustin
Atos 3
Vernon McGee points out the striking contrast - "What a contrast he was to the gate which is called Beautiful. Here was a beautiful gate, and here was a man who was marred. Man can make beautiful things, but man cannot improve himself. Of course, man can do some trimming on the outside. He can cut his hair, have his fingernails manicured, take a bath now and then, and use some deodorant, but man can never change that old nature which he has. This is the contrast we have here—a beautiful gate of the temple and a man lame from his mother’s womb." Beautiful (5611)(horaios from hora = hour) is an adjective which literally means timely, seasonable or ripe. When used of persons or things it meant beautiful or lovely (Mt 23:27, Acts 3:2, 10). When used of an appropriate time it meant an "opportune point of time" describing something as happening or coming at just the right time, as in Romans 10:15+ which says "How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!”" The idea in this passage is how timely is the arrival of those who proclaim the Good News. How fascinating that in Acts 3 this man lame from birth was sitting at a gate named "Beautiful" and he receives and believes the Good News which set him free from his physical malady, but more importantly set him free from his bondage to sin which had crippled any attempts at a "spiritual walk." In short, this miracle happened at the right time, for God's Spirit would use it to launch Peter's message in Acts 3:11-26 and to incite the first persecution of the disciples (and serve as an opportunity to present the Gospel to the religious leaders) in Acts 4:1-12+. In Matthew 23:27 Jesus reviled the Pharisees for their hypocritical behavior - "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness." The Pharisees were like monuments on a tomb that appeared beautiful on the outside but inside were full of unclean and vile things Gilbrant - This adjective has a wide semantic range. Classical usage includes simple meanings such as “beautiful, fair, lovely,” and “pleasant.” The word can also mean “produced at the right time” (referring to salted or pickled fish and year-old tunas), “harvesttime” (Liddell-Scott), “in season,” and “ripe” (Moulton-Milligan). Hōraios also has the meaning of “seasonable, due,” or “proper” (Liddell-Scott). This word is related to hōra (5443) which originally meant “the right, favorable time” (Delling, “hōra,” Kittel, 9:675). Thus hōraios can describe anything that occurs or appears at the “right” time. Hence it describes things which are “pleasant, proper, beautiful.” (Complete Biblical Library) Horaios - 4x in the NT all translated beautiful - Mt 23:27, Acts 3:2, 10, Ro 10:15. Horaios - 35x in 35v in the Septuagint (Lxx) Ge 2:9; Gen. 3:6; Ge 26:7; Ge 29:17 = "Rachel was beautiful"; Ge 39:6 "Joseph was handsome (Lxx - horaios)" or "Well-built"; Lev. 23:40; 1 Sam. 9:20; 2 Sam. 1:23; 1 Ki. 1:6; 2 Chr. 36:19; Job 18:13; Ps. 45:2; Ps. 65:12; Song 1:16; Song 2:14; Song 4:3; Song 6:4; Song 6:7; Isa. 63:1; Jer. 11:16; Lam. 2:2; Dan. 4:12; Joel 1:19; Joel 1:20 In Ge 2:9 horaios describes trees growing that were "pleasing (Lxx - horaios) to the sight" and in Ge 3:6 to describe fruit that was "a delight (attractive - Lxx = horaios) to the eyes." In Isa 63:1+ it describes the Lord Jesus returning as Conqueror, One Who is majestic (Lxx = horaios) in His apparel."
Atos 3
Vernon McGee - Today the organized church has wealth. I suppose that if one could put together all the holdings of all the churches, all groups, denominations, and non-denominations across the country, we would find the church wealthier than any other organization. I think it is wealthier than the Standard Oil Company. Yet the church today lacks power. (Woe!) ILLUSTRATION - For some people, to say “silver and gold I do not have” is about the worst thing that can be said. They feel the church is in ruins if it must say “silver and gold I do not have.” But it is much worse if the church never has the spiritual power to say, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk”? There is a story about a humble monk walking with a Roman Catholic cardinal at a time in the Middle Ages when the Roman Catholic church was at its zenith of power, prestige and wealth. The cardinal pointed to the opulent surroundings and said to the monk, "We no longer have to say, silver and gold I do not have." The monk replied, "But neither can you say, In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." (Guzik) Luke has no record of the lame man complaining "What are you talking about? Can't you see my rags? I need money." But - What a blessed term of contrast! What's is Peter contrasting? What I do have I give to you - What did Peter have? Clearly he is referring to the spiritual authority that Jesus had given him (and the other apostles). Luke records that Jesus "called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority ( = the right and the might) over all the demons, and to heal diseases. And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God, and to perform healing."(Lk 9:1-2+). When the Romans mentioned the name Caesar, they implied all that his name conveyed, power, authority, dominion, etc. In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth - Christ = Messiah = anointed one. The command was not in Peter's authority but in the authority of Jesus Christ. "In the Name," means everything that Jesus is now and forever, and in context speaks especially to His authority, in His power, to be demonstrated for His glory. They immediately acknowledge that it is not by power of their own. Peter uses the same Name as he did in Acts 2:22+ ("Jesus the Nazarene") the Name that was given to Jesus by the Jews to show their scorn and derision of Him and His humble origin in Nazareth (cf Jn 1:46). But Peter knew there was power in the Name of Jesus. Psalm 106:8 links God's Name and His power saying "Nevertheless He saved them for the sake of His name, that He might make His power known." Daniel prayed "Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him." (Da 2:20) In the next chapter of Acts, the religious leaders asked Peter and John “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?” (Acts 4:7+) Indeed, this great Name Jesus the Nazarene (or some variation) permeates the book of Acts (Acts 2:22 Acts 3:6 Acts 4:10 Acts 6:14 Acts 10:38 Acts 22:8 Acts 26:9) In addition the word "Name" (associated with Jesus or standing for Jesus) is found throughout Acts - some 32 times - Acts 2:21, Acts 2:38, Acts 3:6, Acts 3:16, Acts 4:7, 10, 12, 17, 18, 30, Acts 5:28, 40, 41, Acts 8:12, 16, Acts 9:14, 15, 21, 27, 28, Acts 10:43, 48, Acts 15:14, 17, 26, Acts 16:18, Acts 19:5, 13, 17, Acts 21:13, Acts 22:16, Acts 26:9. But oh, how different is the use by Spirit filled believers in Acts compared to the profane use of this great Name in post-Christian America today (top 10 cities), where the Name "Jesus" or "Jesus Christ" or "Christ" is used most often as a curse word on the lips of blasphemers. And sadly many times His followers remain silent at the misuse of His great Name. Oh my! This ought not to be so! The next time someone drags His great Name through the gutter, say something like "I'm glad you mentioned Jesus for they (or "you") are going to need His help," or something like that depending on the context. And be prepared for a "double take!" Spirit filled disciples of Jesus in Acts fearlessly upheld the majesty and glory of the Name of Jesus. We are called to imitate them relying on the same Holy Spirit to enable our boldness. How are you doing dear brother or sister in Christ? Are you defending His Name? Or are you cowering back for fear of what others might say? Be filled! Be bold! And never forget "that at the Name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW (imagine their horror and shame and fear for having used His Name as a curse word!), of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that EVERY TONGUE will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Php 2:10-11+). A T
Atos 3
Vernon McGee comments - Paul and Barnabas had the gifts of an apostle, the sign gifts. They came into these places without any New Testament with the message of the gospel. What were their credentials? How could they prove their message was from God? The sign gifts were their credentials-they needed them. Today we have the entire Bible, and what people need today is to study this Bible and to learn what it has to say [cf. Acts 17:11] As an aside the reason Peter adds piety to power is because of the common belief of the Jews that these two virtues were related as explained by the man healed of blindness who declared “We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him." (Jn 9:31) In sum, Peter denies that he and John are the source of the power to heal the man and that they were not given this power as a reward for their piety or godliness. Peter is preparing them for the "punch line," the real Source of miracle working power!
Atos 3
Vernon McGee comments - We will find that Peter is going to offer the Kingdom to the nation (ISRAEL) again because at this time the church is 100 percent Israelite. There are no Gentiles from the outside. The Church began with the Jews in Jerusalem. Later, it will go to the ends of the earth. But this, now, is the Jerusalem period. Don’t try to tell me this is another dispensation. We have hyperdispensationalists today who call this another dispensation. It is not different at all. But it is a period of transition. The Lord had said they were to begin at Jerusalem. They were not to begin by going out to the ends of the earth. Now the Kingdom is being offered to Israel again. This will be the final opportunity. What will be some of the identifying marks of the Kingdom? Well, one is that the lame shall leap! “Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert” (Isa. 35:6+). Every instructed Israelite going up to the temple that day marveled at this lame man leaping. They knew this could actually be the beginning of the kingdom. The Messiah had been crucified, raised from the dead, ascended to heaven, and seated at God’s right hand. If they would receive Him, He would come again. (Thru the Bible Commentary) Send (649)(apostello from apo = from + stello = to withdraw from) means to send off, to send forth, to send out. Apostello is more than just to send because it means "to send off on a commission to do something as one’s personal representative, with credentials furnished" (Wuest) In John 8:42 Jesus said the "Father...sent Me." In His high priestly prayer to His Father Jesus prayed "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ Whom You have sent.." (Jn 17:3) In Jn 20:21 Jesus said to His disciples “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” All of these examples refer to the First Coming of Jesus. But here Acts 3:20 refers to the Father sending Jesus at the Second Coming. In Acts 3:26 Peter said "For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.” NET Note on appointed for you - The language points to the expectation of Jesus’ return to gather His people. It is a development of the question raised in Acts 1:6+. Appointed is in the perfect tense signifying the Father has appointed Messiah and that "appointment" still stands. Remember Peter a Jew is addressing an all Jewish audience. The Messiah was appointed in the past to Israel and that offer has never been revoked nor "taken off the table," so to speak. So much for the false teaching of replacement theology, the arrogant, absurd and aberrant view that God is finished with the literal nation of Israel! The Jews would have laughed in the face of the proponents of this genre of teaching in May, 1948 when the United Nations declared Israel a nation after almost 2000 years of non-existence. Such a thing has never been seen in world history. To put it plainly "the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable." (Ro 11:29+) You can count on it -- Messiah has a future appointment with the nation of Israel and God always keeps His appointments! Appointed (4400)(procheirizo from procheiros = ready, at hand from pro = before + cheir = the hand) means literally to hand forth, to take in hand and then to cause to be at hand. Friberg says "strictly handpick beforehand; hence choose in advance = ordain, appoint (Acts 22.14); passive be appointed (Acts 3.20)." BDAG has "to express preference of someone for a task, choose for oneself, select, appoint." Gilbrant - In its earliest occurrences in classical Greek, procheirizomai meant to have something “ready, on hand, easily available for use.” It could also describe people who were ready for action, holding themselves in preparation for a task. It had a more common usage: “take into one’s hand, handle, prepare, equip.” A further meaning is “choose” or appoint a person, especially to a government position. Examples from the papyri often use procheirizomai to describe the choosing and recruiting of troops, or the appointment of people as tax collectors or other minor officials (Moulton-Milligan). (Complete Biblical Library) There are 3 uses in the Septuagint - Ex 4:13; Joshua 3:12; Da 3:22. The Septuagint uses procheirizomai in the sense of electing or naming someone to a task (Exodus 4:13; Joshua 3:12) and often refers to a military appointment. There are 2 other uses in the NT, both in context of Paul's appointment as an apostle of Jesus... Acts 22:14 “And he (Ananias to Saul/Paul) 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. Acts 26:16 (Jesus to Saul/Paul) But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; Acts 3:21 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. KJV Acts 3:21 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. TDNT of Acts 3:19-21 - “That times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah Jesus ordained for you, whom heaven must receive until the time of the restitution of all that of which (or, the establishment of all that which) God has previously spoken through his holy prophets.” the period of restoration of all things Acts 3:19; Isa 1:26; Malachi 3:3,4; 4:5,6; Mt 17:11,12; Mark 9:11-13 His holy prophets Acts 10:43; Luke 1:70; 2 Pe 1:21; 3:2; Rev 18:20; 22:6 Acts 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries MESSIAH RETURNS AND ALL THINGS ARE RESTORED Whom heaven must receive - This refers to the Messiah sitting at the right hand of His Father in Heaven and thus implies that He must have ascended to Heaven. NET NOTE on must - The term must used here (dei, “it is necessary”) is a key Lukan term to point to the plan of God and what must occur.