Acts 3: 12-21
verses 12-13a When Peter saw this he said to them, “Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus.“
These verses remind me of parts of Hannah’s message yesterday. We tend to think of ourselves as capable, powerful beings, and can lose track of an important reality: God gives us all the power. I am not “wealthy” or “powerful” except in my relationship with God. When I am empowered to help others, it is by the grace of God. This is an important message for me today. I will ask God to lead my efforts. I will remember I can do anything with God, and nothing without Him.
Holy One, sometimes I am frustrated when my attempts to help others is thwarted. Lead me, Lord. Put me to work. With you, all things are possible. Amen
Becky, transforming
Acts 3: 12-21
19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that time of refreshing may come from the Lord
Repentance can be a turning point from the past to help us get on track and change our ways. We all know when we are headed in the wrong direction. That little voice inside of us tells us that we may be going astray, but we tune it out. That is a detour that we choose to take, but inside we know that it is wrong. We need to turn completely around and repent. Whatever we did in the past is behind us. Everyone has a past, we need to look to the…
I Acts 3: 11-21
Verses 12,- 19-21
First, Peter makes it clear that the healing that has just taken place before their eyes is not by his own power or that of his companions. They are not to be stared at as having supernatural powers. What has been done has been through the power of Jesus, who has been empowered by the God they all believe in, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Than Peter referrers to the second coming of Jesus in verse 21, where he says the work of Jesus is in heaven until the times of transformation of all things, which God hath spoken since the world began. This will be the time of His seco…
Acts 3:13 - “The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him.”
Given the frIghtening cosmic events surrounding the Crucifixion (sky turning black, rending of the Temple curtain) and Resurrection, both of which were likely widely know when this healing took place, the witnesses to this event must have been shaken to the core. How many of them were in the mob screaming “Crucify Him!” and cheering when the criminal Barabbas was released? Indeed we later learn 5000 were converted that very hour. Could there possibly be an…
Acts 3:12-21
Peter and John have healed someone and the Israelites were astonished.
I think that in a way the disciples healing someone was more impressive and more likely to convert the on-lookers to be Christ’s followers, than when Jesus did it. If the crowds really believed that Jesus was the Messiah than He would be expected to have healing power, but if He could pass that power to people like themselves than becoming a follower was the thing to do. This may be one, of many, reasons why Christianity became the largest religious movement in the world.