Acts 3:1-21
Friday, 01 September 2023
But Peter said, "I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!” -Acts 3:6
The book of Acts is often referred to as Acts of the Apostles but it would be more appropriate to call it the Acts of the Holy Spirit. It is the history book of the New Testament recording the history of early Christianity from the ascension of Christ to the spread of the gospel to other nations and the growth of the early church.
The lame man wanted some money (change) and Peter through the Holy Spirit gave a complete change in his lifestyle. The miracle of this lame man being able to walk through the power of God created a scene as the beggar was a familiar sight around the temple. Peter immediately seized this opportunity to witness Christ. He gave the message he had delivered at Pentecost about Jesus of Nazareth, rejected and condemned by Israel as being “the Christ” (Acts 3:20) and also that forgiveness of sin is found in Him alone.
Peter preached Christ to them in a manner whereby they would be willing to listen. He started off by saying that it was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob who had given them Jesus. He was able to reach the Jews through the pride they had in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In Exodus 3:15 we see how God made Himself known: "Say this to the people of Israel, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.
Next Peter calls them to repent and be converted so that their sins will be forgiven and times of refreshing could come from the presence of the Lord. But here again he was careful not to give offense, by stating that they had done this to Jesus because of their ignorance (Acts 3:17). Peter was able to be an effective witness to his people by meeting them on their terms.
We too can learn from Peter in being effective witnesses for Christ. We can do so by not condemning those who are lost but understanding that most people are looking for a way out of their misery in different areas. They try to fill the void, the lack of the Holy Spirit leaves in them, by looking for it elsewhere- in different religions or “karmas”, in drugs, bars, etc.
How do we minister to such people? What do we give them? Let us give them Christ Jesus as:
· the One sent from God because He loves them John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
· the Only name that can save them Acts 4:12 “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
· the Only One who can release them from captivity Luke 10:17 “…Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”
· the One who can heal their sickness 1 Peter 2:24 He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.
· the One who can understand their weakness and help them Hebrews 4:15. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet he did not sin.
Brethren, freely you have received the gift of salvation; therefore you must freely give it to others. Be an effective witness for Christ and win souls for His Kingdom!
Thought for the Day: How you believe God perceives people, will determine how you respond to them. -Jacquelyn K. Heasley
Listen: 'More Precious'