Bible Study - Hope (6) - Hope Shared - Acts 3:1-10 - May 25, 2014

Bible Study - Hope (6) – (R) Hope Shared – May 25, 2014

This is lesson (6) and the final lesson in our series entitled “Let Hope In.”

Our focus scripture is Acts 3:1-10.

After finding hope in CHRIST, we must share it with others. Sharing the gospel with others is a joy.

This lesson is an ideal follow up to last week’s study of the Apostle Peter denying CHRIST three times and JESUS restoring him for ministry. This week we get to see what can happen in a person’s life when he or she repents and accepts GOD’S grace to move forward with HIM in control of his or her life.

Scripture leading up to our focus scripture:

Acts 1:2-5:

The book of Acts was written by Doctor Luke. These verses give us the reason he wrote this sequel to the Gospel of Luke.

1 I wrote the first narrative, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach 2 until the day He was taken up, after He had given orders through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen. 3 After He had suffered, He also presented Himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during 40 days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

The Holy Spirit Promised

4 While He was together with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “This,” He said, “is what you heard from Me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

JESUS ascended into heaven and sat at the right hand of the Father to intercede in behalf of all Christians. Satan is the great accuser and our advocate before the Father is JESUS. After JESUS completed HIS earthly ministry, it was GOD’S plan to send the Holy Spirit to indwell all who accept CHRIST as their Savior. The indwelling Holy Spirit is every Christian’s assurance and the guarantee that he or she is GOD’S child and has eternal life. The shed blood of JESUS made ready and sanctified the human body to be indwelled by the Holy Spirit the instant a person receives CHRIST as his or her Savior.

Acts 1:12-14:

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem—a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 When they arrived, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. 14 All these were continually united in prayer, along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers.

Verse 15 - During these days Peter stood up among the • brothers —the number of people who were together was about 120—

Peter took a leadership position before the Holy Spirit came to earth. They chose the disciple to replace Judas.

Acts 2:1-4: (The arrival of the Holy Spirit to indwell all who place their faith in JESUS.)

1 When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying. 3 And tongues, like flames of fire that were divided, appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different • languages, as the Spirit gave them ability for speech.

Acts 2:14:

14 But Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them: “Men of Judah and all you residents of Jerusalem, let me explain this to you and pay attention to my words.

Acts 2:37-38:

37 When they heard this, they came under deep conviction and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: “Brothers, what must we do?” 38 “Repent,” Peter said to them, “and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Verse 41 So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about 3, 000 people were added to them.

Peter was the evangelist that day when about 3,000 became Christians and in the days to follow about 5,000 became Christians. This disturbed the Jewish religious leaders greatly. This part is covered later in Acts Chapter 4.

This brings us to our focus scripture.

Let’s read Acts 3:1-10:

1 Now Peter and John were going up together to the •temple complex at the hour of prayer at three in the afternoon. 2 And a man who was lame from birth was carried there and placed every day at the temple gate called Beautiful, so he could beg from those entering the temple complex. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter the temple complex, he asked for help. 4 Peter, along with John, looked at him intently and said, “Look at us.” 5 So he turned to them, expecting to get something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I don’t have silver or gold, but what I have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ the • Nazarene, get up and walk!” 7 Then, taking him by the right hand he raised him up, and at once his feet and ankles became strong. 8 So he jumped up, stood, and started to walk, and he entered the temple complex with them —walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 All the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and they recognized that he was the one who used to sit and beg at the Beautiful Gate of the temple complex. So they were filled with awe and astonishment at what had happened to him.

Let’s explore!

Sacrifices at the temple were made at 9 AM and 3 PM. This was the 3 PM sacrifice and there would likely be a large number of worshippers there. Peter’s and John’s purpose was to go to pray and seek to do the will of JESUS as revealed to them by the Holy Spirit.

As a side note: The temple was the focal point for those seeking a relationship with GOD. Since JESUS gave HIS life for the remission of sins for all who will place their faith in HIM, there was no longer a need to sacrifice animals. The Jewish leaders did not believe that CHRIST was the promised Messiah or if they did acknowledge HIM as the Messiah, they would lose their status and jobs. Thus sacrifices continued until at least 70 AD when the temple was destroyed. Since then, according to the references I checked, animal sacrifices stopped. Our Jewish friends say that sacrifices can only be made in the temple in Jerusalem and that is why the sacrifices stopped when the temple was destroyed but they will start again once the temple is rebuilt.

Christianity was in its infancy, so what better place to find those seeking truth and to share the Gospel of CHRIST with them than the temple. In fact, the temple and synagogues were some of the primary places Christians would go to share the Gospel.  

Acts 3:2 reveals that a man crippled since birth was placed at the temple gate called Beautiful each day for him to beg or ask for money as worshippers entered the temple.

Apostle Peter and John were going up to the temple complex to pray. They entered the gate called Beautiful. There is no historical account of this gate but many Bible scholars believe it was a reference to the gate referred to as the Nicanor gate.  

We know that this man had been begging for many years as Acts 4:21-22 reveals, he was over 40 years old when he was healed, which we will see later. This was his special spot, for a special purpose.

Acts 3:3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter the temple complex, he asked for help. 4 Peter, along with John, looked at him intently and said, “Look at us.”

The cripple man asked Peter and John for help. Both of them looked at the man intently and ask the man to look at them. I think Peter and John were praying and asking CHRIST what they should do for this man. Also, we need to keep in mind what JESUS revealed during HIS ministry as found in Matthew 18:19:

19 Again, I assure you: If two of you on earth agree about any matter that you pray for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there among them.”

Peter and John received the okay to provide the help this man needed most. Material goods or money would provide temporary help but what this man really needed, money could not buy. What was it? Let’s see in our next focus scripture.

As we read in Acts 3:4-5, the crippled man turned and was expecting something from them. Little did the man know what he was about to receive. He was likely pumped thinking what they had for him. But did his anticipation hit rock bottom when he heard Peter’s words “I don’t have silver or gold.” What do you think flew through this man’s mind? “But what I have, I give to you.” Did he think oh my, “What is about to happen to me?”

This was the first recorded miracle manifested by JESUS through HIS disciples. Peter and John had seen miracles performed by JESUS. As I stated earlier, I think they prayed first and I think received the ok to make the request and then took action. They had the best teacher.

Then he heard the words “In the name of Jesus Christ the • Nazarene, get up and walk!” Had he ever heard of JESUS? Likely but we do not know for certain but it would be a name he would remember for the rest of his life. Peter stated “In the name of JESUS CHRIST the Nazarene, get up and walk!” That was about as plain and direct as you can get.

Peter then placed his faith into action. When he spoke the words, he took the crippled man by his right hand and raised him up. As the man was rising his feet and ankles became strong. The man was healed instantly and he jumped up, stood and started to walk. He entered the temple complex with them —walking, leaping, and praising God.

This was one happy man and as such he was a mighty witness to those in the temple, including the religious staff. The man knew that his healing came from GOD. Had he made the oneness connection between JESUS and GOD? If he hadn’t he would.

This man’s life was changed instantly and JESUS can change your life instantly when you seek HIM and give your life to HIM in obedient service.

In Acts 3:9-10, those in the temple saw the man and could not believe their eyes. They recognized him as the crippled man who had been begging for years at the temple gate called Beautiful. The people were filled with awe and were astonished. How could this be? What an opportunity to witness about JESUS and HIS saving power.

We need to keep in mind that awe and astonishment do not equal salvation but that they do open the way to seek truth. Peter and John were there to present the truth of salvation through faith in CHRIST.

We need to keep in mind that it does not take awe and astonishment for JESUS to reach into the hearts and minds of those who seek salvation. HE can use the simple things we encounter. Seek to obediently serve HIM as HE leads you. Only eternity will reveal how GOD used something as simple as a kind word, a smile or a cup of cold water.

Prior to the man’s healing he could not go into the inner courts of the temple complex because of his deformity. (Lev. 21:17-23) He was seeing the inner courts for the first time. When JESUS heals our hearts due to sin, we see HIM and HIS love for us for the first time and oh what a joy it is!

This caused a stir among the religious leaders. It was hard for them to deny what had happened. The ranking religious leaders had to make an appearance to straighten them all out. In walked the Sadducees.

Let’s read Acts 4:1-4:

1 Now as they (Peter and John) were speaking to the people, the priests, the commander of the temple police, and the • Sadducees confronted them, 2 because they were provoked that they were teaching the people and proclaiming the resurrection from the dead, using Jesus as the example. 3 So they seized them and put them in custody until the next day, since it was already evening. 4 But many of those who heard the message believed, and the number of the men came to about 5, 000.

So what happened to Peter and John? Let’s read Acts 4:5-22:

5 The next day, their rulers, elders, and • scribes assembled in Jerusalem 6 with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John and Alexander, and all the members of the high-priestly family. 7 After they had Peter and John stand before them, they asked the question: “By what power or in what name have you done this?” 8 Then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders: 9 If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a disabled man —by what means he was healed— 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the • Nazarene —whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead —by Him this man is standing here before you healthy. 11 This Jesus is the stone rejected by you builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people, and we must be saved by it.”

The Name Forbidden

13 When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus. 14 And since they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in response. 15 After they had ordered them to leave the • Sanhedrin, they conferred among themselves, 16 saying, “What should we do with these men? For an obvious sign, evident to all who live in Jerusalem, has been done through them, and we cannot deny it! 17 However, so this does not spread any further among the people, let’s threaten them against speaking to anyone in this name again.” 18 So they called for them and ordered them not to preach or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it’s right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than to God, you decide; 20 for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21 After threatening them further, they released them. They found no way to punish them, because the people were all giving glory to God over what had been done; 22 for this sign of healing had been performed on a man over 40 years old. JESUS still heals today, especially broken hearts.

It is likely that JESUS had passed by this man and was possibly tempted to heal him or HE may have asked the Father if HE could heal him but the Father told Him to wait, no or whatever. We know that JESUS was tempted in all ways humans are tempted but HE remained sinless. GOD had a plan for this crippled man but at just the right time. Now was that time. This once crippled man was one happy soul.

Many of us have been crippled Spiritually but we have been healed by the touch of JESUS.

For those of us who have accepted CHRIST as our Savior we likely recall the unspeakable joy of our salvation and can relate to the words of Peter and John – “for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

It is easy to let the cares of the world move into our lives and rob us of this joy. Do you know this unspeakable joy? If not, you can right now by accepting JESUS as your Savior or if you are already a Christian and have not been living for HIM, confess it and ask HIM to take your life like it is and to help you rebuild that intimate, loving relationship you once had with HIM.

JESUS gave HIS life for all of mankind who will place their faith in HIM. CHRIST does not discriminate because at the foot of the cross the ground is level. If you have not received CHRIST as your Savior, ask HIM to forgive you for your sins and ask HIM to come into your life now. HE will and you will experience the miracle of rebirth in your spirit and become a child of GOD and receive eternal life. Blessings!!!