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Daily Bible Reading (Tuesday, May 8th)

9

Acts 3 (ESV)

The Lame Beggar Healed

Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.[a]And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Peter Speaks in Solomon's Portico

11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon's. 12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? 13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant[b] Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16 And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus[c] has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

17 “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. 22 Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ 24 And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. 25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ 26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”

Footnotes:

  1. Acts 3:1 That is, 3 p.m.
  2. Acts 3:13 Or child; also verse 26
  3. Acts 3:16 Greek him

9 Comments

"God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that who ever believes in Him would not parish but have eternal life."This is the essence of God's love. People might say how can God send people to hell isn't God a loving God yes He is but He is also righteous.

Peter testified that mercy was available to Jew that murdered Jesus. That is infinite mercy! Imagine the guilt, a converted Jew would have felt. I recalled guilt returning as I realized lingering consequences of past sins. Then someone explained that I was acting in unbelief, because I doubted the worth of Jesus sacrifice. Although it is healthy to feel remorse, it is sinful to deny the value of Christ's sacrifice to forgive sin.

Peter tells the crowd that he knows they acted in ignorance, as did their rulers; referring to Jesus’ death. But yet, the crowd was given another miracle to witness, and another call to faith. May we all keep hope in our hearts for the lost...and pray for them.

I was impressed like Bruce was, how the Apostles used such majestic names to talk about our Savior. They used them because those are his names...they describe his character. What a magnificent Lord and King we have!

What great titles are ascribed to Christ in this chapter. He is the Holy and Righteous One who is the Author of life. And here is the command and the promise "Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out." Thankful that our Savior blots out our sin.

Verse 26 is key. God sent Jesus to bless us by turning us from our wickedness. So many in our world today are looking for God to bless them in ways that he never promised. “Blessings” like prosperity, health, comfort, and success in this world. It is easy to look down on those who teach and believe this false gospel, but we must be careful not to let it infect our hearts. We must remind ourselves daily that God showed his great love for us by blessing us eternally through our savior and His Spirit who enable us to turn from our wickedness.

I am once again reminded of our teaching from this weekend when reading vv 8-9 which notes, “And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God.” This man was loudly exalting God and doing so intelligently as well. He recognized and responded rightly to his miraculous healing. In the same way we can exalt our Lord today because we have been healed spiritually! Oh God I pray for the church of Believers Fellowship that we would exalt you properly throughout our day. Give us bold courage to share your gospel clearly, and use us to restore this earth into relationship with you oh Lord.

What an awesome and clear presentation of the gospel to the lost! Oh, Lord, may your church continue to present the gospel so clearly today.

The biggest sign of all is that Jesus is calling everyone to come to repentance unto himself through miracles and signs showing that was and is the promised Christ hat was for told from the beginning the main central person in the middle of Israel the one that will come and bless the world to salvation

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