SPIRITUAL DIAR FOR 9/1/2017 9:53 AM
My Worship Time Focus:
PT-2 Intro to Acts 3:12-18
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Acts 3:12-18
Message of the verses: “12 But when Peter saw this, he replied to the
people, "Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at
us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? 13 "The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you
delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to
release Him. 14 "But you disowned
the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,
15 but put to death the Prince of life,
the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses.
16 "And on the basis of faith in
His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see
and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect
health in the presence of you all. 17 “And now, brethren, I know that you acted
in ignorance, just as your rulers did also. 18 “But the things which God
announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would
suffer, He has thus fulfilled.”
In our first SD on
this section we spoke about “the name of Jesus” and that this miracle to this
beggar was done in His name, and we also mentioned that this miracle would
like, the one at Pentecost would provide a great background for Peter’s next
sermon.
Peter saw the crowd
that was gathering and was prompted by the Holy Spirit to preach a sermon to
them as he would reply to them in a sermon.
John MacArthur states “Replied is from apokrinomai, a word often used to mark the beginning of a discourse
(cf. Matt. 11:25; 12:38; 17:4; 22:1; Mark 10:24; 11:14; 14:48; Luke 14:3; John
5:19; Acts 10:46). It does not
necessarily refer to answering a question.
Whether the crowd asked Peter questions is unknown, but their confusion
and desire for an explanation of the miracle were obvious.”
Peter begins his
message by saying “men of Israel,” as he was courteous to them and then he
asked two questions: “Why do you marvel
at this” as he gives them a mild rebuke.
The people of Israel who were God’s covenant people knew that God
performed miracles in the past so this miracle should not have surprised
them.
Next Peter asks “Why
do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk?” We can be sure that people in this crowd knew
that Peter and John were two Galilean fishermen who could not do this on their
own, but as we will see later on in the book of Acts that under similar
circumstances that the answer would be that they had been with Jesus. I believe the same answer applies here.
Peter directs
attention away from himself and onto our Lord Jesus Christ.
John MacArthur
concludes this introduction: “So Peter
takes as the theme of his sermon the matchless name of Jesus Christ. He presents five of the many names of our
Lord, all of which have messianic implications.
As he did in his first sermon Peter presents Jesus as the Messiah,
approved by God, yet rejected by the people.
By so doing, he again stresses to them that they were in the disastrous
condition of being at odds with God.
Peter describes his Master as Servant, Jesus, Holy and Righteous One,
Prince of Life, and Christ.”
These are the names of
Christ that we will begin looking at as we make our way through this section of
the third chapter of Acts.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: Remember to give honor and glory to the Lord
for things that the Holy Spirit allows me to do for the cause of Christ is
something I must continually remember to do.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Trust that the Lord will continue to allow me
to do things for the cause of Christ.
Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:
“Rachel” (Genesis 35:18-19).
Today’s Bible question: “Which
Gospels are known as the synoptic Gospels?”
Answer in our next SD.
9/1/2017 10:16 AM
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