Acts 3

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The Healing of the Lame Man and Peter’s Second Sermon

A period of miracles for Israel was included in the early days of Christianity.
An extension of grace for Israel was included in the early days of Christianity.

Why did the new Jewish believers continue to go to the Temple?
Where was Solomon’s Portico located? Where was the Beautiful Gate?
Why is it significant that the healing of the lame man took place in the Temple area?
When the lame man was given the ability to walk, did he have to go through the learning process as a child would?
In Peter’s sermon he speaks of a time of refreshing and restoration. When will this time come?

To share the gospel of Jesus Christ with their fellow Jews
The Temple complex consisted of the Temple itself and a series of outer and inner courts. Solomon’s Portico was one of the colonnaded porches on the east side of the Court of the Gentiles. The Beautiful Gate led from the outer Court of the Gentiles to the Court of Women.
This was a specific witness to Israel that Jesus, the one they had rejected, was indeed the Messiah.
No, he was able to jump and leap right away.
This will be during the kingdom age, when Christ will return and set up His glorious earthly kingdom. At that time Israel will be restored and they will receive the Messiah the nation once rejected.

The miracles in the early days of the Church had a specific purpose toward the Jewish people. Discuss this focus and refer to this chapter and Acts 5:12-17. What purpose did miracles serve in the ministry of the apostle Paul?
Discuss Peter’s attitude toward the Jews in his sermon. He begins with a scathing condemnation of the Jews for their role in the death of Christ. Then his tone graciously changes as he speaks of God’s willing forgiveness and their restoration to come. How should this teaching affect your mindset toward the Jewish people? Have you had wrong thinking about the nation in the past, which needs to be re-evaluated?

Peter told the lame man to be healed in the name of Jesus Christ – then he helped him stand up. Are you in a situation right now where you need to have faith and simply act? Let’s do what we can and let God do the rest.

“‘Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk…’ So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.” Acts 3:6-8
“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3:19
“To you [Jews] first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.” Acts 3:26