Acts 3

It’s three months since Pentecost.

The festivals are over.

The pilgrims have returned to the homes.

Things are back to normal. Well, not exactly.


3:1-3 – The Setup

The characters:
Peter and John, as well as all the other disciples of the day, looked like Jews, talked like Jews, behaved like Jews, regarded themselves as Jews and we seen by unbelievers as Jews.

The beggar. What do we know about him?

3:4-7 – The Miracle

“look at us”

“expecting to get something”

“no money”

“in the Name of Jesus… rise up and walk…”

NO hesitation!

Dr. Luke’s Report of the Miracle

Right hand

Bones receive strength

Birth defect

No physical therapy needed


“But what I do have I give you…”

Healing power (Acts 1:8) A healing such as this does not require the gift of healing. All Christians have a role to play in praying for healing!

Authority (Matthew 10:1) “In the name of Jesus…”


Who’s faith did the healing?

Three options:

1. The sick person – Matthew 9:27-31
2. An intermediary – Matthew 8:5-13
3. The person who does the healing – THIS CASE


The purpose of healing: Healing does not save – but it points to the Savior!


Why did the healing happen at that particular time?

A key to ministering healing is to be sensitive to God’s timing.
John 5:19 & Philippians 2:13

Because Peter was so sure of God’s timing, he chose not to pray a prayer of intercession, he simply spoke a command of healing.

3:8-11 - Testimony

By deed:
By word:

3:12-16 – Interpretation


Three demands:

1. Repent – 3:19, 26
2. Receive forgiveness – 3:19
3. Join the army of God – 3:25


Now, there is a lot more to this story – as we will see in Chapter 4.