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Category: Acts for a 21st c. Church

Acts of the Apostles + a History of Christ’s Church

Acts of the Apostles 1-28

Acts of the Apostles:
+ The first century Church SHARED Christ while suffering severe persecution.
+ Luke records a historic account of the Church which gives 21c Christians a context to SHARE the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others.

Read more about the Early Church & add your COMMENT on Scripture.

ACT now.

+ SHARE the Gospel history witnessed in the CURRENT chronological SERIES from ACTS of the APOSTLES.

Peter Replied: Signs Preached from Solomon’s Porch
..all the people ran together to them at the portico named Solomon’s, completely astonished. But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people..
Acts of the Apostles 3:11b-12a NASB20

It’s MASSIVE and Magnificent!

Herod the Great left a temple to Jerusalem’s elite where MULTITUDES could enter stadium-sized courts rivaling Rome’s great temples. Jewish religious officials would continue their façade of political power in a city held captive to a tolerant Roman ‘peace.’

Signs of the Holy Spirit of God

Previously..

Miracles, Wonders & Signs: Peter’s Amazing Answer

NOW the crowds see a lame beggar walk!

Jerusalem was all abuzz. Tongues of fire, Galileans preaching about the Messiah Jesus to men in their own languages, and now a well-known beggar lame from birth STANDING beside Peter and John as they walked to worship in the Temple. The public courts seem more packed than usual and everyone looks for explanations of all this from the Apostles. So multitudes follow Peter to Solomon’s portico.

Simon Peter replies: “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?

The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.

But you denied the Holy and Righteous One,

and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life,

whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.

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 has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

Do you have a question about the signs of God before your very eyes?

PETER preaches his response to the questions of the crowds who witness what has just happened. And the Apostle takes no credit for this miracle either by his personal power {dynamis} or piety, reverence or respect (eusebeia – often translated as godliness).

Amazed multitudes run to the Apostles, crowd in on them, look to them for an explanation in their response.

Peter replied to their amazement, yet with the same personal conviction AND compassion of his Lord Jesus who offered to those with ears to hear grace when He preached to the crowds.

Luke has already shown our Lord’s gracious encouragement though Jesus’ replies in his Gospel.

ἀποκρίνομαι Replies in Luke’s Gospel
- And Jesus answered^G611 and said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick.
- And Jesus, answering^G611 them, said, “Have you not even read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him,
- And He answered^G611 and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: people who were blind receive sight, people who limped walk, people with leprosy are cleansed and people who were deaf hear, dead people are raised up, and people who are poor have the gospel preached to them.
HOW MANY SIGNS OF THE MESSIAH DO YOU NEED?

Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe [literally, fear was occurring to every soul]; and many wonders and [confirming miracles ] signs were taking place through the apostles.
Acts of the Apostles 2:43 NASB20

Luke now shows the Apostles preaching to men wondering about many SIGNS of the day in ACTS of the APOSTLES. Peter replies in effect that ‘JESUS has done this through faith as a sign to you.’
- Strong’s Number G611 matches the Greek ἀποκρίνομαι (apokrinomai),
- which occurs 21 times in 21 verses in ‘Act’ in the TR Greek.
“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.
Acts of the Apostles 3:16 NASB20

“And now, brothers,

He first addressed them as ‘men of Israel.’ Peter replied to their fear (or awe) more personally now as the Apostle of Jesus calls them brothers.

adelphos – brethren

I know that you acted in ignorance..

(Are any already convicted by the Holy Spirit by the signs they have just witnessed?)

Countenances diminish from amazement in their crowd curiosity to faces of men showing humility as they cling to Peter’s words:

“And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.
Acts of the Apostles 3:17-18 ESV

Like his Lord and Master, Christ Jesus, the Apostle replies with great compassion, ‘I know that you didn’t know what you were doing’ (ignorance).

John had heard such forgiveness even from the foot of the Cross. Peter had experienced it from the risen Christ forgiving his ignorance and denials.

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
Gospel of Luke 23:34a KJV

Yet Peter replied also inviting their response.

μετανοήσατε οὖν καὶ ἐπιστρέψατε

REPENT, THEREFORE, AND RETURN.

Repent.

What does repentance mean once we are no longer ignorant?

“Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, each according to his conduct,” declares the Lord GOD. “Repent and turn away from all your offenses, so that wrongdoing does not become a stumbling block to you.
Hurl away from you all your offenses which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! For why should you die, house of Israel?
For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord GOD. “Therefore, repent and live!”
The Prophet Ezekiel 18:30-32 NASB20

Peter replied to their ignorance in familiar fashion from the preaching of the Prophets.

And Jesus responded and said to them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans just because they have suffered this fate?
No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
Or do you think that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse offenders than all the other people who live in Jerusalem?
“No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
Gospel of Luke 13:3-5 – Jesus preaching on repentance

Peter replied much as Jesus had taught, as well as John the Baptizer had warned and others.

“Repent G3340, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent G3340, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” – Gospel of Matthew 3:2; 4:17 NASB20 – Repent – Strong’s G3340

AND notice how frequently in the Bible REPENT follows ‘THEREFORE’

‘Those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.
Revelation of Jesus Christ to John 3:19 NASB20

AND Return

Peter replied also with an implied action required of those with ears to hear his call of repentance. You must now return to God.

You know the LORD God [brothers] and you are not ignorant of God’s requirements in the LAW, the Commandments Moses gave you from the Lord our God.

¹⁹“Therefore, make teshuva (repentance, turning from chet [sin] to G-d) and turn in order that your chatta’im, your averos (sins) may be removed, [TEHILLIM 51:1; YESHAYAH 43:25; 44:22]
Acts Gevurot 3:19 Orthodox Jewish Bible

ἐπιστρέφω
- Return
  - to the worship of the true God
  - to the love and obedience of God
  - to the love for the children (of God, your fellow brothers)
  - to love wisdom and righteousness (now that you are no longer ignorant of G-d’s Messiah, WHO IS our Savior.)
Peter then proceeds with an amazing invitation to those who not only have rejected their Messiah, but some in the crowd of the Temple gathering at Solomon’s Portico who may have been part of the shouting crowds calling for Jesus’ crucifixion at Jerusalem’s most recent festival.

Revival of the Spirit
- And you were dead in your trespasses and sins.. – Ephesians 2:1
- Turn your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt. – Psalm 51:9
- Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.. – ACTS 3:19 NASB
  - ἀνάψυξις anápsyxis, an-aps’-ook-sis; from G404; properly, a recovery of breath, i.e. (figuratively) revival:—revival.
“The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified his servant Jesus..

You denied the Holy and Righteous One.. You killed the source of life, whom God raised from the dead..

that your sins may be blotted out,
- in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;
  - NO, brothers (and tell our sisters and children as well), we know that God will not and can not have any sinner in His Presence — NO sacrifice is sufficient to blot out our many sins.
- and that He may send Jesus, the [Messiah, the anointed one] Christ appointed for you,
- whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things,
  - The Christ, the One Who came to us in body and soul, Who Is now the presence of the Lord, will cover your sins by His Perfect Sacrifice – He has blotted out your sins so that you may in your living spirit be with Him until your body dead to sin is restored with all things.
- about which God spoke by the mouths of His holy prophets from ancient times.
Peter replied pointing to Scripture

The Apostle includes Moses with God’s holy prophets, separated to speak the One truth of the Lord God.

For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
Acts of the Apostles 3:22 KJV

Moses also a Prophet

Of course every faithful Jew not only knew the Law of Moses, but also heard the Scripture of Moses WHEN rabbis chose to preach all of the truth of Scripture.

Therefore, many standing at Solomon’s Portico listening to Simon Peter preach knew these things Simon [שִׁמְעוֹן] Peter preaches..

15 נָבִ֨יא מִקִּרְבְּךָ֤ מֵאַחֶ֙יךָ֙ כָּמֹ֔נִי יָקִ֥ים לְךָ֖ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ אֵלָ֖יו תִּשְׁמָעֽוּן׃
16 כְּכֹ֨ל אֲשֶׁר־שָׁאַ֜לְתָּ מֵעִ֨ם יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ בְּחֹרֵ֔ב בְּי֥וֹם הַקָּהָ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר לֹ֣א אֹסֵ֗ף לִשְׁמֹ֙עַ֙ אֶת־קוֹל֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֔י וְאֶת־הָאֵ֨שׁ הַגְּדֹלָ֥ה הַזֹּ֛את לֹֽא־אֶרְאֶ֥ה ע֖וֹד וְלֹ֥א אָמֽוּת׃
17 וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוָ֖ה אֵלָ֑י הֵיטִ֖יבוּ אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֵּֽרוּ׃
18 נָבִ֨יא אָקִ֥ים לָהֶ֛ם מִקֶּ֥רֶב אֲחֵיהֶ֖ם כָּמ֑וֹךָ וְנָתַתִּ֤י דְבָרַי֙ בְּפִ֔יו וְדִבֶּ֣ר אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם אֵ֖ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲצַוֶּֽנּוּ׃
19 וְהָיָ֗ה הָאִישׁ֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־יִשְׁמַע֙ אֶל־דְּבָרַ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְדַבֵּ֖ר בִּשְׁמִ֑י אָנֹכִ֖י אֶדְרֹ֥שׁ מֵעִמּֽוֹ׃
Devarim (Deuteronomy) 18 :: Westminster Leningrad Codex (WLC)

“Moshe Rabbenu indeed said, “NAVI KAMOCHA [T. N. i.e., a prophet like Moses] for you Hashem Adonoi will raise up from your achim; to him you will give heed according to everything whatever he may speak to you.” [DEVARIM 18:15,18] ..
Gevurot 3:22 Orthodox Jewish Bible
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How are you doing with 'hearing' all this in the native 'tongue' of your birth?
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Peter replied to those God chose in the Temple to hear by the Spirit.
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You will see shortly that Simon Peter's preaching truth from the Scripture of Moshe will not be received by all, in deference to the great sign Peter has just performed at the Beautiful Gate.

From the back of crowds temple officials begin to push their way to the front where Peter, the Apostles and a formerly lame beggar stand before Jerusalem's largest crowd praising God and the Messiah of Israel.
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It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God ordained with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘ And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’
Acts 3:25

.. God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”
Acts of the Apostles 3:26 ESV – Simon Peter Replies to the jews at Solomon’s Porch by Preaching Christ Crucified & Risen

Who will God save?
- And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob” – Romans 11:26
  - “And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the Lord. “And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children’s offspring,” says the Lord, “from this time forth and forevermore.” – Isaiah 59:20-21
    [The true sons of Israel (Jacob) know the true Word of Scripture. – Roger@TalkofJESUS.com Let’s talk.]
  - You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. – Gospel of John 4:22 – The Messiah Jesus to a woman in Samaria
And why does Peter preach also to those at the Temple who will not be saved along with those who by the Spirit have been blessed with ears to hear?

Yechezkel (Ezekiel) 3 :: Westminster Leningrad Codex (WLC)

So I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat.. And he said to me, “Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with my words to them. For you are not sent to a people of foreign speech and a hard language, but to the house of Israel—

.. But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me: because all the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart.

Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads..

If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.

But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.
Ezekiel 3:19 ESV

3:19 וְאַתָּה כִּֽי־הִזְהַרְתָּ רָשָׁע וְלֹא־שָׁב מֵֽרִשְׁעוֹ וּמִדַּרְכּוֹ הָרְשָׁעָה הוּא בַּעֲוֺנוֹ יָמוּת וְאַתָּה אֶֽת־נַפְשְׁךָ הִצַּֽלְתָּ׃ ס

Herod’s temple authorities respond.

Simon Peter preaches repentance in Jesus Christ to Spirit-called crowds. Yet while the Apostles proclaim the Good News of the MESSIAH from Solomon’s Porch..

authorities of Herod’s religious/political bedfellows of the Sanhedrin (their ‘Congress,’ so to speak) move to oppose the Gospel.

Acts of the Apostles 4:

As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, being greatly disturbed

because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

Christ, who IS risen, had been arrested by some of these same officials a few weeks back while Peter and the Apostles stood helpless.

And what would these men have just heard as Peter preached from Solomon’s Porch?

“The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go.
ACTS of the Apostles 3:13 NKJV

“Repent therefore and be converted..
ACTS of the Apostles 3:19a

.. “For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you.‘ And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.
ACTS of the Apostles 3:22-23 NKJV

Peter replied differently than in Gethsemane

Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. Like emery harder than flint have I made your forehead. Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.”
Ezekiel 3:8-9 ESV

The Apostle preached with the power of the Holy Spirit.

Peter is a rock now in the strength of the Word of the Lord. This is no cowering Disciple denying Jesus as he huddled up to a campfire within earshot of false testimonies.

ACTS 4:

As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them..

And they laid hands on them and put them in prison until the next day, for it was already evening.
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To be continued...
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November 10, 2021
We are Beggars in the House of God
Begging for Blessing

You may have had a beggar at your door recently. My new neighbor asked me if he should expect any ‘trick or treaters’ invading our neighborhood. Probably not, I responded. We generally have sweets here for ourselves that I could give away to a beggar, I assured. But he thought it might be best to go out and buy some treats just in case.

My neighbor then left to buy some sweets so as to not disappoint some little child at his door expecting a blessing.

ACTS of Simon Peter

Building a New Synagogue of Simon – שִׁמְעוֹן

Continuing in Jerusalem from where we last left Peter:

You may ask what my neighbor buying a treat to bless some little beggar at his door has to do with Peter and the Apostles as they enter into the gates and public courtyards of the Temple in Jerusalem.

I can think of more than one parallel to our 21st century walk as disciples of Jesus Christ.

So as we resume our journey with Simon Peter in Acts of the Apostles, don’t miss the Apostles’ hearts of graciousness accompanying the powerful signs of the Holy Spirit continuing to attract crowds to yet another sermon by Peter.

Acts of the Apostles

What has happened so far?

Miracles, Wonders & Signs: Peter’s Amazing Answer

Luke’s account begins with a brief look back at his first account, the Gospel.
- To these [the Apostles] He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days.. – Acts 1:3a
- [The risen Christ Jesus had assured them] “..but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.” – Acts 1:8
The Apostle Simon Peter has already preached to the crowds:
- Peter stood up among the brothers and sisters (a group of about 120 people was there together) [in an upper room in Jerusalem]. – Acts 1:15b
- And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. – Acts 2:2
- .. they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with different [languages], as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out.. [Those in the crowds of Jerusalem were amazed and asked each other] And how is it that we each hear them in our own [dialect in] which we were born? – Acts 2:4,7,8 excerpt
- But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, [preaching in the power of the Holy Spirit from Old Testament scripture]:
And it shall be in the last days,’ God says,
‘That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind;
Acts 2:14a, 17a – Simon Peter preaching to the crowds of Pentecost in Jerusalem from the prophet Joel
- [Simon tells the crowds: ] ..he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay. It is this Jesus whom God raised up, a fact to which we are all witnesses. – Acts 2:32
.. the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, He has poured out this which you both see and hear.

Into this context and setting in first century Jerusalem we continue with Simon Peter and the Eleven as they obediently have remained in Jerusalem and the church continues to grow.
Be saved from this perverse generation!

Peter said to them,
“Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.

44 And all the believers were together
and had all things in common;
45 and they would sell their property and possessions
and share them with all, to the extent that anyone had need.
46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple,
and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and
having favor with all the people.

HERE ARE SINNERS REPENTANT, BLESSING EACH OTHER AND OTHERS — DAILY — IN WORSHIP AND COMMUNITY.

THIS is the WITNESS OF THE CHURCH to ALL who encounter them, THAT, an evidence and sign in itself.

And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
ACTS of the apostles 2:47b

A Beggar at the Temple Door

ACTS 3:

Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

The Day of Pentecost is past and three thousand souls have been worshiping day by day with the Apostles.
And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple
What will be the next ACT of the Apostles Peter and John?

Christian Witness with an Everyday Beggar

Imagine it — this is no child at your door, a costumed beggar charming you out of some candy.

NO, these desperate men of no means were as familiar at the entrances and exits of the public places as defeated men by the highway having no place to go with temporary signs – beggars asking alms of ANY who might help the invisible poor.

Yet Luke reveals that this beggar must had friends. They carried him to the place of worship daily. Or perhaps these men were part of his family who relied on his help by generated mercy of others.

The crowds who passed him by knew who he was; NOT a child, but a man handicapped from birth. No fault of his, but what could they do?

And mostly, their alms on occasion made them feel a little better about their own charity to him.
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Note: Peter and John do not simply give the man something (or look away from him and move on, but the Apostles engage this beggar in conversation of lasting consequence.
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Peter and John had witnessed the power of Jesus’ compassion

Luke 10:

The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; but the one who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”

Now the seventy-two returned with joy, saying,

“Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name!”

Turning to the disciples, He said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see the things you see..

Eternal Life

25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

26 He said unto him, What is written in the law?

Jesus engages the man in conversation, meaningful conversation which the Lord illustrates with the now familiar to us parable of the Good Samaritan. (Remember, Judeans did not particularly like the Jews from Samaria and those from other distant states or regions.)

“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers..
But a Samaritan on his journey came up to him, and when he saw the man, he had compassion.”
Gospel of Luke 10:30b,33 CSB + Jesus addressing the question: ‘Who is my neighbor?’

This man who was robbed on his journey to Jericho was no beggar. But Jesus points out that he certainly needs help.

Jesus asks, ‘Which of the the three helped the man;’ that is, ‘who was his neighbor’?

The Apostles knew both the parable and the accompanying miracles. Seventy-two disciples of Jesus had just worked many miracles when the lawyer had asked what to do to inherit eternal life.
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Returning now to Peter and John headed to the temple for worship:
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Peter’s ACT of compassion

Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked for alms.
Acts of the Apostles 3:3 RSV

And Peter directed his gaze at him, with John, and said, “Look at us.”

The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money.

But Peter said, “I do not have silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you:
Acts of the Apostles 3:6a NASB20

Do you suppose the two-way conversation between the eyes of the lame beggar and Peter continues in intense anticipation here?

You are the beggar at the door and the man says ‘I have no money.’

Peter is a neighbor who has gone out of his way to give a sweet blessing to this poor man…

So many do little or just pass by.. YOU lay there HELPLESS still.. you, a poor lame beggar.

Yet Peter and John continue with their own intense and compassionate stares…

They ACT personally, as if the two are alone in their transaction..

Then the man who has NOT passed by you, helpless at the gate of the place of worship continues:

In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, walk!”
The command of Peter: Acts 3:6b

Peter had witnessed Jesus Christ the Nazarene make a man walk!

And Simon Peter had touched and seen the Lord’s hands and feet which had been nailed to a Cross!

Peter and John had a commission from Christ to build His church once receiving the Holy Spirit.

Yet another sign of the Holy Spirit

With John at his side, as they had both been observers of Jesus healing a man like this lowered by friends into a room full of Jews listening to Jesus preach, Peter now reaches down to the man near the crowds before him:

And grasping him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened.
Act of Peter reaching down to a man lame from birth + Acts 3:7

Recalling Christ’s Authority to Heal

Luke 5:

Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around Him and listening to the word of God, He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret; and He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake; but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s…

But when Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying,

“Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” ..

And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear; from now on you will be catching people.”

When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.

This had been three years ago. Since then, Peter and John have seen MANY more miraculous things — unexplainable signs from God — ACTS of Jesus’ power and authority over men and creation.
- While He was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man covered with leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” And He reached out with His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately the leprosy left him.
- One day He was teaching, and there were some Pharisees and teachers of the Law sitting there who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea, and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was present for Him to perform healing. And some men were carrying a man on a stretcher who was paralyzed; and they were trying to bring him in and to set him down in front of Him. But when they did not find any way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down through the tiles with his stretcher, into the middle of the crowd, in front of Jesus.
Simon Peter and John had witnessed the power of God through Jesus many times.

A Beggar Worshiping with the Apostles

And leaping up, he stood and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
And all the people saw him walking and praising God; and they recognized him as being the very one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg for charitable gifts, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Acts of the Apostles 3:8-10 NASB

The very sight of this crippled man everyone knew LEAPING UP must have taken away the breath of those who witnessed this great sign!
- REMEMBER the lame man lowered by his friends into a crowded room so that Jesus could heal him?
- What was it the Lord had said?
And seeing their faith, He said,
“Friend, your sins are forgiven you.” .. “I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher, and go home.”
Gospel of Luke 5:20, 24b NASB + Jesus commanding a Lame man to walk

Peter and John saw a beggar’s faith

And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.
Acts of the Apostles 3:11 Authorized Version

Friend, your sins are forgiven you, or at least they could be — IF only you would come to the Lord Jesus Christ.

For by our admitted failings, like Peter, we are all sinful men and sinful women.

In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, walk!”
The command of Peter: Acts 3:6b

Won’t you walk on in witness in the name of Jesus Christ beside John and Simon Peter and the Apostles? For they were, after all, just sinners like you and like me.

ALL are beggars before the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will greet us at the gate.
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NEXT: Simon Peter walks to Solomon's Portico to preach to the crowds
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November 3, 2021
Building a New Synagogue of Simon – שִׁמְעוֹן
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(I know you're thinking 'church' and not 'synagogue' and Christians always think like a gentile only calling the Apostle Peter, but today we need to look at ACTS through first century eyes, having ears to hear Simon Peter preach the Person of Christ Jesus who he knew and loved personally.)
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Today’s look at ACTS OF THE APOSTLES focuses on the Simon Peter’s hearers in Jerusalem’s crowds and verses from two brief sections you have already read:

Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
Acts 2:9-11 KJV

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand [3000] souls.
Acts 2:41 kjv

A New Teaching Igniting Faith in Jerusalem

Luke’s Second Account

We learned last time from Luke’s second account, Acts of the Apostles, that: They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Two questions immediately come to mind:
- Who were the Apostles teaching?
- And what is this new teaching which grew the church so quickly?
Where would this new church be built? Who were these Saints devoted to the Apostle’s teaching?

‘Church’ & ‘Synagogue’ – (You probably have the wrong picture)

Saint Simon’s Synagogue Pictured above: St Simon Peter’s Basilica [Basilica Sancti Petri] in Rome, built A.D. 1506-1626 – Originally, a basilica was an ancient Roman public building, where courts were held, as well as serving other official and public functions. —————————- Pictured left: Ruins of 4th century A.D. synagogue built around second century B.C.in Capernaum, a fishing village of about 1500, site where Simon Peter and his family likely worshiped.

And WHY am I calling these: ‘Simon’s synagogues‘ & not ‘Saint Peter’s Church?’

Let’s take a brief journey back to the time of Luke to change our imagery of the church, the saints, the synagogues and even Simon Peter.

The Gospel of *Luke
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*Luke, which some take to be a contraction of Lucilius; born at Antioch, so St. Jerome. Some think that he was the only one of all the penmen of the scripture that was not of the seed of Israel. 
Source: Commentary of Matthew Henry
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Luke, a gentile physician who may have been a Jewish proselyte, and, as some conjecture, converted to Christianity by the ministry of St. Paul at Antioch; and after his coming into Macedonia [*], wrote both his Gospel and Acts in the A.D. 60’s, some three decades after the events we are currently examining in the opening chapters of Acts.

Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around Him [Jesus] and listening to the word of God, He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret.. And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s..
Luke 5:1,3a NASB20

Now when He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”

Simon responded and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say..
Gospel of Luke 5:5a NASB20 – Simon Peter obeying Jesus after the Lord preached to the crowds from his boat.

.. they caught a great quantity of fish..

When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”
Luke 5:8 NKJV

Lucilius (Luke) continues to call him ‘Simon‘

Σίμων – Pronunciation: see’-mone – proper masculine noun Root Word Of Hebrew origin שִׁמְעוֹן (H8095)
- In ACTS of the Apostles Luke always calls him: ‘Peter’ or clarifies that he is ‘Simon Peter.’
- Luke, in his Gospel, uses the name, Simon seventeen (17) times,
  - referring to the Apostle as Simon, without using his Apostolic name Peter, ten (10) times.
Some of Luke’s references to Simon are not only notable, but reflect a notably Jewish context to this Apostle Jesus chose to lead His Church.

Lukas 4 (OJB)

Now Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach, full of the Ruach Hakodesh..

31 And He [Jesus] came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee; and He was teaching them on the Sabbath; and they were amazed at His teaching, because His message was delivered with authority.
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Simon, like any obedient Jew, would have been found in his local synagogue on each Shabbat. He would have heard the Messiah Jesus preach on the Sabbath. And Jesus continued to preach to the growing crowds throughout this fishing village's six-day work week.

37 And the news about Him was spreading into every locality of the surrounding region.
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38 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach got up from the shul and entered into the bais of Shimon. And the chamot (mother-in-law, shviger) of Shimon was fever-stricken, and they asked him about her.
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Luke writes in his formal Greek (common language to those in Galilee, as well as Rome):

38 αναστας δε εκ της συναγωγης εισηλθεν εις την οικιαν σιμωνος η πενθερα δε του σιμωνος ην συνεχομενη πυρετω μεγαλω και ηρωτησαν αυτον περι αυτης

[NASB with my bold emphasis and commentary, below]
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38 Then He got up and left the synagogue, and entered Simon’s home. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they [presumably Simon, on behalf of his wife for her mother, as would have been proper socially for only the man to address this other Man and Teacher] asked Him to help her.

And standing over her [Jesus, with Simon’s permission and by his request], He rebuked the fever, and it left her; and she immediately got up and served them.

Now while the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He was laying His hands on each one of them and healing them.

Simon, an ordinary Jewish fisherman

Luke makes this point that Simon Peter had already heard Jesus preach AND witnessed his Messiah do many miracles even in his own house, BEFORE Jesus used His miracle of the full nets to call Simon Peter to be ‘a fisher of men.’

As Luke continues to tell his Good News to a growing Church decades later, the Gospel writer and author of Acts makes clear to all that Simon Peter and the Eleven are all Jews receiving their crucified and resurrected Messiah, who IS and was their Rabbi, yet more so their beloved Personal friend.

NO JEW had ever envisioned the Lord God like that, as the GOD-MAN in the FLESH, who could be sacrificed for SIN and return in the flesh from the grave!

Luke adds additional references to Simon during other key encounters with the Messiah in his Gospel.

Luke 22:

ηγγιζεν δε η εορτη των αζυμων η λεγομενη πασχα
And the Chag HaMatzot was approaching, the feast called Pesach.

ειπεν δε ο κυριος σιμων σιμων ιδου ο σατανας εξητησατο υμας του σινιασαι ως τον σιτον

³¹“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded to sift you men like wheat;but I have prayed for you, that your faith will not fail; and you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Gospel of Luke 22:31 NASB – the Lord Jesus to the Eleven just before His Trial, Suffering and death on the Cross

And they [Cleopas and other disciples who had also seen Jesus on the road to Emmaus] got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon!” – Gospel of Luke 24:32-33 NASB20

To the early disciples of the Church, whose story Luke continues in ‘Acts’ of the Apostles, their leader was Simon – a fisherman from Capernaum teaching in Jerusalem.

Now there were Jews residing in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven.

Simon Peter: Building a synagogue in Jerusalem

.. because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language…
.. Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
PRAXEIS APOSTOLWN (Acts) 2 :7 ἐξίσταντο δὲ καὶ ἐθαύμαζον λέγοντες οὐχ ἰδοὺ πάντες οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ λαλοῦντες Γαλιλαῖοι

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES begins with Luke’s connecting events of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew Henry helps us to understand Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost as that one place in the world to where Jews would return for celebration of the Lord God.

There were dwelling or abiding at Jerusalem Jews that were devout men, disposed to religion, and that had the fear of God before their eyes (so the word properly signifies), some of them proselytes of righteousness, that were circumcised, and admitted members of the Jewish church, others only proselytes of the gate, that forsook idolatry, and gave up themselves to the worship of the true God, but not to the ceremonial law; some of those that were at Jerusalem now, out of every nation under heaven, whither the Jews were dispersed, or whence proselytes were come.
The expression is hyperbolical, denoting that there were some from most of the then known parts of the world; as much as ever Tyre was, or London is, the rendezvous of trading people from all parts, Jerusalem at that time was of religious people from all parts. Now, [Henry goes on to list those Jewish roots Luke records of those on Pentecost from these [Jews from other parts of the Roman Empire and world.]
Commentary of Matthew Henry on Acts chapter two
1. We may here see what were some of those countries whence those strangers came (v. 9-11), {Matthew Henry}
- ACTS 2-17 focuses on the building of the Church in Jerusalem.
  - Luke accounts for the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem in ACTS 2-7
  - And ACTS 8-12 records the missionary journeys of the APOSTLES from Jerusalem.
Growth on a Solid Foundation

Luke 9:

Then he [Jesus] called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick…

When the apostles returned, they gave an account to Him of all that they had done.. the crowds .. followed Him; and He welcomed them and began speaking to them about the kingdom of God, and curing those who had need of healing…

..while He was praying alone, the disciples were with Him..

And He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
And Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.”
Gospel of Luke 6:20 NASB

Luke has already revealed the thousands in the crowds who followed Jesus. The Apostles all know those of the hundreds who remained faithful even after the Lord’s crucifixion. Luke begins Acts of the Apostles with a scene of the faithful gathered in a crowded upper room in Jerusalem and then tells us:

At this time Peter stood up among the brothers and sisters (a group of about 120 people was there together),
Acts of the apostles 1:15 NASB

Beside Simon Peter stood another Apostle, Matthew Levi, who records the same conversation with Jesus we have just read from Luke.

Gospel of Matthew 16:

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon [son of John] Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 16:16-17 NASB

“And I also say to you that you are [Πέτρος petros ] Peter, and upon this [πέτρα petra] rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
Gospel of Matthew 16:18 NASB – with links to greek roots for Peter & rock

The Second Account of Luke – ACTS of the APOSTLES

Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”

And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on urging them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!”

So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand [3000] souls.

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all the believers together had all things in common; and they would sell their property and possessions and share them with all, to the extent that anyone had need.

Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread in the various private homes, they were taking their food together with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people.
Acts 2:46-47a NASB20 [utilizing alternate translation noted in brackets, also in 47b, below]

And the Lord was adding to the same day by day those who were being saved.
Acts of the apostles 2:47b
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ACTS OF THE APOSTLES (Simon Peter in Jerusalem) to be continued...
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October 28, 2021