When Peter finishes his sermon, the crowd is deeply convicted and asks what they should do. Peter instructs them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. He assures them that this promise is for them, their descendants, and those afar off. With many other words, he exhorts them to separate from their corrupt generation. That day, about three thousand people accept his message and are baptized, marking the beginning of the early church (Acts 2:37-41).
The believers devote themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayers. A sense of reverence fills them as they witness many signs and wonders performed by the apostles. They live communally, sharing possessions and providing for those in need. Daily, they meet in the temple and break bread from house to house with joy and simplicity of heart, praising God. As a result, the Lord adds to their numbers daily those who are being saved (Acts 2:42-47).
One day, Peter and John go to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer. A man, lame from birth, is at the Beautiful Gate, begging for alms. Seeing Peter and John about to enter the temple, he asks them for help. Peter, fixing his eyes on the man, tells him to look at them. Expecting to receive something, the man obeys. However, Peter tells him he has no silver or gold but gives what he has—commanding him in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth to rise and walk. Taking him by the right hand, Peter lifts him up, and immediately his feet and ankles gain strength. The man leaps up, walks, and enters the temple with them, praising God. The people recognize him as the lame beggar from the gate and are filled with wonder and amazement at what has happened (Acts 3:1-10).
As the healed man clings to Peter and John, a crowd gathers in Solomon’s Porch. Peter addresses them, questioning why they marvel at the miracle or look at them as though they healed the man by their power or godliness. He declares that the God of their fathers has glorified Jesus, whom they had denied and delivered to be crucified, choosing a murderer over the Holy and Righteous One. They killed the Prince of Life, but God raised Him from the dead, and they are witnesses. Peter explains that the man was healed through faith in Jesus' name. He acknowledges their actions were done in ignorance, as were those of their rulers, but these events fulfilled what God foretold through the prophets about the suffering of Christ. He calls them to repent and turn to God for the blotting out of their sins, so times of refreshing may come from the Lord. He speaks of Christ’s return and references Moses’ prophecy about a prophet like him whom they must listen to or face destruction. He reminds them that all the prophets, beginning with Samuel, foretold these days, and that they, as the children of the covenant made with Abraham, have received the message first. God sent His Servant, Jesus, to bless them by turning them from their iniquities (Acts 3:11-26).
As Peter and John continue speaking, the priests, the temple captain, and the Sadducees confront them. They are greatly disturbed by their proclamation of Jesus’ resurrection and arrest them, keeping them in custody until the next day. However, many who hear their message believe, and the number of believers grows to about five thousand (Acts 4:1-4).
The next day, Peter and John are brought before the rulers, elders, scribes, and high priests. They are questioned about the power or name by which they healed the lame man. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, boldly declares that the man was healed by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth—whom they crucified but whom God raised from the dead. He affirms that Jesus is the stone rejected by the builders, which has become the chief cornerstone, and that salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which they must be saved (Acts 4:5-12).
The religious leaders, observing the boldness of Peter and John and recognizing they were uneducated men, realize they had been with Jesus. They cannot deny the miracle, as the healed man stands before them. With no way to refute the event, they confer among themselves, questioning how to prevent the message from spreading further. They decide to threaten Peter and John, commanding them not to speak or teach in Jesus’ name. However, Peter and John refuse, asking whether it is right to listen to them rather than to God. They assert they cannot help but speak of what they have seen and heard. Finding no way to punish them because of the people glorifying God over the miracle, the leaders threaten them again and release them. The healed man, over forty years old, stands as undeniable proof of God’s power (Acts 4:13-22).
The believers devote themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayers. A sense of reverence fills them as they witness many signs and wonders performed by the apostles. They live communally, sharing possessions and providing for those in need. Daily, they meet in the temple and break bread from house to house with joy and simplicity of heart, praising God. As a result, the Lord adds to their numbers daily those who are being saved (Acts 2:42-47).
One day, Peter and John go to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer. A man, lame from birth, is at the Beautiful Gate, begging for alms. Seeing Peter and John about to enter the temple, he asks them for help. Peter, fixing his eyes on the man, tells him to look at them. Expecting to receive something, the man obeys. However, Peter tells him he has no silver or gold but gives what he has—commanding him in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth to rise and walk. Taking him by the right hand, Peter lifts him up, and immediately his feet and ankles gain strength. The man leaps up, walks, and enters the temple with them, praising God. The people recognize him as the lame beggar from the gate and are filled with wonder and amazement at what has happened (Acts 3:1-10).
As the healed man clings to Peter and John, a crowd gathers in Solomon’s Porch. Peter addresses them, questioning why they marvel at the miracle or look at them as though they healed the man by their power or godliness. He declares that the God of their fathers has glorified Jesus, whom they had denied and delivered to be crucified, choosing a murderer over the Holy and Righteous One. They killed the Prince of Life, but God raised Him from the dead, and they are witnesses. Peter explains that the man was healed through faith in Jesus' name. He acknowledges their actions were done in ignorance, as were those of their rulers, but these events fulfilled what God foretold through the prophets about the suffering of Christ. He calls them to repent and turn to God for the blotting out of their sins, so times of refreshing may come from the Lord. He speaks of Christ’s return and references Moses’ prophecy about a prophet like him whom they must listen to or face destruction. He reminds them that all the prophets, beginning with Samuel, foretold these days, and that they, as the children of the covenant made with Abraham, have received the message first. God sent His Servant, Jesus, to bless them by turning them from their iniquities (Acts 3:11-26).
As Peter and John continue speaking, the priests, the temple captain, and the Sadducees confront them. They are greatly disturbed by their proclamation of Jesus’ resurrection and arrest them, keeping them in custody until the next day. However, many who hear their message believe, and the number of believers grows to about five thousand (Acts 4:1-4).
The next day, Peter and John are brought before the rulers, elders, scribes, and high priests. They are questioned about the power or name by which they healed the lame man. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, boldly declares that the man was healed by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth—whom they crucified but whom God raised from the dead. He affirms that Jesus is the stone rejected by the builders, which has become the chief cornerstone, and that salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which they must be saved (Acts 4:5-12).
The religious leaders, observing the boldness of Peter and John and recognizing they were uneducated men, realize they had been with Jesus. They cannot deny the miracle, as the healed man stands before them. With no way to refute the event, they confer among themselves, questioning how to prevent the message from spreading further. They decide to threaten Peter and John, commanding them not to speak or teach in Jesus’ name. However, Peter and John refuse, asking whether it is right to listen to them rather than to God. They assert they cannot help but speak of what they have seen and heard. Finding no way to punish them because of the people glorifying God over the miracle, the leaders threaten them again and release them. The healed man, over forty years old, stands as undeniable proof of God’s power (Acts 4:13-22).