People’s Response to First Miracle

9. September 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone: 

In today’s lesson, we learn what the people’s response to concerning the first miracle of the church. 

Here is our story:

Acts 3:11 While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. 12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see. 17 “Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the LORD, 20 and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you–even Jesus. 21 He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. 22 For Moses said, ‘The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. 23 Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people.’ 24 “Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have foretold these days. 25 And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’ 26 When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”

The people were astonished that the disciples could do miracles.  Peter took the opportunity to give glory to God.  He instructed them that the healing that they just witnessed came from Jesus.   Peter reminds them that Jesus indeed was the Christ that the Old Testament prophets spoke of and that all that happened to him was fulfillment of prophecy.   Peter instructs them that even though they acted in ignorance along with their leaders, he was commissioning them to “repent” and turned to God that their sins may be wiped out. 

He also instructs his audience that as promised to Abraham when the messenger comes, he would come first to the seeds of Abraham to bless them by turning them from their wicked ways through acceptance of Jesus as their savior.

 Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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