Acts - Week 8

Week 8 Acts 3 

Day 1 

READ 

Acts 3:1-3 

3 Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. 2 As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money. 

The scene switches now from the Day of Pentecost to a lame man at the temple gate. Notice the Jewish believers were still going to the temple to pray. It was a gate called, “Beautiful,” but this man was in pathetic condition and was brought there so he could beg. The glories of the temple were of no help to him. He was there each day so he would be well known by the people passing by. One’s heart goes out to the contrast seen here and the sad picture of the lame man. 

REFLECT 

Do you know of situations where there is dramatic physical need next door to a beautiful edifice? 

RESPOND 

With your disciple, be prepared to learn several lessons from Acts 3. You might even read ahead in the chapter to see what develops. 

Day 2 

READ 

Acts 3:4-6 

4 Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. 6 But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!” 

The apostles did not have any money to give, but they offered something far more valuable. It was a command totally unexpected by the lame beggar. He had been there each day but no one had ever told him this. Money would not have helped him much when what he really needed was the ability to walk. Likely even the thought of walking had not been in his mind for some time as he had been lame since birth.  

REFLECT 

Physical needs are all around you and you will not be able to meet them all. You can, however, offer something more valuable and that is what Jesus offers those who trust in Him. 

RESPOND 

Some ask why ministries don’t spend their time on some current temporal problem. If they did, and that problem was solved, the people involved would still be lost without trusting in Jesus. Proclaiming the gospel is the best thing you can do. That will help not only for time but also for eternity. See 2 Timothy 4:1-4 about this importance. 

Day 3 

READ 

Acts 3:7-8 

7 Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. 8 He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them. 

Imagine this scene! The man had never walked from his birth and it seemed Peter was asking him to do the impossible. Yet as Peter took his hand and helped him up he was instantly healed. Watch him as he tried out his new legs: he jumped up and began walking and leaping! Also notice he was aware of the true source of his healing: he was “praising God.” Now for the first time he was able to go into the temple to pray.  

REFLECT 

Think of the joy you first had when you trusted Jesus as Savior. Nothing could compare with that time. It’s important to keep that first love burning. 

RESPOND 

Read Revelation 2:1-4 to see what Jesus told the church in Ephesus. This had been an extremely important church in the past. How does this apply to you and your disciple? 

Day 4 

READ 

Acts 3:9-11 

9 All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. 10 When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded! 11 They all rushed out in amazement to Solomon’s Colonnade, where the man was holding tightly to Peter and John. 

This miracle by the apostles caused the people to be “absolutely astounded.” That was the purpose of these miracles by the apostles in the first century (see 2 Corinthians 12:12). This man’s healing caused an immediate response because he was so well known by those who had come by every day. They rushed into a section of the temple where the man was “holding tightly to Peter and John.” One wonders if he was doubtful his healing would last.  

REFLECT 

Do you sometimes wonder what you have experienced will last? Remember, Jesus assures you in John 3:16 that you will not perish but have “everlasting” life. 

RESPOND 

Read Mark 2:1-12 that tells of Jesus healing a paralytic man. The people then also couldn’t believe what they saw. 

Day 5 

READ 

Acts 3:12-13 

12 Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness? 13 For it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of all our ancestors—who has brought glory to his servant Jesus by doing this. This is the same Jesus whom you handed over and rejected before Pilate, despite Pilate’s decision to release him. 

Peter took advantage of the opportunity to address the crowd. He wanted to make sure the people understood it was not by his and John’s power this man was able to walk. He reminded the Jewish observers it was the power of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who did this. They might question the power of Peter and John, but they would not question the power of the God of their ancestors. Peter emphasized that by so doing God had brought glory to His servant, the Lord Jesus. The same person they had turned over to be crucified.  

REFLECT 

Does Peter taking advantage of the opportunity to speak for Jesus encourage you to take advantage of opportunities God gives you? 

RESPOND 

Read 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 to see Paul’s priority in what he preached. May you and your disciple have the same.