Acts - Week 9

Week 9 Acts 3 

Day 1 

READ 

Acts 3:14-15 

14 You rejected this holy, righteous one and instead demanded the release of a murderer. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact! 

Peter continues to preach to the unbelieving Jewish people. He makes it clear that evil people rejected this “holy, righteous one.” Whereas Jesus was innocent they wanted a murderer released instead and Jesus to be crucified. Peter referred to Jesus as the “author of life,” and they killed Him. Regardless of their actions, God raised Him from the dead. In case they doubted that, Peter added, “we are witnesses of this fact.” 

REFLECT 

Think of all Jesus went through because He loved lost mankind.  Make it personal by realizing He did this for you. 

RESPOND 

With your disciple read Matthew 27:11-22 that tells of Jesus’ trial before Pilate. Personalize it by realizing Jesus went through this for you. 

Day 2 

READ 

Acts 3:16 

16 “Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed—and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has healed him before your very eyes. 

Notice the emphasis Peter put on the importance of faith. It was through faith the lame man was healed. But faith alone is not enough; it was faith “in the name of Jesus.” The “name” of Jesus represents everything He is. It was not just knowing what His name is, but knowing what the death of Jesus on the cross had accomplished. As the Reformers popularized, salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. 

REFLECT 

Think of a name of one of your ancestors. Does the name help you recall who the person was and did? 

RESPOND 

Read John 3:16; Romans 10:9-15; and Ephesians 2:8-9 to see how closely “believing” and “faith” are linked together.  

Day 3 

READ 

Acts 3:17-19 

17 “Friends, I realize that what you and your leaders did to Jesus was done in ignorance. 18 But God was fulfilling what all the prophets had foretold about the Messiah—that he must suffer these things. 19 Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.” 

As a fellow Jew, Peter was trying to show compassion to these Jewish unbelievers. He says what they did to Jesus was “in ignorance.” In spite of that, God was using their ignorance to fulfill what the Old Testament (their Bible) foretold. Just like in Acts 2:37 when they people asked what they should do, Peter tells them again to repent of their sins and turn to God. He assured them if they would do this their sins would be “wiped away.” 

REFLECT 

Does this emphasize to you that the message of salvation has always been the same: repent of your sins and turn to God”? 

RESPOND 

Read 2 Corinthians 7:8-10 about what Paul says regarding a previous letter he had written the church group. Be sure to notice the kind of repentance that pleases God.  

Day 4 

READ 

Acts 3:20-21 

20 “Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah. 21 For he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets.” 

Peter assured the listeners what would occur if they repented and turned to God. The Jews had long been looking for God’s kingdom to come to earth. Peter said if the nation would repent, it would come. The nation did not repent and it did not come. Now Jesus will remain in heaven until His Second Advent to earth seen in Revelation 19. Even the “Lord’s Prayer” mentions, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” That day is yet future. 

REFLECT 

Is it your custom to pray what is commonly called “The Lord’s Prayer”? Think of this when you pray it. 

RESPOND 

Read Revelation 19:11-16 and Zechariah 14:1-4 that tell of Jesus’ return to the earth. 

Day 5 

READ 

Acts 3:22-23 

22 “Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your own people. Listen carefully to everything he tells you.’ 23 Then Moses said, ‘Anyone who will not listen to that Prophet will be completely cut off from God’s people.’” 

Now Peter reminds the Jews of their ancestor Moses whom they greatly revered. Moses predicted that someday the Lord would raise up a prophet like him. This is a prediction fulfilled in the appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah of Israel. Those who refuse to heed what this other prophet says would be “cut off from God’s people.” Salvation has always been by grace through faith and anyone who rejects that will be eternally separated from God.  

REFLECT 

Be thankful that if you’ve trusted in Jesus as your Savior you will never be separated from God.  

RESPOND 

Read Deuteronomy 18:15 and what Jesus told two of His followers on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24:25-27.