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11While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. 12And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “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? 13The 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. 14But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus^c has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

17“And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. 22Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. 23And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ 24And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. 25You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ 26God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.” (ESV)

I noticed the ‘clinging’ in verse 11. It may be that he was still steadying himself, after Peter had helped him up. But he had been ”walking and leaping” (8; see Is.35:6), so maybe there was something else going on here. I just make the observation that we can develop an unhealthy dependence on those who have helped us spiritually. There is probably a fine line to be drawn, because God has so designed the church (His ‘body’) that we are inter-dependent. We do need each other’s help. But may we cling only to Jesus.

Peter’s message is essentially the same as in Acts 2. It’s the same framework: Jesus, who was crucified, is alive from the dead, and He has done this. (Note their humility. They pointed to Jesus, and took no credit it to themselves). As the risen Jesus was the explanation for Pentecost, so He is for this healing. The sermon is delivered with the same courageous directness. Peter pulled no punches about the guilt of those who killed the innocent Jesus (even though it was prophesied). The note of prophetic fulfillment is again sounded, along with calls for repentance in order to enter into God’s blessings. (I can’t help but note that it is such a ‘blessing’, v. 26, to be granted repentance. There is a warning of dire danger for those who will not listen to Jesus (23). An added ingredient in this sermon is a reference to the second coming of the Messiah.

‘The times of refreshing which are to come on this distracted world depend on the repentance and restoration of Israel. The Jew has the first offer of the gospel, as the child of the covenant; but its wide provisions lie open to us all, who by faith have become heirs of the promises made to Abraham. Christ begins His work of benediction for the soul by turning it away from iniquity. “Turn us, O Lord, and we shall be turned!” ‘F.B. Meyer

It is all very wonderful!

1Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. 3Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. 4And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9And all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Acts 2:42 says that the early Christians devoted themselves to ”the prayers”, which implies set prayers, liturgical prayers in the temple. The opening of this story shows Peter and John observing a regular habit of public devotion. Are you committed to the prayer life of your church?

‘Peter and John were not so caught up with large crowds that they had no time for individuals. Nor were they so busy in ministry that they could not pray. They had learned their lesson well from the Lord Jesus (Mark 1:35; Luke 8:40ff.)’ Warren Wiersbe

This is a story of total transformation. The words in bold, in the above text, emphasise the desperate plight this man was in before the healing took place. He was a congenital cripple. In a sense, it can serve as a picture of salvation. We are crippled by sin, but when we look to Jesus, He frees us to be able to ‘walk’. He puts a new song of praise in our mouths. Someone said the beggar ‘asked for alms, but he got legs!’

With regard to verse 4, Jilly made the excellent point that people tend to avoid eye-contact with beggars – for a whole variety of reasons. But Peter and John really saw the man and his needs. They gave him their attention, and, in turn, they got his full attention. Seeing him led to being able to serve him…and to a host of other wonderful occurrences. But it started with giving attention to one precious human-being.

In our lives we are called to give what we have. What do you have? ‘What is that in your hand?’ Use that ‘talent’. Don’t bury it!

‘… we must see that we have something to give to a paralyzed and perishing world. Let us so move among men as to lead them to expect that we have something to give, and then give them Jesus. The lame man needed strength, and this is the divine gift of the gospel. “It is the power of God unto salvation.” The Savior makes us able to walk and leap in God’s ways.’ F.B.Meyer

42And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (ESV)

David Pawson said that, in the church, we have ‘too many meetings and not enough meeting.’ I think he had a point.

John Stott referred to this passage as ‘a beautiful little cameo of the Spirit-filled church.’ It strikes me that there was a simplicity about the early church life. It was very much a ”together” life. They were a community, sharing life, meeting daily, eating together (including ‘the Lord’s Supper), rooted in Bible Study and prayer. They must have met in smaller groupings, in homes, and in larger gatherings at the temple. But it was oh so simple. God was with them, among them, upon them; and look at what He did with and through them.

These verses should challenge our individualism and isolationism, at a time when many people seem to want to stay on the fringes of church life, attend as little as possible, and even then only when it doesn’t interfere with other plans and priorities.

Years ago, a new convert who was starting to read the Bible, said to me, ‘Those early Christians lived in each other’s pockets.’ He wasn’t wrong. He was, I believe, fundamentally a lonely guy, and he saw in the New Testament the kind of community he hungered for. He also saw a disconnect between what he was reading in God’s Word and his local church. May God have mercy on us, and by His Spirit shape us into the church(es) He wants us to be. May it not have to take persecution to make us value belonging.

PRAYER: Lord, please forgive us for all the ways we fall short of your blueprint for your church. In your grace and mercy, make us all you want us to be.

37Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. ESV

What an expression! ”Cut to the heart”. It points to the sharpest conviction of sin. God Himself was at work. The ”sword of the Spirit” – God’s Word (Eph.6:17; Hebs.4:12) was so effectively wielded by Peter that many were deeply affected. His answer to their earnest enquiry, ”what shall we do?” was not a message of ‘easy-believe-ism’ He called for a radical turning away from sin, and a clean break with their past lives (expressed in water baptism).

Notice in vv.38,39 both the human and divine sides of conversion. On God’s side there is His (effective) call; but on the human side there has to be a receiving of God’s Word, shown in repentance and baptism. This is how we ‘save ourselves’ from ”this crooked generation”. We have to deliberately step out of it, and into God’s Kingdom. These verses again take us back to Acts 1:8, I feel. The response will come not only in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, but from the ends of the earth.

On the day of Pentecost, not only was there a huge harvest reaped, but a miraculous catch was hauled in. That’s another way to speak about. May God grant that we see such a move in our day!

14But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

17“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams;
18even on my male servants and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
19And I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
20the sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
21And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

22“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25For David says concerning him,

“‘I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
26therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
my flesh also will dwell in hope.
27For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One see corruption.
28You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

29“Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,

“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
35until I make your enemies your footstool.”’

36Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” ESV

Peter was not in hiding. He stood up and was counted! What a transformation. This was the same man who had only recently denied Jesus. Now, here he was publicly identifying with Him, preaching a dangerous message. The people who had wanted Jesus dead (and who had hounded Him to death) were still out there. But Peter’s boldness is evident throughout (see, e.g. the uncompromising language in vv. 23/36).

In His Biblical sermon, Peter points to the fulfilment of Scripture. In particular he asserts that the outpouring of the Spirit was prophesied (by Joel), and so were the resurrection and ascension of Jesus (by David). The Holy Spirit was given to glorify Christ, and Peter, filled with the Spirit, does just that in this Christ-centred message. He points to Jesus throughout. The facts of the Lord’s life and ministry were well known, and Peter knew he could appeal to this knowledge among his ‘congregation’.

The question had been asked, ”What does this mean” (12). Essentially Peter says, ‘What this all means is that Jesus is alive. He was dead. You killed Him. But He could not be held by death. He’s back, and this Pentecostal miracle (this reversal of Babel) is His doing.

1When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.” ESV

One or two observations about Pentecost:

• A move of God may be long anticipated and prayed for, yet arrive ”suddenly” (2);
• This ‘move’ brought an experience to ”each” and to ”all”: something happened that was enjoyed individually and collectively;
• A Spirit-filled church provokes strong reactions. It arouses interest, but also attracts criticism. Much of western world Christianity is greeted with an indifferent yawn. It is a travesty that it should be so (but there are reasons to hope that things may be starting to change);
• Look at 1:8, and consider vv.7-11. The ”uttermost parts of the earth” were represented in Jerusalem that day;
• The feast of Pentecost was a kind of ‘Harvest festival’. It marked the end of the grain harvest. Spiritually, it saw the first evangelistic harvest for the church. May we never lose the confidence that God can do it again, or let go of the prayer that He will!;
• Warren Wiersbe observes that in Luke 2 we see the birth of Jesus’ physical body; in Acts 2 we witness the birth of Jesus’ spiritual body.

In this section we see Peter emerging as the leader within the group. Indeed, Peter’s ministry dominates the first part of this book (Chs.1-12), before the focus turns to Paul’s ministry (13-28).

The necessity to replace Judas was based on an understanding of Scripture. It had to happen because the Holy Spirit had spoken through a human mouth. God’s Word has to have the final say in all things. It is important to emphasise that they looked to God to guide them. They wanted His choice (24). God knows everything – not just the outside of a person but also the inside. A leader’s ”heart” is of paramount importance. We do not find this method of guidance employed again after Pentecost, but let’s be clear that they sincerely sought God’s choice.

‘If we are faithful to read God’s Word, study it, meditate on it, and obey it, God will guide us when we have decisions to make…The Holy Spirit uses truth; not ignorance; so the more facts we have, the better. We should use our common sense but not lean on it (Prov.3:5-6), for we walk by faith and not by sight. If we sincerely move in the wrong direction, the Lord will show us (Acts 16:6-10; Phil.3:15), so we need not fear. It is good for believers to read the Word and pray together as they seek the mind of the Lord.’ Warren Wiersbe

12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

The first thing I note about this pre-Pentecost prayer meeting is that the ”brothers” of Jesus were there. How remarkable, and how encouraging to all of us who have unbelieving (and maybe even hard, cold and resistant) families. Jesus brothers were not always believers (see John 7:5). It seems they were hostile. But now they were in a prayer meeting!!! and in obedience to their brother’s command. Things can change. Oh yes they can. We had better believe it.

But here’s the second thing about this prayer meeting, it was in definite belief of God’s promise and Christ’s own Word (4). It was God’s will and desire for them to be there and doing this during those days.

Thirdly, it was a united and lengthy prayer meeting which preceded Pentecost. They were committed and devoted in prayer. May I even say that there was an intensity (as well as faith) in their praying? They were serious. They meant business.

I have a book, by Spurgeon, of addresses given on and at prayer meetings, and it is entitled, ‘Only a prayer meeting’ The ‘Only’, of course, is ironic, because Spurgeon’s teaching clearly extols the power of prayer. Here are some of his own words on the subject:

”IF you were to go to one of the banks in Lombard Street, and see a man go in and out and lay a piece of paper on the table, and take it up again and nothing more; if he did that several times a day, I think there would soon be orders issued to the porter to keep the man out, because he was merely wasting the clerk’s time, and doing nothing to purpose. Those city men, who come to the bank in earnest, present their checks, they wait until they receive their gold, and then they go, but not without having transacted real business. They do not put the paper down, speak about the excellent signature, and discuss the correctness of the document, but they want their money for it, and they are not content without it. These are the people who are always welcome at the bank, and not the triflers. Alas, a great many people play at praying, it is nothing better. I say they play at praying, they do not expect God to give them an answer, and thus they are mere triflers, who mock the Lord. He who prays in a business-like way, meaning what he says, honors the Lord. The Lord does not play at promising; Jesus did not sport at confirming the word by his blood; and we must not make a jest of prayer by going about it in a listless, unexpecting spirit.”

Those men and women in the upper room had gathered to transact ‘real business’, and that is precisely what they did. They got their gold!

May God keep us from playing at prayer.

6So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” (ESV)

My first observation on today’s passage is to say that there are times when Christ’s word to us is also, ”It is not for you to know…” There are certain mysteries with which we have to live. ”The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” (Deut. 29:29). It is a ‘revealed thing’ that Jesus will return, but around His coming there remain many mysteries – at least until it becomes time for God to make them plain. In the light of that coming, Jesus calls not for speculation but evangelization. Our call is not to stand gazing but go preaching. Spread the gospel everywhere in the world. Fixing our eyes on Jesus (which we are called to do: see Hebrews 12:2; Col.3:1ff.) is not incompatible with lifting up our eyes upon the fields (John 4:35).

Over the centuries many people have wasted hours, speculating about end time prophecies and how they will (or might be) be fulfilled. Time and again they have got it wrong. Even so, this kind of sensationalist approach to eschatology (the doctrine of last things) can be seductive in its own way. It’s hard to not be sucked into the pull of its magnetic field. But here, in Acts 1, we hear it from Jesus Himself. We are not to ponder what we cannot know but preach what we do know in the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is coming back to this world. Therefore we must let the whole world know.

I notice that the disciples were narrowly nationalistic in their vision (6), but Jesus’ heart is for the world (8). In fact, it’s been said that Acts 1:8 reads like a table of contents for the whole book, where we see the gospel message go out from Jerusalem to the capital of the then known world.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, give us your heart for your world.

Thought: ‘The Holy Ghost gives you a Holy go!’ George Verwer