Acts of The Apostles (#3)

Acts 3:1-26

Sermon by Pastor Sylvia Chan

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In Acts chapter 2 we saw that on the day of Pentecost, the disciples of the Lord Jesus received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and immediately they started preaching the gospel to the people in Jerusalem. Three thousand people repented and were baptized that day. The disciples sold their properties and shared their possessions with one another; they had meals together every day. The Lord was adding more and more people to their number day by day. Today we continue to study Acts chapter 3.

A lame man was healed by the power of the name Jesus Christ

^ESV Acts 3:1-10 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. ² And 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. ³ Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. ⁴ And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” ⁵ And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. ⁶ But 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!” ⁷ And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. ⁸ And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. ⁹ And all the people saw him walking and praising God, ¹⁰ and 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 3:1-10, ESV)

This passage describes the healing of a lame man. Apostles Peter and John went up to the Temple at the ninth hour (3:00 P.M.), which was the hour of prayer. A man who had been lame from birth was lying at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple. When he saw Peter and John, he asked them for alms. Peter told the man to look at him, and said to the man, “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!” Peter raised him up; immediately the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and entered the Temple area walking and praising God. The people recognized him as the one who used to beg at the Beautiful Gate, and they were all filled with wonder and amazement.

Please take notice that Peter commanded this man to walk specifically in the name of Jesus Christ. The name of Jesus Christ carries power, and it was by this power that this man was healed!

Acts of The Apostles (#1)

Acts 1:1-26

Sermon by Pastor Sylvia Chan

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A bridge between the Gospel accounts and the preaching of the Gospel in all the earth

Today we begin to study the book of Acts, an important book. What is this book about and why is it important?

The life and the teaching of the Lord Jesus were recorded in the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. After the Lord had been crucified and then resurrected from the dead, he appeared to his disciples and gave them the commission to preach the gospel to the ends of the earth. The disciples then carried out the Lord’s commands, and their activities are recorded in the book of Acts. Therefore Acts is a bridge between the Gospel accounts of the Lord Jesus Christ and the preaching of the Gospel after the Lord’s resurrection.

The Lord Jesus commanded the apostles to stay in Jerusalem to wait for the promise of the Father

^ESV Acts 1:1-8 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, ² until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. ³ He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. ⁴ And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; ⁵ for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” ⁶ So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷ He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. ⁸ But 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.” (Act 1:1-8 ESV)