Acts 3

V 1–8: LAMENESS AND LEAPING A lame beggar at a gate of the temple is blessed through Peter and John using their apostolic authority, in the name of Christ, to heal him. From lameness, he leaps and praises God. V 9–16: ONLOOKERS AND OPPORTUNITY All the people see this and are amazed. They recognise the man who leaps as being the formerly lame beggar. Peter takes the opportunity to proclaim to them that it is God who has done this. This God is the Old Testament God of their forefathers who has glorified Jesus after He has been crucified through the sinfulness of men. Only faith in Christ has produced this miracle from the risen Lord. They take the opportunity to expose the guilt of the people and to proclaim Christ. We should do the same whenever possible! V 17–21: REPENTANCE AND REFRESHING Peter goes on to urge repentance from sin, and conversion to Christ. He proclaims that this leads to times of refreshing from God Himself. V 22–26: BASIS AND BLESSING The basis of this blessing is underlined as coming from the Scriptures. The essence of the blessing is through faith in Christ. God blesses us by turning every one of us from our iniquities. Separation from sin and trust in Christ is always a double blessing from God’s own hand.