Acts 3:1–5:42

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Dean, School of Christian Studies, University of Mobile

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Acts 3:1–5:42

First Persecution (3:1–4:31)
Healing the lame man may not have been the first miracle after Pentecost, but Luke, the author of Acts, selected it from the “many” (Acts 2:43) because it led to the first serious opposition to Jesus’ disciples. In this early period of Christianity, believers continued to worship in synagogue and temple and the authorities probably thought of them as just another sect of Jews with strange ideas about the Messiah. Soon it became clear they posed a more serious threat.

On their way to evening prayer, Peter and John passed by a man lame from birth begging for money. Peter said they had neither silver nor gold but offered the man something better, saying, “In the name of Jesus of Nazareth rise up and walk!” The “name” of Christ means the authority of Christ.

Peter’s explanation turned into a sermon about the blessing that comes from responding in faith to the Lord. He ended by calling for his hearers to “repent … and turn again” (“be converted”). If these terms are not synonymous, then perhaps the first stresses inner change and the second outer change.

Peter noted three results of repentance. First, “[y]our sins may be wiped out.” The phrase is not “crossed out,” the usual method of doing away with the record of a debt. Instead it means “erased,” removed so no trace of the debt remains on the record. Second, “times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” Perhaps this refers to rich and rewarding blessings that follow conversion. Third, God “may send the Messiah, appointed for you — that is, Jesus.” Probably Peter meant the coming of the risen Lord in power and great glory, what many would call the Second Coming. Heaven holds Him until the “time all things are restored.” The wording suggests that the repentance of Peter’s Jewish audience was part of the preparation for that event. Peter ended with a warning and a promise of blessing if those in the audience repented.

Offended that men such as Peter and John, untrained in the rabbinic schools, taught people and proclaimed the resurrected Jesus, the authorities arrested them. At the hearing the next day, the duo, “filled with the Spirit,” identified the miracle as a “mercy” from Jesus. These very judges had Jesus crucified, but the miracle showed He was both alive and exalted. These members of the Sanhedrin were the “builders” that rejected the “chief stone” (Ps. 118:22) — i.e., Jesus — but salvation was found only in Him. Unable to deny the miracle and in no position to disprove Jesus did it, they threatened the apostles and forbade them to speak of Jesus. Although the pair replied that they had a duty to obey God and therefore must speak, the Sanhedrin released them.

When Peter and John reported this, they and the other disciples laid the matter before the “sovereign Lord” and asked for boldness to speak. God’s answer to their prayer for boldness was a “filling” of the Spirit. This third reference to “filling” in Acts (cf. 2:4; 4:8) supports the idea that this is an experience that can and should be repeated.

Internal Problems (4:32–5:11)
Because they saw the church was family and they were responsible to care for the needy in the household of faith, Barnabas and others voluntarily sold assets and brought the proceeds to be used for relief. There was nothing wrong with how Ananias and Sapphira handled the proceeds of their land sale. Their sin lay in pretending to give all but giving only part. This was lying to the Holy Spirit, a capital offense for which they paid with their lives.

Second Persecution (5:12–42)
Once again hauled before the Sanhedrin, the apostles again affirmed their determination to obey God, charged the court with murdering Jesus and declared that God had exalted Him. Council members got “all sawed up inside” but Gamaliel’s counsel calmed them. The disciples got off and went away rejoicing that they were “counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name.”