Acts Chapter 3

In Acts Chapter Two there were 3000 people "added to the church." It is helpful to note that there are several words in the bible which, while it is the same word it is often not talking about the same thing. The word "church" is one of them. Others are the word "gospel" and the word "baptism." For instance, there is obviously more than one church in the bible.

In Matthew 16, the Lord said "I WILL BUILD my church." Then the church that he referred to that he "will build" must be a different church than the one Stephen referred to in Acts:

Acts 7:37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.

Acts 7:38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:

So there was a church back there. Moses was the head of it. In the book of Hebrews it is referred to as "his house." (Hebrews 3:2) When the Lord says "I will build my church," then it must be a different church than the one in the wilderness. In the same way the church, which is the body of Christ, is neither the church in the wilderness, of which Moses was the head, nor is it the church referred to in Matthew 16, to which 3000 people "were added" in Acts Chapter Two.

The same is true of the word "gospel." The gospel of the kingdom, preached in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and continued to be preached by Peter in the book of Acts, is not the same message as the gospel of the grace of God which Paul announced for the very first time in Acts 20:24.

In the case of the word "baptism" we see three different baptisms in Matthew 3:11. We see baptism with water, baptism with the Holy Ghost, and also baptism with fire. But neither of those are the same baptism Paul refers to in such places as 1 Corinthian 12:13 and Galatians 3:27. We need to be mindful of the fact that there is more than one church, more than one baptism, and more than one gospel in the bible. Things that are different are not the same. The context will always show which gospel, baptism, or church is in view.

So as Acts Chapter Three opens we see a reference to "the temple" It is mentioned three times in the first three verses and a total of five times in the first ten verses of the chapter. Notice here:

Luke 24:51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

Luke 24:52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:

Luke 24:53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

Notice the parallel passage in Mark:

Mark 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

Mark 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

The word was "the word which God sent to the children of Israel," as in Acts 10:36 and Matthew 15:24. And the phrase "preached every where" doesn't mean "all over the place." The 12 Apostles had a specific order of business. Their job was to prepare a "kingdom of priests and an holy nation." They were to start first in Jerusalem. Then they were to go into Judaea, then Samaria. That constitutes the nation of Israel. Then when Israel was prepared... then, and only then, were they to go into all the world and teach all nations.

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

The "Go ye therefore" of verse 19 relates back to "all power" in verse 18. During a period of time the Lord worked "with them." Great power was exhibited. Signs followed those who preached. But...is Jesus Christ today excercising "all power?" No he is not. There are all kinds of powers at work today. There is a very powerful individual at work today. He is called the "god of this world." We live in a period of time which is "man's day." But when the Lord DOES take unto himself that great power as in Revelation 11:17 and REIGNS it is then that they will "Go ye therefore" and teach the nations of the world. The church, the body of Chist is in no way involved in that. The body of Christ in not supposed to be teaching the things that Israel is commissioned to teach.

Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

The YE of Matthew 28 is specifically a reference to the 12 Apostles and those who "continued stedfastly in the apostles doctrine." Their doctrine was that which was taught by the Lord in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. So the YE in the so-called "great commission" is the nation of Israel, and the fulfillment of that commission cannot take place until all Israel is saved at the second coming of Christ and becomes that "kingdom of priests and holy nation." That is when the kingdom will be restored to Israel as in Acts 1:6. That is when they, the nation of Israel, will go and "teach all nations."

The healing of the man we see in Acts chapter three is very significant in relation to the ministry and message of the 12 Apostles.

Acts 3:1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

Acts 3:2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

Acts 3:3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.

So the focus is on the temple and on the crippled man. Keep in mind that the job of the 12 is to prepare Israel to be a "kingdom of priests." Notice what Peter wrote:

1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Have you noticed that the doctrine of the so-called "priesthood of the believer" is totally absent from Paul's epistles? Never does Paul, in any way, refer to either himself or to the people he writes to as a priest. The reason for that is that Paul's message is not about a kingdom of priests and an holy nation. That priesthood is reserved for Israel when the Lord comes again and rules and reigns on the throne of David in a literal, visible "kingdom of heaven upon the earth."

But in Peter's ministry and message in the book of Acts the focus is on Israel and on a priesthood.

Acts 3:4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

Acts 3:5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

Obviously he was expecting money, but he got something totally different.

Acts 3:6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

Acts 3:7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

Acts 3:8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

Acts 3:9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:

Acts 3:10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.

The man was healed and what was the first thing that he did? He went with them INTO THE TEMPLE. He had never been in there in is life. This is about a "royal priesthood" and the fulfilling of prophecy:

Isaiah 61:6 But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.

Notice the difference between the Priests and the Gentiles? Look at some reasons why this man could never have gone into the temple before:

Leviticus 21:16 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Leviticus 21:17 Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed in their generations that hath any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God.

Leviticus 21:18 For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous,

Leviticus 21:19 Or a man that is broken-footed, or broken-handed,

Now the "bread" in view here in Peter's preaching is the "word" which God sent to the children of Israel. It is the "children's bread." It is the gospel of the kingdom. It is about a royal priesthood and an holy nation, the nation of Israel.

So the healing of this man gave opportunity for Peter to continue his preaching, which was a scathing murder idictment against the men of Israel.

Acts 3:11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.

Acts 3:12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

Notice his audience: men of Israel. No joint body in which Jews and Gentiles are all equal. This is about the promises made to the fathers...of Israel:

Acts 3:13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.

Acts 3:14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;

Acts 3:15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

And there is the murder charge. Peter preaches the cross, but he certainly is not glorying in the cross. It is a murder charge against Israel.

Acts 3:16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

The Lord was working with them and confirming the word which God sent to the children of Israel, with SIGNS following. What we are seeing here is a period of time called "the acceptable year of the Lord." It was brought out first in the synagogue in Nazareth in Luke chapter four, from verse 16 through verse 21. But Israel had demanded the death of Christ on the cross. They had said "away with this man. We have no king but Caesar. Let his blood be upon us and our children." So Christ had died. But, as he died he also prayed:

Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

And that prayer, from the cross, was answered with this period of time in the book of Acts. Notice the fig tree parable:

Luke 13:6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.

The fig tree, in scripture, always represents Israel. The fig tree, the olive tree and the vine always represent Israel. They never represent the church, the body of Christ.

Luke 13:8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:

Luke 13:9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

At this time in the book of Acts, Israel is not yet "cut down." That is to say they have not yet fallen as in Romans 11:11. That "fall" comes at the time of the stoning of Stephen in Acts chapter seven. So Peter continues:

Acts 3:17 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.

What they "did" and what their rulers did was murder their Messiah.

Acts 3:18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.

In other words, Israel's prophets had prophecied of the sufferings of Christ and of the glory that should follow. What they DID NOT KNOW was what the sufferings signifed. The significance of the cross was revealed to Paul. It was Paul who wrote that "I delivered unto you first of all that which I received." It was Paul who received and who preached the message that when Christ died on the cross that he died FOR our sins. You never see Peter saying that in his preaching here. Why not? Because he didn't know it. They also did not know "what manner of time" was involved between the sufferings and the glory. Notice what Peter says here:

1 Peter 1:11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

So Peter is preaching and this is the offer God is making to the children of Israel:

Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

In Acts 2:38 he had preached "repent and be baptized for the remission of sins." Remission is not a cure. The FOR in the verse implies "looking forward unto." This is what they were to look forward to and when it would come. The BLOTTING OUT of their sins would come in the "times of refreshing." When that time comes:

Acts 3:20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:

Those times of refreshing are a time of rest. Notice in:

Hebrews 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

Notice in the book of Joel:

Joel 2:25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.

Joel 2:26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.

Joel 2:27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

The years of Joel 2:25 evidently add up to a total of 1000 years which is the exact time of the prophecied kingdom of heaven on earth at the second coming of Christ and before the "new heaven and new earth" of Revelation 21.

So the context of Peter's preaching is the second coming of Christ and the salvation of the nation of Israel. But that is yet future. Notice what he says about Jesus Christ:

Acts 3:21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

He is preaching the future fulfillment of prophecy. The "restitution of all things" spoken by the prophets. How can you restore something that has not already been there before?  Prophecy in scripture always concerns the nation of Israel:

Acts 3:22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.

Acts 3:23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.

Acts 3:24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.

The message of the kingdom and the salvation Peter is preaching here is addressed to Israel. Notice what he calls them:

Acts 3:25 Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

Acts 3:26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

There is no way that the predominately Gentile body of Christ could be said to be the "children of the prophets" is there?

There is more than one church in the bible and there is more than one gospel in the bible. The gospel being preached by Peter is NOT "the word of truth, the gospel of YOUR salvation" of Ephesians 1:12-13.