Snoopy Approaches Acts

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These early believers are gathering daily in the temple courts and breaking bread from house to house. (v.46).

They are selling off property and possessions and distributing the proceeds. They are together and holding things in common but it doesn't seem like they live communally.

Maybe it's all a logistical nightmare because their numbers are growing daily.
 
Acts 3: I-10
Peter and John are going up to the temple for prayers at 3 o''clock in the afternoon. They heal a lame man who is begging at the gate.

The people are amazed when they see the man walking around and praising God.
 
We see that the disciples have healing power. Early in His ministry, Jesus gave the twelve disciples the power to cast out demons and heal diseases.

Are there any instances of the disciples healing people in the gospels? I don't recall any specifically.

Would the healing power have been extended to Matthias? This might explain why Peter was so keen to replace Judas.
 
Of course, since he was lame from birth, had he actually learned any skills or trades that he could use to earn money or will he now just be a walking beggar instead of a lame one? Though he could at least make a few coins as a labourer now.

We see that the disciples have healing power. Early in His ministry, Jesus gave the twelve disciples the power to cast out demons and heal diseases.

Are there any instances of the disciples healing people in the gospels? I don't recall any specifically.

Would the healing power have been extended to Matthias? This might explain why Peter was so keen to replace Judas.
I don't recall any either. I imagine Matthias would have received the healing power, though that assumes the power Jesus gave the twelve could be "passed on". And at what point does that go beyond the twelve? Eventually, you have Christians outside the twelve healing and such and many in Christianity still claim that power today. I imagine that question might get addressed further on in Acts but I don't know that. There's a cultic element here, a sense of an inner circle who received power through the founder and can then pass that on.
 
Luke's gospel has a story about 70 (or 72) going out in Jesus' name. They are instructed to heal the sick and announce the kingdom of God.

When they return, they report that even the demons submitted to them. Jesus explains He had given them power over snakes & scorpions and the full force of the enemy.

The 70 are not to rejoice that the spirits submit to them. They can rejoice that their names are written in heaven.
 
So we see Peter and John come upon a lame man who was being carried to the Temple Gate called Beautiful which is Mentioned twice here in this scripture ---to beg ---this man had been born lame ---

So the fact that the man was born lame ----In my opinion could mean the this healing was to show the power of the infliiling of the Holy Spirit working through Peter so God would be Glorified -----this was Peter's fist healing after Receiving the infilling Of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost ----so this is the first miracle preformed by the Apostles -------

This healing by Peter is also fulfilling a Prophecy from Isaiah 35:6

Amplified Bible
Then the lame will leap like a deer, And the tongue of the mute will shout for joy. For waters will break forth in the wilderness And streams in the desert.

Remember Jesus healed the blind man who was born Blind and the healing was to glorify God by showing His power and ---

John 9 NIV

Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind​

9 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

3 Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.

I say ------Now this Gate ---
it is named twice so it has some significance in meaning here

I found this ----interesting read on the Gate called Beautiful


Historical and Cultural Context:

The exact identification of the Gate Called Beautiful is a matter of some debate among scholars. It is traditionally thought to be one of the gates leading into the temple complex in Jerusalem, possibly the Nicanor Gate, which was known for its grandeur and ornate design. This gate was likely a major entrance used by worshippers, making it a strategic location for a beggar seeking alms.

The temple in Jerusalem was a central place of worship and a focal point of Jewish religious life. The presence of the apostles at the temple during the hour of prayer underscores the continuity between Jewish worship practices and the emerging Christian faith. The miracle at the gate served as a sign to the Jewish people of the new covenant established through Jesus Christ.

Theological Significance:


The healing at the Gate Called Beautiful is rich in theological significance. It demonstrates the power of Jesus' name and the authority given to the apostles to perform miracles as a testament to the gospel. This event also highlights the compassion and mission of the early church to address both spiritual and physical needs.

Furthermore, the miracle serves as a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning the messianic age, where the lame would walk and the marginalized would be restored (cf. Isaiah 35:6).
It illustrates the inbreaking of God's kingdom through the ministry of Jesus and His apostles, offering a foretaste of the complete restoration to come.


I say ---we see here also that John and Peter are at the Temple hour to pray -----the Jewish Nation still participated in Blood sacrifices at the Temple --but John and Perter were there to pray only ---verse 3

3 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour (3:00 p.m.)

I say --------So the man ask John and Peter for some coin -- Peter and John look intently at the man -----so they stopped and focused on the man -----this in my opinion was the Holy Spirit prompting them in their healing ----they were really shifting the man's focus from money to healing -here --

“Look at us!” 5 And the man began to pay attention to them,

Peter says that money he doesn't have but what he does say comes by way of the Holy Spirit giving Peter the words and power to speak with authority

verse 6------ but what I do have I give to you: In the name (authority, power) of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—[begin now to] walk and go on walking!”

7 Then he seized the man’s right hand with a firm grip and raised him up. And at once his feet and ankles became strong and steady

I say -------The gesture of Peter taking the man's right hand is significant


Acts 3:7 shows Peter taking a lame man “by the right hand” to lift him up, dramatizing restorative power.

Paul speaks of weapons “of righteousness in the right hand and in the left” (2 Corinthians 6:7), stressing the believer’s readiness for spiritual warfare on all fronts.

Summary

Strong’s Greek 1188 encapsulates themes of favor, authority, fellowship, and eschatological destiny. Whether depicting Jesus exalted beside the Father, distinguishing the blessed from the condemned, or describing acts of healing and partnership, the “right hand” communicates God’s sovereign grace and the believer’s secure place under the Lordship of Christ.

I say ----We see the man who was healed went into the temple with Peter and John --leaping for joy and PRAISING God ----giving God the Glory ----the others saw him and recognized who he was and they were Filled with wonder and amazement and mystified----

It would be a very eye opening experience to say the least to see a lame man that you knew just get up and walk and leap -----

Are there any instances of the disciples healing people in the gospels? I don't recall any specifically.
I see you have just posted this same thing I have had found here paradox3 -------------------------

Well I don't think there are any listed in the Gospels that the Disciples preformed like-- healing and other Miracles -----
But
IN Luke 10 ----Jesus sends out the 72 and upon their return this is said ---so while there is no talk of the Miracles they did ----this seems to suggest that some Miracles were preformed by the Disciples --

verse !7 ----
17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”


I say ----
healing today is such a sore subject to bring up and is not brought up in most mainstream churches ---People get very irate and angry about physical healing today through God -----Spiritual healing seems to be fairly understood but Physical healing are not and stirs up peoples emotions as it is so misunderstood -----

Would the healing power have been extended to Matthias?
---in my opinion ----yes ----he was there at Pentecost and would have had the infilling of the Holy Spirit ---same as the others -----
 
I was just rereading the Scripture for today I noticed --in verse 1 that John and Peter went to the Temple at the Ninth hour which is 3 o'clock in the afternoon -----which is significant cause Jesus died at the Ninth Hour --3 PM-----and John and Peter are exercising their first healing after Pentecost at the ninth hour -----

Just thought this was an interesting occurrence ----

AI----- has this to say
The healing of the lame man in Acts 3 was a deliberate act by Peter, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and it served a specific purpose within God's plan. It wasn't random, but rather part of God's timing and purpose.

I say -----When you think about this Scripture ---the man was lame at birth ------

Is it not true that we are really all lame at birth ------we are born with a crooked nature in need of healing ---just like this lame needed healing ---both Spiritual and Physical -----so do we----

Food for thought -----

1753909948651.png
 
Yes I noticed the timing as well @unsafe. Definitely not a coincidence.

Peter will explain a few things in tomorrow's reading. I will make sure I have strong coffee in hand when I post the passage in the morning :)
 
Acts 3:11-26

Peter addresses the astonished crowd which has gathered. He explains that the the man's healing came through faith in Jesus.

The people & their rulers acted in ignorance when they rejected and killed Jesus. But God has fulfilled all the things told to the prophets in this way.

Peter calls for repentance.
 
Well, the source and nature of this healing is a mystery to me. Peter emphasizes that it did not happen through his own personal power or piety. Or the power and piety of John.

Is it Jesus working through them, somehow? You would think if the lame man's faith were responsible, the miracle might have happened earlier.

I am reminded of the times Jesus told people their faith had made them (or someone else) well.

Peter is clearly influenced by his experiences with his mentor. And his theology is highly influenced by the Hebrew Scriptures.

At this point in the narrative, it is still a very Jewish story.
 
He explains that the the man's healing came through faith in Jesus.
Who's Faith heals -----OUR Faith IN Christ OR is it the Faith OF Christ that heals -----

Can we have enough of our own Faith in Jesus to bring about Healing and -How much Faith is enough ??????

this is the problem here folks -----this is why people get angry when they pray for healing and it doesn't doesn't happen cause we humans think we don't have enough of our own Faith --when it is Christ's Faith that heals not our Faith IN CHRIST that does the healing ---

Now this is deep and needs to be deeply researched and studied -----

Ephesians 4:5 AMP B​

5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Who imparts Faith to us ----ourselves or God -----

Food for thought =====there is a debate going on amongst Scholars about this issue ---but personally for me it makes perfect sense that it is the Faith OF Christ and not OUR Faith IN Christ ------
How much of Our Faith is needed to believe IN Jesus CHRIST to save us==heal us etc---- we human would never have enough of our own Faith to believe in Jesus and what He has accomplished for us ------ in my opinion -----


AI

The phrase "faith of Christ" in some Bible translations, particularly older ones, has sparked debate among theologians regarding its meaning.

While often translated as "faith in Christ," the original Greek phrase could also be interpreted as "Christ's own faith" or "faithfulness of Christ".


This distinction leads to different understandings of how Christ's faith relates to believers' salvation.

Here's a breakdown of the interpretations:

"Faith in Christ":

  • This is the more common translation in modern versions, emphasizing the act of believing in Jesus Christ as the savior.
  • It highlights that salvation comes through placing one's trust and reliance on Jesus' atoning work.
  • This view emphasizes the individual's act of faith as a response to God's offer of salvation.
"Faith of Christ":
  • This translation, found in older versions like the King James Version, suggests that the phrase refers to Jesus' own faith, faithfulness, or trustworthiness.

  • Some interpretations emphasize that Christ's faithfulness in fulfilling God's will, particularly through his death and resurrection, is the basis of our justification.

  • Others suggest that Christ's faith, or His faithfulness, is somehow imparted to believers, enabling them to do God's will ----

  • This view can highlight the idea of "union with Christ" and how His righteousness is imputed to believers.
 
I am reminded of the times Jesus told people their faith had made them (or someone else) well
It was not their Faith that made them well -----Remember the lady with the Blood issue she touched His Cloak and was healed ---It was His Faith that was imparted to her as she touched His cloak that healed her ---is was not Her personal Faith in Him ------

It is always His Faith being imparted to the person that heals them ---

Jesus is our great Physician -----His Faith heals -----His faith preforms the miracles ----not Our Faith In Him to do these things -----
 
It was not their Faith that made them well -----Remember the lady with the Blood issue she touched His Cloak and was healed ---It was His Faith that was imparted to her as she touched His cloak that healed her ---is was not Her personal Faith in Him ------

It is always His Faith being imparted to the person that heals them ---

Jesus is our great Physician -----His Faith heals -----His faith preforms the miracles ----not Our Faith In Him to do these things -----
However the words in the Gospels are often "your faith has made you well" so you may be adding an interpretive gloss to make it mean what you believe it should mean

Other times Jesus heals and says nothing about faith at all and is it percieved as a show of power (or in the case of exorcisms authority)

THese stories, along with teh healing in Acts, do make us wonder if someone who does not believe in Jesus as Divine could be healed? What does that say about the Calvinistic idea of Irresistable Grace? Can we choose to avoid healing of body and soul?
 
So we see here that there is a porch mentioned -----

11 Now while he was still holding on to Peter and John, all the people, utterly amazed, ran together and crowded around them at the covered porch called Solomon’s portico.

There is of course a Spiritual tie to this porch

From Google
People also ask

What is the spiritual meaning of Solomon's porch?
Scholars believe Herod reconstructed a portico on the eastern side where Solomon's original colonnade once stood. Therefore, they called it Solomon's Porch to symbolize a restoration of faith and Jewish religious life

Verse 12 --
-says it out right ---not their faith or power that healed this man ------

12 And Peter, seeing this, said to the people, “You men of Israel, why are you amazed at this? Why are you staring at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?

I say -
----------says it here in verse 16 ---straight up ------

16 And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health and complete wholeness in your presence.

I say --------Jesus' Faith was imparted to them -----not their faith in Jesus that healed this man ------

Noe Peter here is giving His Second Sermon Folks ------but I will not post what God said in verses 13---17========as I will be banned and charged with being Anti Semitic using these verses even though these are the Words of Jesus Christ Himself -----who is the Word -by the way -----so you can decide if you want to read these verses or not -------all up to you ------

I say ---Peter here is not afraid to confront their sin and change their ways -------

Mainstream Churches today don't like confronting peoples sin and what will happen to them if they don't repent ---Peter here is Speaking Boldly and presenting harsh Truth ------

Peter is telling the crowd to repent and change their ways of thinking so their sins will be forgiven and their time of refreshment may come ----


I say --------Peter here is referring to Moses and what he said here -----and is boldly speaking again as to what will take place if they reject the only person that can save them ---------

22 Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your countrymen; you shall listen to Him and obey everything He tells you.

23 And it will be that every person that does not listen to and heed that Prophet will be utterly destroyed from among the people.’

I say --Harsh Words here -------so not good news here for the person who does not take heed as they will be totally destroyed -----

The Churches today need to take some pointers from Peter and start Preaching the harsh truth instead of filling the people only with the soft and fluffiness of half truths ---and false hope and false Doctrine ----just my opinion -----
 
An odd thing I had never noticed about this story. Peter/Luke convicts the people of Israel/their leaders of Jesus death, then forgives them for their ignorance.
 
However the words in the Gospels are often "your faith has made you well" so you may be adding an interpretive gloss to make it mean what you believe it should mean
GordW --if that is your opinion ---then that is your opinion ---your not hurting me by believing that -----

I really don't care what you or other believe ----if you think that you can have your own faith and can heal people through your Faith ---then go for it -----I say -----:angel:

1753976285355.png
 
An odd thing I had never noticed about this story. Peter/Luke convicts the people of Israel/their leaders of Jesus death, then forgives them for their ignorance.
Now is this not posting Anti Semitism -----if I were to post that I would be persecuted and banned and have purple letters ----so ----?????????????
 
Now is this not posting Anti Semitism -----if I were to post that I would be persecuted and banned and have purple letters ----so ----?????????????

No, it is not. It is pointing out the difference between Luke's opinion (forgiveness) and John's (not). I do not think you understand when your beliefs stray into anti-Semitism, and I don't necessarily blame you because it's distinctly not a feature of Christianity to "own your own anti-Semitism". But you clearly do not understand the implications of many of your beliefs.
 
Peter also emphasizes (v.18) that God foretold that His Christ would suffer. So this has been fulfilled through the actions of the people and their leaders.

Doesn't this point to the Jewish people being used by God for his own purposes?

We have had similar discussions about Judas Iscariot on some of these threads.
 
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