Acts 3 - 12.30.22

Scripture

Acts 3:9-10

When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Observation – What does it say?

God had just healed a crippled beggar through Peter and John. The result? Well, aside from this man’s life being completely changed, people took notice. This man begged daily at the same busy place and everyone knew and recognized him. And when they saw him walking, jumping and praising God their jaws dropped and the crowds came running to see what happened.

This provided an opportunity for Peter to explain and share the gospel with them, resulting in the salvation of many.

Understanding – What does it mean?

God uses miracles as tools to save many.

The same thing happened in the previous chapter. A crowd gathers because of this strange miracle where God enabled his followers to declare His praises in languages they didn’t know. The response of the crowd observing the miracle:

Acts 2:12

Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

Two passages in a row God performs a miracle, a crowd forms to investigate, Peter explained what was happening and presented the gospel, many put their faith in Jesus and were saved. If this was God’s method of saving many then, recorded in scripture for us, why wouldn’t we pray for him to use the same methods today through us?

Life Application

Pray!

God, please reveal yourself in ways that cause crowds to gather and hearts to be open to the gospel. Fill us with faith to ask you for the impossible, and when you answer may we be bold in sharing Jesus with those who ask about the miracles. We ask for multitudes to come to faith in Jesus, and we ask you to choose to use us to partner with you in reaching them. Amen.

Habakkuk 3:2

Lord, I have heard of your fame;
    I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord.
Repeat them in our day,
    in our time make them known;
    in wrath remember mercy.

-Levi Thompson