Acts 3:1
_(with Acts 4:4)_
St. Peter's Second Apology
If the latter portion of this speech of St. Peter's be examined, it
will be found that its central point, on which is thrown the chief
weight of exhortation, is precisely the same as in Luke's abridged
version of the former speech. "Repent and... [ Continue Reading ]
Acts 3:1
Look (1) at the social side, and (2) at the Apostolic side of this
incident.
I. The social side. (1) We may be able to carry the cripple while we
are unable to heal him. Do what you can. (2) The commonest minds, as
well as the highest, have always associated the idea of charity with
the i... [ Continue Reading ]
Acts 3
The Lame Man Healed
We are reminded by this incident:
I. That there are some things more valuable than money. Peter with his
gift of healing was of infinitely greater service to this lame man
than if he had possessed the riches of Croesus. The moment wealth
becomes an end to be sought simp... [ Continue Reading ]
Acts 3:6
I. Man is, by nature, morally crippled and helpless; a beggar, a
bondman, carried about at another's will. Great bodily infirmities are
the shadows of the sins and weaknesses of the soul. What a cripple is
among men, a sinner is before the angels and pure spirits on high. All
sin works by... [ Continue Reading ]
Acts 3:10
The architecture of the old Jewish Temple may serve us for a parable
today. The truth that it suggests will be the harmony between a noble
undertaking and a beautiful beginning that every true temple ought to
have a beautiful gate. The importance of beginnings is the veriest
commonplace o... [ Continue Reading ]
Acts 3:12
The speech of Peter may be regarded in four aspects:
I. As showing the false method of looking at human affairs. "As though
through our own power of holiness we had made this man to walk."
II. As showing the true method of regarding the most extraordinary
events. "God hath glorified His... [ Continue Reading ]
Acts 3:17
The Danger and Results of Unbelief.
Consider:
I. How St. Peter came to have a right to make allowance for the Jews.
When the Apostle states that what the Jews did, they did through
ignorance, he must be considered as conveying the idea that they were
not acquainted with the actual charac... [ Continue Reading ]
Acts 3:19 , ACTS 3:21
The Restitution of All Things will be:
I. A clearing away of suffering. Earth shall be restored to its
original beauty; its face shall be wiped from tears; its scarred and
stained countenance shall be radiant again with a more than Eden
loveliness: for it is one of those "all... [ Continue Reading ]
Acts 3:19 , ACTS 3:21
The Restitution of All Things will be:
I. A clearing away of suffering. Earth shall be restored to its
original beauty; its face shall be wiped from tears; its scarred and
stained countenance shall be radiant again with a more than Eden
loveliness: for it is one of those "all... [ Continue Reading ]
Acts 3:26
Here, in few words, is the plan proposed by our heavenly Father to
make us happy, a plan well worthy to be considered.
I. God does not secure happiness to his people by making all of them
rich. Instead of saying "Blessed are ye rich," he says, "Blessed are
the poor."
II. Our heavenly Fa... [ Continue Reading ]