_Now Peter and John._
PETER AND JOHN
The union of the two brings the narratives of the Gospels into an
interesting connection with the Acts. They were probably about the
same age (the idea that Peter was some years older than John rests
mainly on the pictures which artists have drawn from their
ima... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_The gate of the temple which is called Beautiful._
THE GATE BEAUTIFUL
In our ignorance of the topography of Jerusalem and the temple, it is
not possible to determine with absolute certainty which of the many
gates of the temple was distinguished by this name. According to
Josephus, “There were nin... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us._
THE RECIPROCAL GAZE
The gaze was one which read character in the expression of the man’s
face, and discerned that he had faith to be healed (verse 16). And he,
in his turn, was to look on them that he might read in their pitying... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give
I thee._
WEALTH IN POVERTY
What a remarkable combination of poverty which can give nothing, with
power which can do almost anything! “Silver and gold have I
none”--then we are ready at once to class him with the men from whom
no... [ Continuer la lecture ]
AND HE LEAPING UP STOOD_._
THE HEALED MAN’S ACTIVITY AND GRATITUDE
The evangelist describes minutely the actions of the lame man as soon
as he began to believe that he was healed. First he leaped forth,
releasing himself from the hold of Peter, or leaped up, as if trying
the strength of his muscle... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_All the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called
Solomon’s, greatly wondering._
SOLOMON’S PORCH
The porch--or better, portico or cloister--was outside the temple, on
the eastern side. It consisted in the Herodian Temple, of a double row
of Corinthian columns, about thirty-seven fe... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_The God of Abraham … hath glorified His Son Jesus; whom ye
delivered up._
ST. PETER’S TESTIMONY
I. The vindication of Christianity from a Jewish standpoint. “The
God of Abraham,” etc., not God generally considered, but God in
relations acknowledged by the Jews--the God of Abraham, as such, had
glo... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_And His name through faith in His name hath made this man strong._
THE POWER OF FAITH
Faith in the name of Jesus is faith in Himself. The result of its
exercise here was a manifest continuance of what Jesus “began to
do” in the way of healing, and on the same condition.
I. Faith moved Peter to s... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_Repent ye therefore and be converted._
APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION
I. The Apostle Bade Men Repent And Be Converted.
1. Repent signifies, in its literal meaning, to change one’s mind.
It has been translated “after-wit,” or “after-wisdom”; it is
the man’s finding out that he is wrong, and rectifying his... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_And He shall send Jesus._
THE MISSIONARY CHRIST
A missionary is “one sent.” Jesus was a missionary when He came to
save; He will be a missionary when He comes to judge. These missions
have been loosely termed the First and Second Advents as though there
were no others. But if the Old Testament th... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_Whom the heavens must receive until the times of restitution of all
things._
TIMES OF RESTITUTION OF ALL THINGS
The “times” seem distinguished from the “seasons” as more
permanent. This is the only passage in which the word translated
“restitution” is found in the New Testament; nor is it found in... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_For Moses truly said unto your fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your
God raise up unto you … like unto me._
THE PROMISED PROPHET
Note--
I. The appropriateness of God revealing Himself through a human being.
For man is the Divine image, and hence God reveals Himself to man
through a man, otherwi... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_Ye are the children of the prophets and of the covenant._
THE CHILDREN OF THE COVENANT, THE SAVIOUR’S FIRST CARE
I. All who have been dedicated to God by believing parents, are
children of the covenant which God has made with their parents, and
especially with Abraham, the great father of the fai... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_Unto you first God, having raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless
you._
SENT TO BLESS YOU
I. God sent Jesus to bless us. We should have thought that after the
Jews had slain the prophets, God would have had no more to do with
them; or that if He sent His own Son, it would be to take vengeance... [ Continuer la lecture ]