A Bible Study on the Book of Acts Session 10
The Church of the Holy Apostles;
Based upon the Homilies of St John Chrysostom (SJC)
Study Guide – Acts 3.11-26, Homily 9
Chapter 3 v. 11-12 – Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed. So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?
Peter doesn’t have to explain the miracle (as with the previous miracle) but begins with “why do you marvel” because now the people had been aroused to belief.
Peter comforts the crowd that it wasn’t THEM that did the miracle. SJC “For nothing is so advantageous, and so likely to pacify the hearers, as to say nothing about one’s self of an honorable nature, but on the contrary, to obviate all surmise of wishing to do so.”
Chapter 3 v. 13 – “The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go.
God did it! We are called to despise all glory. SJC “In the same manner also did the ancient fathers.” (read Daniel 2.30, Genesis 40.8, 1 Kingdoms 17.34/1 Samuel 17.34)
Paralleling the prophets, Peter invoked Abraham.
Chapter 3 v. 14-15 – “But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, “and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.
Peter convicts the crowd, YOU have done this.
Apostolic authority “WE are witnesses”
“Prince of Life” indicates that Jesus is divine and raises Himself. “Observe how he speaks covertly about Christ’s power.” SJC p 57
Chapter 3 v. 16 – “And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
His name – power of faith of belief IN His name
Chapter 3 v. 17 – “Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers.
Peter excuses them and their rulers from such a heinous sin
Chapter 3 v. 18 – “But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.
Foreknowledge of God: DOCTRINE ALL the prophets speak about Christ in unison SJC “It does not follow, because the event was through ignorance that it took place irrespective of God’s ordinance. See how great it’s the Wisdom of God, when it uses the wickedness of others to bring about that which must be.” p58
Chapter 3 v. 19 – “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
Repent FOR GAIN! Not only are your sins (more than just the sin of crucifixion) forgiven, but times of refreshment may come.
Chapter 3 v. 20-21 – “and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, “whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.
Christ is divine! This is why heaven “must receive”
Chapter 3 v. 22-24 – “For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. ‘And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ “Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days.
SJC – Everything great is supported by the Prophets. In the same way, WE invoke the “FATHERS”
Historical – Sunday of Orthodoxy Proclamation follows the same pattern:
As the prophets beheld, as the Apostles have taught, as the Church has received, as the teachers have dogmatized, as the universe has agreed, as grace has illumined, as truth has revealed, as falsehood has been dispelled, as wisdom has presented, as Christ has triumphed; this we believe, this we declare, this we preach: Christ our true God, and His saints we honor in words, in writings, in thoughts, in sacrifices, in temples, in icons, on the one hand bowing down and worshipping Christ as God and Master, on the other hand honoring the saints as true servants of the Master of all, and offering to them due veneration.
This is the faith of the Apostles!
This is the faith of the Fathers!
This is the faith of the Orthodox!
This is the faith which has established the Universe!
Chapter 3 v. 25-26 – “You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ “To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.”
The Jews are heirs. It wasn’t Peter who was promising them, but God who had already declared His blessing.
As heirs, they are blessed FIRST (there will be others also
The blessing is “in turning away…”
It is a GREAT blessing! True you have done deeds worthy of condemnation; STILL you may obtain pardon. SJC
“Let US imitate Him” SJC – If God forgives us, we should forgive others…”
Teaching on Oaths – The “NAME” of God should be wasted on something so trivial (see Homily 9, pp 61-63)
- Oaths are used because men cannot be trusted – on both sides of the agreement
- Oaths do not guarantee truthfulness “A man having once learned to steal…” p61
- It is better to lose money on a deal by trusting than to lose your soul
- It isn’t our innocence that saves us, but God’s mercy “Do not let us imagine” p62
- The NAME of God healed the lame man. Deserves more than to be a bargaining chip
- You would be more likely to be believed if you refused to take oaths than if you took “oaths by the thousands”
Life Application – Be known by your word