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? (Acts 3:12)

Peter’s Second Sermon

The establishment of the church occurred on the Day of Pentecost, following the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Peter and the other apostles received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and began preaching the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ. Luke records Peter’s sermon as the doors to the kingdom of God were opened to the house of Israel. Three thousand souls obeyed the gospel, and the Lord added to the church those who were saved. Shortly after Pentecost, Peter and John were going to the Temple to pray when they encountered a well-known beggar who was laid daily at the gate of the Temple, which is called Beautiful. The lame man begged for alms from those passing by.

When Peter and John passed by the lame man, he asked them for alms. Peter told the beggar he had no gold or silver to give him, but he would give him a greater gift than those things. Taking the lame man by the right hand, Peter lifted him up and, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, healed the man of his affliction. Immediately, the feet and ankle bones strengthened, and the man began walking, leaping, and praising God. Seeing the great miracle, the people ran together, wonderstricken at what had happened. Seizing the opportunity, Peter preached the message of Jesus Christ.

Peter and John did not take credit for the miracle by their own power or godliness. The lame man was healed through the power of Jesus of Nazareth, the servant of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Peter then turns the people’s hearts to the notable event that occurred the previous month at Golgotha. Jesus of Nazareth was the one the Jews delivered up to Pilate and sentenced to death. Pilate could have released Jesus, but the will of the people pressured him to turn Jesus over for crucifixion. Peter lays the guilt of the Jews for denying the Holy One and the Just when they cried out, “Crucify Him, crucify Him.” Instead of releasing Jesus, an innocent and sinless man, the crowds demanded a hardened murderer to be released.

Without hesitation, Peter declared to the people that they had killed the Prince of life, the long-awaited Messiah. The people had their way with Jesus, condemning Him to death and watching Him die on the cross. But God raised Jesus from the dead, and Peter and John testified they had seen Jesus and spent time with Him. The reason Peter healed the lame man was to show the glory of Jesus Christ, who had risen from the dead. Anyone could go to Joseph’s tomb and see that it was empty. It had been sealed by a large stone and guarded by elite Roman soldiers, but Jesus was not there.

The death of Jesus was according to the will of the Father. God permitted the people and the Roman rulers to carry out the death of Jesus because all of those things fulfilled the words of the prophets hundreds of years before. The death of Jesus was foretold by God. Jesus knew He must die for the sins of the world. Peter impressed the message on the hearts of the people when he told them to repent and be converted, to have their sins washed away. This appeal was the same appeal he had made at Pentecost when he told the people to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins. The Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms declared the story of Jesus to the people.

Lessons learned from Peter’s second sermon is that the message of the gospel does not change. Peter’s sermon on Pentecost and at the Temple had the same message. The power of the gospel is in the word, not the man. Jesus is the central figure of salvation. The Jews may have orchestrated the death of Jesus, and the Romans carried out the sentence; all men bear the guilt of killing Jesus. Jesus arose from the dead on the third day, and He sits at the right hand of God, ruling with all power and authority. Healing comes not for the physical body but the soul in need of grace. Salvation is granted to all who will repent and be converted to have their sins blotted (washed) out (baptism), so the gift of the Holy Spirit is given. The Bible is the testimony of the gospel that must be preached to a lost and dying world. Peter did not change the message of the gospel to appeal to the crowds. The gospel remains the same.