Last updated on November 12, 2024
It’s a difficult task being that I’ve been around the Bible and these stories for all of my life, but I like to try imagining hearing a story for the first time. I’ve tried especially hard to do this during the last month, and this morning it proved to be a helpful exercise.
A big question that comes in this moment is, “What happened to Peter?” Prior to the crucifixion, we see Peter talking a big game (I’ll die before I leave you, Jesus) but then doing exactly what Jesus said he would (deny he even knew him three times in a row). Peter was disappointed with himself. He felt tremendous shame. But something happened after Jesus’ resurrection. Jesus spent time with Peter. He reaffirmed his love for him. He told him that it would be ok. And actually, it was going to be more than just ok. Jesus was still going to use Peter to build his church. It’s key to understand that Peter accepted this as fact, even though things still felt bad. He chose to trust Jesus.
So when the day of Pentecost came, Peter was ready to show the courage that he knew was in him. Further, a lot of thoughts had begun to solidify in those days after Jesus ascended. Things made sense in a new way. And then after what the Spirit did that Pentecost morning…now he was ready to dive in deeper.
So one afternoon Peter and John were going to the temple for prayer (Acts 3:1). They came upon a man who had been lame since birth. They had no doubt passed by this man many times, but this day they stopped. The man, as was his custom, asked them for money. What Peter says next is quite surprising.
“Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”
The man gave him his hand, and Peter helped him up. Instantly his feet and ankles became strong, and he began to walk.
What had changed for Peter?
First, the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead was now living in Peter (Ephesians 1:19). Even as I write this, I’m pretty sure I still fail to grasp just how big of a deal this truly is.
Second, Peter was ready to live from this reality rather than the one he had been living from before he met Jesus, and even during those three years he was with Jesus, which can best be described as trying to push his agenda on Jesus. Sure, this kind of living was risky, but why waste anymore time. He truly believed Jesus, and it was time to exercise this faith!
At this point a crowd has gathered, and this is the point in which I want to read with fresh eyes. Here’s how Luke describes what is going on…
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 (Acts 3:10).
When you are filled with wonder and amazement, you want to know more. And so Peter took the moment to share what was going, and how what had just happened was connected with what God was doing. He tells them that they had a role to play in killing Jesus, whom he calls the author of life. He reminds them that they handed him over to Pilate, pushing him even when he believed no crime had been committed. They killed him, but God raised him from the dead.
It’s been around two months since the death and resurrection of Jesus, and I can’t imagine that anyone there hasn’t heard the stories. But this time the stories land in a new way in their hearts. They truly want to know more.
Peter acknowledges that they were ignorant when they played their role in killing the Messiah. But he offers them the opportunity to repent (to rethink everything). He offers them the opportunity to turn back to God. If they do that, their sins will be wiped out, and times of refreshing will come. He shares this because he too has experienced it.
Before Peter could finish, the religious leaders suddenly appear and arrest Peter and John. Remember, they thought Jesus’ followers would scatter once Jesus was put to death. They thought the rebellion would fail. But it has done the exact opposite. So now they have to get rid of these leaders.
But it didn’t matter. The love and grace of God was spreading faster than anyone could imagine. People were taking Peter up on this offer of repentance. In this day alone Luke says that the number of men who believed was now up to 5000.
The religious leaders could see what was happening, and they knew they couldn’t lock up Peter and John. The people wouldn’t have it, especially after what had just happened. They ended up scolding them and letting them go.