Gloriographs by Rick Reynolds

While he was clinging to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the so-called portico of Solomon, full of amazement. ¹² But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? Acts 3:11-12

While many had repented and been baptized, there must have been plenty in the vicinity of the temple who had not, those who on that fateful day Jesus stood before Pilate, yelled out, “Crucify him!”

It’s one thing to simply remain in your unbelief, another to have played an active role in Jesus’ condemnation and death. In other words, Peter would use this miracle (healing the lame beggar at the Beautiful gate) to call these fugitives to account. These same people who were callous enough to refuse Pilate’s offer to release Jesus, were now gawking with amazement at the display of miraculous power at the hands of Peter and John, the same power they’d witnessed in Jesus.

Peter first removed all doubt as to what power caused this man to be healed. It certainly wasn’t his “power or piety” that played any part of the event. The “Prince of life” (i.e., Author of life, verse 15) in this case was none other than Jesus, whom they crucified and God raised from the dead, a fact attested to by many eye witnesses, including Peter.

And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all. Acts 3:16

What these people lacked was faith in Jesus. They remained ignorant of his role. He was the embodiment and fulfillment of what they’d prayed for down through ages, the exact person of whom the prophets spoke (verse 21). And they rejected him!

¹⁹ Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; ²⁰ and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, ²¹ whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. Acts 3:19-21

The healing of this man was just a foretaste of the refreshing that awaited their souls if they’d simply recognize their Savior and repent of their sin of unbelief. As such, restoration awaited.

We all when we sin want to return to the good graces of the one offended. You’ll never commit a more egregious sin then to reject the Savior. We’ve all at one time actually or symbolically yelled out, “Crucify him!” Peter did in essence in the courtyard three times.

Peter was tired of the fickleness of the people (maybe I’m amazed, maybe I’m not). Without a true change of heart and mind they’d likely be voting to condemn Jesus’ witnesses, including Peter and John, to death soon, and there’d be many chances to do so in the very near future (Acts 4:1). It was time to come clean.