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Acts 3:1-5:42<\/strong><\/span> Acts chapter 3 is a wonderful look at the power of Jesus\u2019 name and faith in Jesus as Peter heals a lame man.\u00a0 I love verse 6:\u00a0 \u201cBut Peter said, \u201cI don\u2019t have any money for you. But I\u2019ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!\u201d\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Below is a painting of this scene by the Italian painter Masolino da Panicale from the early 15th century:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n It is awesome to see how Peter follows up this healing with preaching at Solomon\u2019s Porch!\u00a0 He sees an opportunity to let others know about Jesus and he does not let this opportunity pass him by.\u00a0 How often in your life do you come across opportunities to let others know about Jesus?\u00a0 How often do you move forward with that opportunity?\u00a0 Or how often do you let that opportunity pass you by?\u00a0 Below is a photo of a model of Solomon\u2019s Porch, where Peter was preaching, in Jerusalem. The 162 Corinthian columns were up to 100 feet tall. The porch extended some 800 feet. <\/span><\/p>\n Bible.org\u2019s commentary on today\u2019s Acts readings titled \u201cA Lame Excuse for Preaching the Gospel\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.\u00a0 (again, quite a creative title here from Bob\u2026 \ud83d\ude42<\/span><\/p>\n In our Acts readings today, I found it very interesting that Peter and John found themselves before the same 70 member Sanhedrin that Jesus found himself before when he was sentenced to death.\u00a0 Peter and John avoided death in this case, and Jesus\u2019 name and power was proclaimed before the high council in a powerful way.\u00a0 Caiaphas you\u2019ll recall from John 18:14: \u201cCaiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be good if one man died for the people.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>Well, the Spirit of Jesus was once again before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin through the boldness of Peter and John!<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n I love reading about the early church praying and sharing their possessions after Peter and John were released!\u00a0 Have you ever prayed a prayer that was anything like verses 29 & 30?\u00a0 Wow\u2026 \u201cAnd now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give your servants great boldness in their preaching. Send your healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Think we could learn something about prayer from this early church community in Acts 4?\u00a0 How often do you pray with a group of people outside of a regular church service?\u00a0 Think this would be a powerful thing to do? Below is a beautiful fresco on the wall in a small church in the French Alps of \u201cThe Community in Prayer\u201d from Acts 4 today:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Bible.org\u2019s commentary on our Acts readings today titled \u201cTruth or Consequences\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Today in Acts 5 we continue to read about the early church. It\u2019s important for us to note that Ananias and Sapphira\u2019s sin was that they acted as if they were giving 100% of the proceeds from the sale of their land to the church \u2013 when in fact they weren\u2019t \u2013 so that they would be glorified for this very generous act.\u00a0 The sin wasn\u2019t what percentage they were or weren\u2019t giving \u2013 but that they were acting as if they were giving 100%, which was a lie.\u00a0 In verse 3 we read \u2013 \u201cThen Peter said, \u201cAnanias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?\u201d\u201d<\/em> One thing of note from this verse is that Satan was active in the hearts of men and women in the early church. After Jesus died, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven, Satan was still on the loose. Do you believe Satan is still on the loose today tempting the hearts of men and women? Do you pray daily for God to \u201clead us not into temptation, and deliver us from evil?\u201d Do you think this should be a daily prayer? (maybe not in these words exactly, but they are from the Lord\u2019s Prayer, so not a bad choice of words to pray\u2026)\u00a0 Below is a painting of \u201cThe Death of Ananias\u201d by the Italian artist Raphael from the year 1515:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n I love verse 29 in today\u2019s readings, when the apostles are yet again before the Sanhedrin:\u00a0 \u201cBut Peter and the apostles replied, \u201cWe must obey God rather than human authority.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 How powerful of a statement is this!\u00a0 And how often in our lives do we truly practice this?\u00a0 Do you obey God rather than human authority?\u00a0 Consistently?\u00a0 Verse 41 brought tears to my eyes:\u00a0 \u201cThe apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of Jesus.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 This is an incredible thing to consider!\u00a0 The apostles rejoiced that they were given 39 lashes \u2013 this is no joke as we all know \u2013 because they were proclaiming Jesus.\u00a0 They rejoiced that God had counted them worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of Jesus!\u00a0 This is something that should definitely bring tears to all of our eyes.\u00a0 Let us pray that God also counts us worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of Jesus!<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Bible.org\u2019s commentary on today\u2019s Act\u2019s readings titled \u201cProfession and Possession\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span> and \u201cThe Great Escapes\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Worship Video:<\/strong> Today\u2019s readings in Acts reminds me of the Robbie Seay Band song \u201cSong of Hope:\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
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