Peter heals crippled beggar
The
Passage: Acts 3:1 –
4:4
Structure: a (scene’s beginning) –
b,c,d,e,d’,c’,b’, (Peter’s speech) – a’ (scene’s end)
a. 3:1-11, all people in the portico
b. 3:12-13,
God of ancestors
c. 3:14-16,
refusing the sacred person
d.
3:17-18, suffering Messiah
e. 3:19,
Repent
d’.
3:20-21, appointed Messiah, Jesus
c’. 3:22-24,
refusing the sacred person
b’. 3:25-26,
God made covenant with ancestors
a’. 4:1-4,
5000 people
Structure of
“a”
a. 3:1, Peter and John are in the Temple
b. 3:2, Lame
man was carried in by the Beautiful Gates
c. 3:3, He
sees Peter and John going into the Temple
d. 3:4,
Peter speaks
e. 3:5,
He looks at them – response to Peter
d’. 3:6,
Peter speaks
e’. 3:7,
His feet and ankles got strong – response to Peter
c’. 3:8, He
begins to walk
b’. 3:9-10,
Now man leaping by the Beautiful Gates
a’. 3:11,
Peter and John are at the Portico of the Temple
Historical
and geographical context:
The passage
begins with a fairytale start – “once upon a time”. Sometime after Pentecost
within a timeframe of 2:40-47 (see last lesson). Now the story moves from
“houses” to the Temple area.
Theology:
Healing is an
important part of Christian ministry but not the main one. The most important
one is the restoration of man because of his faith in the name of Jesus Christ.
Also, note that disciple do same things as Jesus did – cp. John 5.
Name of
Jesus. Building up theology of the NAME. The name of God was associated with
the Sanctuary – the Tabernacle and Temple. To be in the name – to be in God’s
presence (1 Kings 8:48 “the house I have built for Your NAME”).
Proclamation
of Jesus Christ crucified. The consistent central point of apostles preaching.
St. Peter brings this during his Pentecostal sermon (2:22-24), here in ch. 3,
then 4:10-11. The first Christian martyr Stephen drives the same point
(7:52-53). Then St. Paul declares it as the main message of his ministry (1
Cor. 1:22-24). Also, note personal theological growth one can see in the life
of St. Peter. Matthew 16:21-23 tells us that idea of suffering and crucifixion
was repulsive to Peter, he was confession the Son of God as a glorious person,
not the one who must suffer and die. Yet, being a person of betrayal and an
eyewitness of the Cross and Resurrection, he comes to personal, devotional
conviction of the importance and necessity of Son’s sacrifice.
Other
themes:
Regular
religious life of the apostles was taking place in Jerusalem and – most
importantly – in the Temple. They did not cut off all the connections with the
“old ways” but used any chance to proclaim the Good News of Jesus to those who
knew the Scriptures, who were raised in the traditions, who wanted to maintain
piety prescribed by Torah. Neither St. Peter nor St. John who accompanied him
wanted to insult the worshipers or obscure their faith and conduct. They
engaged in the healing activities because they were asked to. What later St.
Peter will summarize in 1 Pet. 3:15.
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