11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. 12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? 13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16 And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
17 “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. 22 Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ 24 And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. 25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ 26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”
St Peter gives the people another public sermon as they gather together, because St Peter and St John healed a lame man earlier. St Peter reminds the people about the promises God made to their forefathers. God made promises to Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. God told the people of Israel many years before about the Holy and Righteous One of Israel.
Jesus Christ is the one who has given this man the ability to walk. God has shared this gift with the Apostles. Jesus was once asked why a man was born blind. Jesus explained that it was so that God's glory would be revealed. God's glory has once again been revealed through the healing of a lame man. But this has also given St Peter the opening to speak to the people of Israel once again. He is able to speak about the Holy One of Israel who was killed upon a Cross.
Many people at the time, thought the Victory over this Jesus of Nazareth was completed and finished when they watched him die. But once again this all took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophets. Sometimes there is suffering and trials in the world, because through them people can be brought to the Lord. Jesus Christ suffered upon the cross, which was a very traumatic experience for all his followers and family. But through that suffering there came a great gift. Jesus Christ was raised from the dead. Through his suffering and death we receive forgiveness, redemption, reconciliation, and eternal life.
A lame man was restored to pure health through the name and power of Jesus Christ. There were many other wonders and signs which our Lord and even His Apostles did. But like St John writes in his Gospel, these are written so that people will come to believe in Jesus Christ as the sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins.
Jesus Christ is the one who has given this man the ability to walk. God has shared this gift with the Apostles. Jesus was once asked why a man was born blind. Jesus explained that it was so that God's glory would be revealed. God's glory has once again been revealed through the healing of a lame man. But this has also given St Peter the opening to speak to the people of Israel once again. He is able to speak about the Holy One of Israel who was killed upon a Cross.
Many people at the time, thought the Victory over this Jesus of Nazareth was completed and finished when they watched him die. But once again this all took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophets. Sometimes there is suffering and trials in the world, because through them people can be brought to the Lord. Jesus Christ suffered upon the cross, which was a very traumatic experience for all his followers and family. But through that suffering there came a great gift. Jesus Christ was raised from the dead. Through his suffering and death we receive forgiveness, redemption, reconciliation, and eternal life.
A lame man was restored to pure health through the name and power of Jesus Christ. There were many other wonders and signs which our Lord and even His Apostles did. But like St John writes in his Gospel, these are written so that people will come to believe in Jesus Christ as the sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins.
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