Changed Men

     Acts 2:14 says "Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd." He is a changed man. They all are changed men. They have spent the 40 days with the risen Christ as he opened their eyes to the scripture and explained again their mission to spread the kingdom of God. They have spent 10 days in prayer, waiting exactly as commanded, in Jerusalem for the coming of the Holy Spirit. And now the Holy Spirit has come and they are changed men.
    The next section of Acts [2-8:3] is going to show us how changed these men, especially Peter, really are. The church explodes in Jerusalem. 3000 saved that first sermon! The summary in 2:47 says "The Lord added to their number DAILY those who were being saved."    
     Chapter three begins the story of Jesus working through these changed men. It begins like any other day. "One day Peter and John were going up to the Temple at the time of prayer--at three in the afternoon." We already read at the end of chapter 2 that these new believers were meeting regularly in the temple courts, as well as in various homes. This is a day like any other day. But Peter saw a beggar waiting by the gate for a handout and said to him, I don't have money, but I'll give you what I have.... stand up and walk!
     What possessed Peter to say that? Clearly it was the leading of the Holy Spirit because the man, indeed, did get up and walk! We don't know if this was the first time Peter had healed someone. We don't even know how much time has passed. We only know Peter healed him. I love watching the movies of the gospels and Acts (the ones that are word for word from the Bible, especially) and in this place the look on John's face is incredulous. Evidently he didn't get the same message! You can see him wondering if Peter's lost his mind!
    Just as Jesus used his miracles as a springboard for his message, Peter now does the same thing. He delivers another sermon to the "Men of Israel"  again pointing out their part in Christ's death, but focusing on his resurrection. Jesus didn't stay dead. In fact, it's Jesus who healed this man standing before you. Again Peter uses the Old Testament, quoting Moses, and summarizing that "all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have foretold these days." [3:24]
     At this point the captain of the Temple guard and the Sadducees seized Peter and John and put them in jail. In 4:5 we find the same men questioning them as were involved in the arrest, trial and death of Jesus! But we do not find Peter and John cowering and hiding. The are bold and sure of the truth. "It is by the name of Jesus of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed."
     That's very bold. Not only do they accuse these leaders of the wrongful death of Jesus, but they bring up that controversial subject, resurrection. These men don't even believe there is such a thing as resurrection. It's a point of division between the Sadducees and the Pharisees. Death is the end. It's against all they believe.
     Peter and John are changed men. No greater testament to the astounding effect of the Spirit is written than the words of 4:13, "When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus."
     Jesus told the disciples they were going to do greater things than He did. Look at what they are doing in chapters 3 and 4 and remember: this is only the beginning.