In Peter's answer, we see the open door through which all must pass who
desire to be saved in the Kingdom of God:
"Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ,
for the remission of your sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the
Holy Ghost."
Then those who believed what Peter had said, were baptized; and the
little band of one hundred and twenty grew that day to three thousand
one hundred and twenty. And every day thereafter, many others became
converted, and joined the Church.
THE MAN WHO HAD NEVER WALKED.
[Sidenote: The General Meeting Place.]
About three o'clock one afternoon Peter and John were going up to the
Temple to pray. Here they came every day to meet in one accord with
the saints, and then visit "from house to house; breaking bread." Thus
the Temple seems to have been the general meeting place for the first
followers of the Redeemer. It was His house, and there they liked
to gather to worship. The main entrance to the Temple was by way of
"Solomon's Porch" through a gate that was called "The beautiful Gate."
Here gathered all the poor people--the blind, the lame, the weak, and
those who were diseased--who lived by asking alms from those who came
to the Temple.
[Sidenote: An Appeal.]
On this particular afternoon, one of these made his piteous appeal to
Peter and John. He was a man forty years old, but he had never taken
a step in his life. Friends would carry him there in the morning, and
then carry him home at night. In answer to his request for money, Peter
said, "Look on us."
[Sidenote: The Answer.]
While the man was wondering how much money the apostles would give him,
Peter added, "Silver and gold have I none: but such as I have, give I
thee: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk."
Taking him by the right hand, Peter lifted him up, and immediately his
feet and ankle bones received strength.
The man was so happy that he went into the Temple leaping and praising
God for the great miracle that had come into his life.
Again the people were "filled with wonder and amazement," and gathered
in great numbers in "Solomon's Porch" staring at Peter and John,
wondering what kind of men they were.
[Sidenote: Another Powerful Address.]
Here Peter gave another great address in which he said that this man
was healed through faith in the name of Jesus Christ "whom God hath
glorified, whom ye delivered up and denied Him in the presence of
Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go.
"But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be
granted unto you; and killed the Prince of Life, whom God hath raised
from the dead; whereof we are witnesses." [2]
Footnotes:
1. Read the entire address as recorded in Acts 2:14-37.
2. Read Acts 3:2-26.
LESSON 12
PETER AND JOHN ARRESTED
"As no good is done, or spoken, or thought by any man without the
assistance of God, * * * so there is no evil done, or spoken, or
thought without the assistance of the devil."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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