_Now Peter and John._ PETER AND JOHN The union of the two brings the narratives of the Gospels into an interesting connection with the Acts. They were probably about the same age (the idea that Peter was some years older than John rests mainly on the pictures which artists have drawn from their ima... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_The gate of the temple which is called Beautiful._ THE GATE BEAUTIFUL In our ignorance of the topography of Jerusalem and the temple, it is not possible to determine with absolute certainty which of the many gates of the temple was distinguished by this name. According to Josephus, “There were nin... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us._ THE RECIPROCAL GAZE The gaze was one which read character in the expression of the man’s face, and discerned that he had faith to be healed (verse 16). And he, in his turn, was to look on them that he might read in their pitying... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee._ WEALTH IN POVERTY What a remarkable combination of poverty which can give nothing, with power which can do almost anything! “Silver and gold have I none”--then we are ready at once to class him with the men from whom no... [ Continuer la lecture ]
AND HE LEAPING UP STOOD_._ THE HEALED MAN’S ACTIVITY AND GRATITUDE The evangelist describes minutely the actions of the lame man as soon as he began to believe that he was healed. First he leaped forth, releasing himself from the hold of Peter, or leaped up, as if trying the strength of his muscle... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_All the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering._ SOLOMON’S PORCH The porch--or better, portico or cloister--was outside the temple, on the eastern side. It consisted in the Herodian Temple, of a double row of Corinthian columns, about thirty-seven fe... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_The God of Abraham … hath glorified His Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up._ ST. PETER’S TESTIMONY I. The vindication of Christianity from a Jewish standpoint. “The God of Abraham,” etc., not God generally considered, but God in relations acknowledged by the Jews--the God of Abraham, as such, had glo... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_And His name through faith in His name hath made this man strong._ THE POWER OF FAITH Faith in the name of Jesus is faith in Himself. The result of its exercise here was a manifest continuance of what Jesus “began to do” in the way of healing, and on the same condition. I. Faith moved Peter to s... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_Repent ye therefore and be converted._ APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION I. The Apostle Bade Men Repent And Be Converted. 1. Repent signifies, in its literal meaning, to change one’s mind. It has been translated “after-wit,” or “after-wisdom”; it is the man’s finding out that he is wrong, and rectifying his... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_And He shall send Jesus._ THE MISSIONARY CHRIST A missionary is “one sent.” Jesus was a missionary when He came to save; He will be a missionary when He comes to judge. These missions have been loosely termed the First and Second Advents as though there were no others. But if the Old Testament th... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_Whom the heavens must receive until the times of restitution of all things._ TIMES OF RESTITUTION OF ALL THINGS The “times” seem distinguished from the “seasons” as more permanent. This is the only passage in which the word translated “restitution” is found in the New Testament; nor is it found in... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_For Moses truly said unto your fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you … like unto me._ THE PROMISED PROPHET Note-- I. The appropriateness of God revealing Himself through a human being. For man is the Divine image, and hence God reveals Himself to man through a man, otherwi... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_Ye are the children of the prophets and of the covenant._ THE CHILDREN OF THE COVENANT, THE SAVIOUR’S FIRST CARE I. All who have been dedicated to God by believing parents, are children of the covenant which God has made with their parents, and especially with Abraham, the great father of the fai... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_Unto you first God, having raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you._ SENT TO BLESS YOU I. God sent Jesus to bless us. We should have thought that after the Jews had slain the prophets, God would have had no more to do with them; or that if He sent His own Son, it would be to take vengeance... [ Continuer la lecture ]