3-10-21 THOUGHTS

In the early part of Acts, Peter preaches a couple of powerful sermons!  The one we are least familiar with follows.  Peter and John were going to the temple when they paused to heal a lame man, “lame from his mother’s womb.”   Acts 3:11  While he was clinging to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the so-called portico of Solomon, full of amazement.               We continue...
Acts 3:12-24    But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, "Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? 13  "The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. 14  "But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15  but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses. 16  "And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all. 17  "And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also. 18  "But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19  "Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; 20  and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, 21  whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. 22  "Moses said, ‘THE LORD GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN; TO HIM YOU SHALL GIVE HEED to everything He says to you. 23  ‘And it will be that every soul that does not heed that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ 24  "And likewise, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and his successors onward, also announced these days.                

  [Compare Acts 3:19 with Acts 2:38., exact same structure.]
Rom 3:21-23    But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,  22  even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
[Expositions Of The Holy Scriptures: Maclaren]  “Barabbas is set against Christ; the Holy One and the Just against a robber, the Prince of Life against a murderer.  ‘You killed’ — ’the Prince of Life.’ ‘You killed’ — ’God raised.’”      
The MESSAGE IS AWESOME!  

My Prayer:
We praise you O God for the times of refreshing that come from your presence. Thank you for your righteousness shown in Jesus. How marvelous that our sins have been wiped away.
In the blessed name of the one who saves us           Amen