As we noted last week, shortly after the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, appeals were presented in an effort to overturn the decision of the “court” made up of Israel’s religious leaders, the jeering crowds, and even the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate. Although the sentence of “death” could not be retracted, at least there was a chance that the opinion of those who made up the “court” could be reversed. And that’s exactly what the Apostle Peter attempted to do in Jerusalem shortly after Jesus’ ascension into heaven.  

Last week, we looked at Peter’s first “appeal” to the Jewish people on the day of Pentecost (or Shavuot). Today, we will focus on Peter’s second appeal, which occurred a short time later. Luke tells us that as Peter and John were going up to the Temple for prayer,

“A certain man who had been lame from his mother’s womb was being carried along who they used to set down every day at the gate of the Temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the Temple” (Acts 3:2).

As you might expect, when this lame man saw Peter and John going into the Temple, he asked them for some “alms,” to which Peter replied,

“I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: in the name of Jesus Christ, the Nazarene – Walk!” (Acts 3:6).

At that point, Peter took him by the hand, and with his feet and ankles strengthened,

“…with a leap, he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the Temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God” (Acts 3:8).

What a scene that must have been — A man, lame since birth, suddenly “walking” and “leaping” for joy in the presence of all. Of course, everyone noticed that this was the same man who used to beg at the Temple gate and as a result,

“…they were all filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him” (Acts 3:10).

As you might expect, this miracle provided another opportunity for Peter to make an appeal to the crowds regarding Jesus. Let’s see how Peter began his second appeal,

“Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered up and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him” (Acts 3:12-13).

Wow! Peter did not sugar-coat Jesus’ arrest, trial, and crucifixion. He placed the blame not on Pilate, but squarely on the shoulders of the religious leaders and the rest of the crowd whom they had whipped up into a frenzy to have Jesus crucified. Instead of allowing Pilate to release Him, Peter went on to say,

“You disowned the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, but put to death the Prince of Life, the One whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are all witnesses” (Acts 3:14-15).

Notice how Peter identified Jesus as the “Prince of Life,” and then pointed directly at the resurrection as confirmation of the fact that He was, and is, God’s Son, the Messiah. Peter goes on to mention the fact that it was by faith in His name that the lame man was healed, and that even though all of the prophets in the Old Testament pointed to the fact that the Messiah would suffer, they had Him crucified “in ignorance.”

If you recall last week, after Peter’s first appeal, the crowds were “pierced to the heart” and asked Peter what they should do, to which Peter replied, “REPENT!” Well, in this second appeal, Peter sensed that with the preaching of the gospel, they were surely “pierced to the heart,” and so he went directly to the response required by God for their sins to be forgiven — “REPENT.” Let’s look more closely at Peter’s invitation,

“Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).

In short, repentance from sin results in the forgiveness of sin, and because of that, all those who repent will experience the refreshment that comes from the presence of the Lord. A miracle provided an opportunity for Peter to share the truth about Jesus and his unjust trial that resulted in His crucifixion and subsequent resurrection. As Peter’s words brought conviction to those listening to him, they needed to know how to respond, and so Peter simply told them to “REPENT.”  

But that’s not all, because as they were speaking, the religious leaders brought the Temple guards who dragged Peter and John off to jail. End of story? Hardly! While Peter and John went to jail, Luke just happened to mention this important fact about Peter’s second appeal,

“Many of those who heard Peter’s message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand” (Acts 4:4).

Peter’s two appeals following Jesus’ unjust trial, crucifixion, and resurrection were bearing fruit, abundant fruit. Peter and John would later be released and stand before the religious leaders, including the High Priest. But Peter wasn’t finished yet. I hope you will join me next week as we look at Peter’s third appeal. In the meantime, I pray that you will take Peter’s message to heart. If you have never repented, why not take this opportunity to do so. As Peter assures us, it will bring peace and “refreshment” to your soul.