Gospel Preaching In The First Century - Peter At Solomon’s Porch

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                "GOSPEL PREACHING IN THE FIRST CENTURY"

                        Peter At Solomon’s Porch

INTRODUCTION

1. From Peter’s first sermon we saw that gospel preaching in the first
   century involved...
   a. Proclaiming the death, burial, resurrection and lordship of Jesus
      Christ
   b. Calling on people to respond in faith, repentance, and baptism for
      the remission of sins

2. Now we turn our attention to Peter’s second recorded sermon...
   a. Found in chapter three of the book of Acts
   b. In which Peter has the opportunity to preach at Solomon’s porch

[As before, let’s first review the circumstances that led to the sermon
itself...]

I. THE SETTING

   A. PETER AND JOHN HAD GONE TO THE TEMPLE...
      1. Christians had been gathering daily in the temple - Ac 2:46
      2. Peter and John arrived at the "hour of prayer, the ninth hour"
         (3 p.m.) - Ac 3:1

   B. MAN LAME FROM BIRTH HAD BEEN HEALED...
      1. Who was left daily at the gate of the temple called "Beautiful"
         - Ac 3:2-3
         a. To ask alms from the people entering the temple
         b. Who asked Peter and John for alms
      2. Peter healed him in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth - Ac
         3:4-8
         a. The lame man expected alms
         b. But Peter offered him something much better than silver or
            gold!
         c. The miracle was immediate and total!

   C. CROWD HAD GATHERED...
      1. Drawn by the scene of the man walking, praising God - Ac 3:9
      2. Amazed and wondering, for they knew he had been lame from birth
         - Ac 3:10
      3. They gathered in the porch called Solomon’s - Ac 3:11
         a. A colonnaded area along the eastern wall of the temple area
            - ESVSB
         b. With double columns 38 feet tall, spanning 49 feet,
            supporting cedar ceilings - AYBD

[The similarity to the events in Acts 2 is apparent:  a miraculous event
occurs, it attracts the attention of the people.  As before, Peter uses
the opportunity to preach the gospel...]

II. THE SERMON

   A. JESUS PROCLAIMED AS MIRACLE EXPLAINED...
      1. Not by the power or godliness of Peter and John themselves - Ac
         3:12
      2. It was through faith in God’s Servant, Jesus - Ac 3:13-16
         a. Whom the God of their fathers had glorified!
         b. Whom they had delivered up and denied in the presence of
            Pilate!
         c. Whom they denied, asking for a murderer to be released in
            his stead!
         d. Whom God raised from the dead, as seen by witnesses!
         e. Whom Peter describes as the "Holy One," the "Just", the
            "Prince of Life"!
      3. Through faith in His name the lame man was healed - Ac 3:16
         a. Peter and John’s faith in Jesus, not the lame man’s faith
         b. For the lame man had not expected a miracle, but silver or
            gold - cf. Ac 3:4-7

   B. REPENTANCE COMMANDED AS IGNORANCE ACKNOWLEDGED...
      1. Peter admits they and their rulers acted in ignorance - Ac 3:17
      2. What occurred was foretold and fulfilled by God - Ac 3:18; cf.
         Ac 2:23
      3. Yet ignorance is no excuse, so they must "repent and be
         converted" - Ac 3:19
         a. Repent - change their minds their minds regarding Jesus and
            their sinful ways
         b. Convert - turn to God, which implies baptism - cf. Ac 2:38;
            1Pe 3:21
      4. Reasons to repent and turn to God are given - Ac 3:19-26
         a. That your sins may be blotted out (remitted) - cf. Ac 2:38
         b. That times of refreshing may come from the presence of the
            Lord (possibly referring to the gift of the Spirit)- cf. Ac
            2:38; Jn 7:37-39; Ga 4:6; 5:22-23
         c. That God may send Jesus Christ (a reference to His second
            coming)
            1) Who was preached to them before (via the prophets)
            2) Whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration
               of all things (of which the prophets of God had also
               spoken)
         d. They were sons of the prophets, and of the covenant God made
            with their fathers
            1) A covenant made with Abraham, to bless the world in his
               seed
            2) A promise fulfilled by God through His Servant Jesus,
               Whom He raised
               a) Who was sent by God to bless them
               b) To bless them by turning them away from their sins

   C. RESPONSE...
      1. A negative response by the religious leaders - Ac 4:1-3
      2. A positive response by many who heard (2000 believed) - Ac 4:4

CONCLUSION

1. Again we see that gospel preaching in the first century involved...
   a. Proclaiming the death, burial, resurrection and lordship of Jesus
      Christ
   b. Calling on people to respond with repentance (faith and baptism
      implied)
   c. Offering the remission of sins and refreshing gift of the Spirit

2. We also learn that it included proclaiming...
   a. The character of Jesus (Servant, Holy, Just, Prince of life,
      Christ, Prophet)
   b. The return of Jesus (i.e., His second coming)

The power of the gospel to convict the hearts of men continues to be
seen (5000 after two sermons).  Though with some, the effect appears to
be a hardening of their hearts.

How have you responded to the gospel preaching?  In faithful obedience,
or have you been hardening your heart by refusing to obey in faith,
repentance and baptism...?
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