Peter’s Message of Repentance

Acts 3:11–26
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God’s supernatural healing, of the crippled man amazed the crowd at the temple (v. 11). Peter took this opportunity to direct their attention to Christ, giving God the glory (vv. 12-13). He preached Jesus to them, the one they had rejected and crucified, the one God raised from the dead (vv. 14-16). These people knew the scriptures, and they knew the events surrounding Jesus’s death on the cross. They had chosen to kill the Author of Life. The healing of the lame man was accomplished through faith in Jesus’s name. Two ordinary fishermen could not have done this without God being involved. The beggar was living (and leaping) proof. Peter stressed three things in his preaching: 

(1) the severity of the crime – Christ’s murder was the greatest crime in human history 

(2) the importance of the resurrection – the foundation of the church

(3) the Power of the Risen Lord – Christians are empowered by God

Peter combined mercy with a warning (vv. 17-23). The people had killed their savior in ignorance, but that ignorance was no longer possible. They had lost their excuse for further rejection of Jesus. A new discovery of truth should result in a new life of faith (v. 19a). A true repentance, “a change of mind” should result in “a change of life”. It involves a change of mind about us, our sin, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance brings with it refreshment in the presence of Jesus (vv. 19-20). At Conversion, our past sins are washed away. We no longer need to live in guilt and shame (vv. 19b-21). Peter spoke of Moses and Abraham, but he didn’t let the national blessings take the place of the personal responsibility for each person to repent. Notice verse 26.

Application

Peter had an audience and he capitalized on the opportunity. I need to pray that I will see the opportunities God gives to me and use them to speak up for Christ.