Tag Archives: Peter and John

Peter and John Encountered Simon

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Acts 8:18-23

Now when Simon [see verses 9-13] saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 “You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 “Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 “For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.”

This fellow Simon had been practicing magic (some kind of divination and of the occult), but supposedly he was saved and baptized by Philip’s preaching. And when he saw the miracles done by Philip he was amazed, and I suppose he wanted to do the same (vv. 9-13).

Well, then when Peter and John also were laying their hands on some, and by that act they were receiving the Holy Spirit (and they may have received some gift of the Holy Spirit), this Simon was again amazed and wanted to do the same. But this time he offered Peter money, thinking that he could buy this authority.

Well, Peter immediately set him straight and told him that his heart was not right—that it was wicked. Apparently, some of that wickedness from his past life was still with him; and Peter advised him to repent of it so that he would be forgiven and cleansed of it. But Simon did not feel strong enough to pray for himself, so he asked Peter to pray for him. We don’t know what happened to Simon or if he was ever a true believer.

Peter and John Obeyed God rather than Men

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Acts 4:13, 19-20

Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus…

19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; 20 for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 

This text, as you can see, comes directly after Peter’s reply to the Jewish leaders (verses 8-12). Their amazement was not so much that they were involved in a miraculous healing, but rather that they, being uneducated, could speak so well; and they recognized that they spoke with the same authority as Jesus; and thus, they perceived that it was because they spent so much time with Him. To this we also must be amazed and recognize that our best knowledge and learning will come by being around godly people—in addition to reading and memorizing Scripture.

In verses 14 through 18, we have what we may call a conundrum among the leaders. They didn’t know what to do with the evidence of the healing and all of what Peter and John said. But it was certain that they could not allow what had happened to continue.

Why? I suppose because they feared what would happen to their own ruling power. And certainly, Satan was controlling them. But Peter and John knew what to do. They knew that God was a greater authority. They must obey God rather than men; they must continue to speak all the words of God and to obey Him.

Peter and John Jailed for Preaching about Jesus

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Acts 4:5-12

On the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; 6 and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent. 7 When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people, 9 if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead — by this name this man stands here before you in good health. 11 “He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone.  12 “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

Immediately after Peter (with John) gave his message to the people (Acts 3:11-26), priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees came and put Peter and John in jail for preaching about Jesus (mainly for proclaiming His resurrection; for the Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection).

On the next day (v. 5), they questioned Peter and John as to what gave them the authority to speak about Jesus the way they did. Well, I imagine that Peter immediately recognized his open door to preach to them. And Peter was indeed filled with the Spirit and held nothing back, He proclaimed Jesus as the healer of the sick man and as the chief cornerstone which they rejected. Then, to put a cap on it, Peter told them that they could be saved by no other name except by Jesus Christ. Peter certainly was filled with the Holy Spirit—which became evident by his great boldness.

Peter Takes an Opportunity to Preach

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Acts 3:11-26

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. 12 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. 25 “It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘AND IN YOUR SEED ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED.’ 26 “For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.”

When the people saw how the man was healed and were amazed, Peter quickly shut it down, taking no credit for the healing; but he gave all the credit to Jesus—having faith in Him.

Then, starting in verse 17, Peter began a gospel presentation, declaring how Christ suffered as prophesied and how they must repent and return to God, that their sins would be forgiven. This is usually where we end our gospel presentation. But Peter when on in verses 19 through 21, to speak of the Millennial Kingdom, which Jesus will bring about; it will be times of refreshing and of the restoration of all things. Peter also spoke of Moses and Samuel and his successors that have announced the coming of Christ and the blessings He would bring.

So, we see that Peter is getting a great start in his ministry. He certainly is turning out to be a man of great faith, and a great preacher and teacher. And many are following him as they followed Jesus.

Peter and John Brought Healing to a Man

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Acts 3:1-10

Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer. 2 And a man who had been lame from his mother’s womb was being carried along, whom 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. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms. 4 But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, “Look at us!” 5 And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “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!” 7 And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. 8 With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God; 10 and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Everything in this text is pretty straight forward. But I have to say with great amazement that Peter (with John) acted just like Jesus would have done. And his healing ability was very Christlike—nothing lacking.