Big Ideas
The Apostles were given a unique power and authority to heal the sick and the lame. How did people in the early Church come to realize that the Apostles had been given a unique power and authority to teach the Gospel? One of the ways their Gospel teaching and preaching was vindicated was through publicly witnessed miraculous healings. While there are a number of miraculous healings performed by the Apostles in the book of Acts, it is important to understand that not everyone was healed and that this special role was uniquely assigned to the Apostles.
Miraculous healings are not the point. Jesus is the point. It is easy to be distracted by the stories of miraculous healing in Acts. However, in every instance of a miraculous healing, the Apostles point away from themselves and the miracle that was performed. Instead, they use the healing to point people to Jesus. They clearly identify Jesus as the One who heals and they urge those who witnessed the miracle to put their trust in him.
Gospel preaching is not soft. This is the second sermon we have read so far in our study of Acts. Just like the first sermon, Peter boldly preached hard truths about Jesus. First, Peter connected Jesus with the entire Old Testament narrative. Second, Peter identified the specific sins of the people. Third, Peter proclaimed both the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Rather than appealing to the felt needs of the crowd, Peter boldly proclaimed the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
"...how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will." Hebrews 2:3b-4 (ESV)
Study Questions
1. How would the miraculous healings performed by the Apostles have helped to authenticate their message?
2. What danger might there be in ignoring the miracles in Acts? What danger might there be in overemphasizing the miracles in Acts?
3. Acts records the first sermons the New Testament Church ever heard. How would you describe these sermons? How should Peter’s sermons shape our expectations for preaching in the Church today?