Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Saturday, May 25, 2013 Read – Acts 3:11-26 The actions of Peter and John bring together a crowd of people who Luke tells us where “utterly astonished” at what had happened. When people come together it is time to proclaim. Mighty acts are meaningless unless proclamation is made to interpret them. Luke maintains a strong connection between action and proclamation. In today’s reading we hear another of the speeches of Peter. The first thing we need to notice is that the core pattern is repeated. Jesus, “whom you handed over and rejected … God has raised from the dead” (Acts 3:13-15). Peter says that he knows it was out of ignorance that the people did this (Acts 3:17), but now is the time for repentance so that sins might be wiped out (Acts 3:19). This is the core message – the message repeated in all of the speeches in Acts as we have noticed. Beyond this core message comes the detail of this particular incident. Once again, Peter states with utmost clarity that it is not by his or John’s power that this man has been healed. God has acted. The God who has acted is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – the God all Jews worship. It is by faith in this God that this man is healed. Credit does not go to any of the followers of Jesus – they are merely vehicles through whom God acts. The fact that Peter and John have done this in Jesus name vindicates and authenticates Jesus as the Messiah. The very one whom the people have murdered even though he was innocent and Pilate sought to release is the one who is now acting. It is only because God has vindicated Jesus by raising him from the dead that this great act could be done. We can imagine the people asking again – “What are we to do now?” Just as at the time of Pentecost the only proper response is to repent. And God is gracious – God will forgive. In fact, it is for this very reason that God has sent Jesus. Luke’s connection of the mighty act with proclamation helps Luke’s readers to a deeper insight – the man’s healing is wonderful, but it is secondary to the greater result. The man is healed so that repentance might be proclaimed. The healing is not just about the man – it is in order that the core message might be repeated once again – “this Jesus who you crucified God raised from the dead and now repentance and salvation is available in his name!” Peter now points to another OT passage – the proclamation of Moses that God would raise up a prophet like Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15). Jesus fulfills these words of Moses – God has raised Jesus up. When Jesus was brought to the Temple for circumcision, Simeon had said that he would cause the “rise and fall of many in Israel” (Luke 2:34). Peter’s words are ominous and repeat Simeon’s message – “everyone who does not listen will be utterly rooted out” (Acts 3:23). The action of the followers of Jesus, just like the actions of Jesus, will meet either with repentance and acceptance or they will be rejected. Peter’s plea is for acceptance. We will see how people react to what has happened. If we remember the reception of Jesus in Nazareth, we can anticipate that not everyone will find favor in what the followers of Jesus have done. That is the topic for tomorrow’s reading.