There are two unique expressions of love in Acts 3. The first occurs when Peter and John meet a man crippled from birth who spent his days begging outside the temple court. Acts 3:4 says, "Peter looked straight at him, as did John." We have a way of not looking at the poor, the needy, the crippled, but the text specifically tells us that both Peter and John looked at him. That's significant enough to be recorded in the text. The early church was known as a people who love, particularly a people who loved the unlovely.

The second act of love is found in the message Peter preaches to the crowds who gather after the crippled man is healed. Peter reminds them that they are the ones who forced Pilate to crucify Jesus even when he could find no fault in him. Peter reminds them, "You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life..." (Acts 3:14-15a) But then the surprising thing is that he follows with these words, "Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders" and, "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord." (Verses 17 & 19) This is love, an offer of forgiveness and refreshing for those who sent Jesus to the most horrific death the Romans had to offer. Certainly those scenes must still be fresh in Peter's mind, yet he offers forgiveness. The church was a people of love for the unlovely and forgiveness for the unforgivable. When did we forget this?

It seems that we are often more interested these days in our rights, our safety and our comfort rather than the spiritual and physical needs of the unlovely and unforgivable. May God restore to us, to me, the heart of Jesus that we see here in Peter and John.

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If you are interested in reading these blogs in hard copy, check out the following:

Blogging Through the Pentateuch
Blogging Through the Gospels and Acts