Acts 3:11-26 Apostolic Speaking
11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s, astounded. 12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people, “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? 13 The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16 And his name, by faith in his name, has made this man strong whom you see and know; and the faith which is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
17 “And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for establishing all that God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old. 22 Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet from your brethren as he raised me up. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. 23 And it shall be that every soul that does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ 24 And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came afterwards, also proclaimed these days. 25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God gave to your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your posterity shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ 26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you in turning every one of you from your wickedness.”
Once again, Peter speaks to the crowds, but this time to respond not to their mockery as on Pentecost (“they are filled with new wine”), but to their adulation. The people in the Temple (Solomon’s portico was probably on the east side) had clearly seen a miracle in the healing of the lame man who was now walking, leaping and praising God, incapable of restraining himself in his joy. The crowds of pious temple-goers instantly turned the apostles into spiritual rock stars.
Note then the humility of Peter. Where in times past, during Jesus’ earthly ministry, he and all the apostles had looked for special status, now they automatically shift all focus away from themselves and on to faith in the crucified and risen “Author of Life,” or better the “Leader to life.” There is zero hint of seeking to be seen as specially chosen, wonder-working gurus. They are merely witnesses who attest to what they have seen and heard.
Note too how gently Peter preaches repentance. He stresses that the crowds acted out of ignorance, but now they have the possibility of a new start, that all their sins can be blotted out and that in Christ they will have the times of refreshment for which their souls long. This means much more than spiritual peace in this life alone: “Here Peter speaks obscurely of the Resurrection,” says Saint John Chrysostom. “For those are indeed times of refreshing which Paul also looked for, when he said, “For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened” (2 Cor 5:4).
I once heard a marketing expert say, “People buy what you believe.” Similarly, Metropolitan Anthony Bloom, giving advice on preaching, told his clergy, “If what you say warms your heart, then it will warm the hearts of others as well.” Peter’s preaching touches hearts because he knows by experience that of which he speaks.
Finally, lest we think that the apostolic example has little to do with us today, St John Chrysostom says that as Christians we should be known for speaking “apostolic” just as Greeks and “barbarians” are known by their respective languages. “Let us then be known by speaking like the Apostles; by speaking like the angels.”
At the Chancery
There’s a full day ahead of us at the chancery. At 9:00 the officers meet with Metropolitan Tikhon. At 10:00, members of the Department of Christian Service and Humanitarian Aid will begin a day-long meeting. Later, a consultant architect will be visiting to give advice on possibilities for improving the housing the archives.