Being a Good Witness for Christ | Acts 3:1-26
Through Peter’s example Luke shows us five necessary ingredients of being a good witness for Christ: (1) attention; (2) compassion; (3) confrontation; (4) invitation; and (5) explanation. This sermon is part 6 of “Building the Church,” Bryan Craddock’s verse-by-verse sermon series on Acts 1-7.
Have you ever taken a bite of a cookie and realized that something wasn’t right? There might be too much of one ingredient or not enough of another. You may not be able to identify the problem, but you have tasted good cookies before. You know how good they can be, and this isn’t it. So, you set it aside and wait for a better batch.
But what if you don’t know that cookies can taste better? What if this is your first time trying one? What a disappointment! Why all the hype? You might conclude that cookies are never good and that the people who like them are weird. That’s okay. It just leaves more good cookies for the rest of us!
I think something similar happens with Christianity. Christians are called to bear witness to the saving power of Jesus. We should give people a taste of his goodness. But we are prone to leave out some ingredients of his character and overemphasize others. That leaves some people confused about all the hype. They conclude that Christianity is weird. But that’s not okay! It can hinder them from hearing the sweet saving truth of the gospel.
The New Testament book of Acts recounts the powerful witnessing that built the early church. In Acts 2:47, Luke tells us that the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. But how was that happening? What were those conversations like? We find out in chapter 3. Luke shows us five necessary ingredients of being a good witness for Christ through Peter’s example.
So, if you have a negative impression of Christianity, this chapter might help you see that your perception is based upon some bad cookies. Sadly, there are a lot of them out there, and we will see why that is the case as we make our way through this passage. But I encourage you to recalibrate your taste buds. If you are a believer, then ask yourself if you are faithfully following this recipe for the glory of Christ.
Attention
For centuries, people have put blinders on horses to help them stay focused. With their broad field of vision, they can easily become distracted or frightened by things going on around them. It would be nice if it were that simple for us to stay focused. But our problem is different.
Our distractions and fears often come from within. We can become so caught up in our own thoughts, feelings, desires, and goals that they blind us to what is happening around us. But to be a good witness for Christ, we must set aside those internal blinders to pay attention to others as he did.
In Acts 3:1-2, Luke sets the stage for a demonstration of this characteristic. He tells us,
Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple.
The apostles had a clear spiritual goal in mind. They were heading up the path to the temple to worship and pray during the second daily sacrifice that took place every day around three o’clock. Many others were probably walking in the same direction. It was the busy traffic that made this gate a good spot for beggars like this man who had never been able to walk.
We are not sure which temple gate was called “Beautiful” or why it was given that name. It is only used here in Acts, and scholars suggest at least three possible locations for it. It may have had fancy artwork or golden doors. But the collection of needy people there showed the ugly reality of life in a fallen world.
The sights and sounds must have been overwhelming, but the apostles did not ignore it all to stay on track with their plan for the day. In Acts 3:3-5, Luke speaks of this man and says,
Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us." And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.
Luke uses a rapid-fire series of words related to sight, and that seems significant. The man saw Peter and John. Peter directed his gaze at him and said, “Look at us.” Then the man fixed his attention on them. How can there be any significant interaction between people without seeing each other and making this kind of connection first?
The Gospels make a similar observation about Jesus. In Matthew 5:1, the account of the Sermon on the Mount begins by saying, “Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain.” What was it that he saw? Matthew 9:36 tells us,
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
What do you see as you go through life? Are you paying attention to people? Are we looking at them through the lens of self? Or do we see them as Jesus did? To be a good witness we must start by paying attention. That leads us to a second ingredient.
Compassion
Sometimes life leads you through places and situations where you want to move on as quickly as possible. It might be unpleasant or even dangerous. Jesus told a story about the road from Jerusalem down to Jericho where robbers attacked a man and left him half dead. It’s recorded in Luke 10:29-37. He said that a priest and a Levite passed by and ignored the man to hurry on their way. Then verses 33-34 tell us that he said,
But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.
Despite the delay, the cost, and the potential danger (the robbers might have still been nearby), the Samaritan’s compassion led him to act. But that was just a story. The real example of compassion leading to action is found in Jesus. He befriended sinful people that everyone else looked down upon. He healed people when it provoked the anger of the religious leaders. He even gave his life to save sinners like you and me. So, to be a good witness, we too must demonstrate compassion in action.
The apostles had a unique ability to help people. The Lord enabled them to perform miracles to validate their ministry. But as Luke tells us about Peter healing the man at the temple who has never been able to walk, he gives us hints of his compassion. In Acts 3:6-7, he says,
But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.
Now Peter did not need to take the man by the hand to heal him. The miracle would have still taken place. But that personal touch communicated care, connection, and perhaps even fellowship. So, the man sticks with them as they go into the temple. In verses 8-11, Luke says,
And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon's.
The man could have run off to tell his family and friends. But a bond was formed between him and the apostles. He stayed with them and praised God for his healing. Even as they made their way to this porch where people gathered, he was still clinging to them.
We may not be able to heal people, but do we show compassion in tangible ways? Are we willing to reach out? Do we give time and money to meet needs? Compassion is necessary for us to be good witnesses for Christ. The world is attracted to it, but that highlights the need for a third ingredient.
Confrontation
There is something addictive about applause. It instantly satisfies our craving for attention and approval without the risks of real relationships. It used to be reserved for performers and politicians, but in our digital age that drug is available to everyone through social media. There does not seem to be any limit to the depths that people will go to get more, abandoning their convictions, adopting trendy ideas, sacrificing friendships, and even violating their own dignity.
Did Peter feel the pull of that temptation as the crowd gathered to see the man that he had healed? Did he consider softening the hard truths of the gospel to keep from squelching their enthusiasm? If so, there is no indication of it. He knew that confrontation is a necessary ingredient for being a good witness.
Peter turns their attention to Jesus, contrasting who he is with how they treated him. In verses 12-13, Luke tells us,
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 have made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.
Peter does not claim any credit for healing the man. God’s approval is the only one that matters, and Jesus lived to serve him. So, this miracle was a sign that the God of Israel has glorified him. But the crowd was at odds with God’s assessment. They went along with their leaders in delivering Jesus to Pilate and calling for his crucifixion, even when Pilate gave them the opportunity to spare him.
They needed to accept responsibility for what happened to Jesus, so Peter keeps pressing them. According to verses 14-15, he says,
But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.
Peter identifies Jesus as the one who fulfills Messianic prophecy. He already hinted at this in verse 13 by calling him a servant. Isaiah 53 foretold the coming of a suffering servant, and verse 11 of that chapter speaks of “the righteous one” who makes many to be accounted righteous as he bears their iniquity. In Psalm 16:10, David foretold the resurrection by saying that the holy one would not see corruption.
Instead of honoring Jesus’ holiness and righteousness, the Jewish people committed the ultimate injustice by asking for the murderer Barrabas to be set free. Peter asserts that this decision made them responsible for killing the one who is the “Author” or “Prince” of life. This title is not used anywhere else. It points to Christ’s role in both creation and salvation. John 1:3-4 links the two by saying that all things were made through him and in him was life.
Even though they killed Jesus, God raised him to life, and the power of that life was put on display in this miraculous healing. But something else was happening that also exposed their guilt. Luke has not said anything about it thus far in the story, but Peter asserts that this man chose to believe. Verse 16 tells us that he said,
And his name--by faith in his name--has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
The man began to trust in Jesus and was healed because of it, but the crowd needed to see that their treatment of Jesus was rooted in sinful unbelief. Why is this recognition so important? It is because people must see their need for a Savior. We hear this logic in 1 John 1:9-10, where John says,
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Do you confess your sins of disobedience and disbelief? Do you accept full responsibility for them and their consequences? Do you recognize that Jesus died for those sins? That’s not easy to hear. But are you willing to confront others with that truth even though they may reject you because of it? Confrontation is a necessary ingredient in being a good witness, but it must be accompanied by a fourth ingredient.
Invitation
A diseased plant can sometimes be saved by pruning infected branches. But overzealous gardeners might go too far. They can remove so much foliage that the plant can no longer absorb the sun’s life-giving rays. Their effort to help it ends up hastening its death.
There is a similar danger with confrontation. It is absolutely necessary for someone to be saved. But if we are overzealous about it, people only hear angry, self-righteous condemnation. That is an easy trap to fall into, because it makes us feel morally superior. But when we succumb to that temptation, our behavior blocks out the life-giving rays of the gospel. So, our witness must include the hope of invitation.
As strong and direct as Peter’s confrontation was in Acts 3:12-16, his tone begins to soften in verses 17-18.
And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.
You could argue that their ignorance was willful. They stubbornly refused to listen to what Jesus had to say. But that is not the point that Peter is making here. He is suggesting that they can respond differently. He is showing that Jesus fulfills the hope of biblical prophecy.
He identifies three strands of that hope. But he ties it to a specific invitation. He calls them to change course. In verse 19, he says,
Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,
The first strand of hope is that those who repent have their sins blotted out or wiped away. The term suggests the image of a book where all your sins are recorded. But by God’s grace that record can be erased through the suffering of Jesus. So, why does this forgiveness of our sins matter? Peter continues in verses 20-21 by saying,
that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.
Some only see one strand of hope here. They conclude that both verses speak of the end times. But I suspect that “times of refreshing” may refer to the present work of the Holy Spirit. He is the second strand of hope. As we saw in Acts 2:38, Peter invited people to receive the gift of the Spirit. Ezekiel 36:26-27 foretold that his coming would give people a new heart and enable them to obey God’s commands. When people repent, true change is possible through the refreshing work of the Spirit.
The third strand of hope is the return of Christ, and Peter says that he will restore all things. At the time, most Jews probably just wanted Israel to become an independent kingdom again. But the prophets foretold something far greater. The curse that began in Eden will end. Conflict will cease (Isa 11:6-9). Death will stop (Isa 25:8). People will all know the Lord and worship him. This is the ultimate hope, but Jesus made it clear that only those who repent will be allowed to enter his kingdom (Matt 4:17; 18:3).
Perhaps we fail to extend Christ’s invitation to repentance because we don’t want some people to have hope. We find their views and their behavior detestable. We see them as enemies, so we would rather gloat over coming judgment. But that attitude suggests that we don’t really understand the gospel ourselves. We’ve become self-righteous like the Pharisees. We need to heed what Jesus told them. Matthew 23:13 tells us that he said,
But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.
So, a hopeful sense of invitation is necessary not only for us to be good witnesses for Christ but for our own understanding of the gospel. That leads us to one more ingredient.
Explanation
I first responded to a gospel invitation on a Wednesday night, a few weeks before I turned 16. It was a large youth event, and at least a hundred other teenagers came forward to the front of the church after the speaker’s emotional plea. Many of them began to get involved in the church’s youth ministry, but within a few months there were only a few of us left.
Jesus pictures that reality in his parable of the sower and the four soils (Matt 13:3-9; 18-23). Sometimes the word fails to take root or gets choked out. But in the case of those teens, part of the problem may have been that many of them made a purely emotional decision. My response, however, was the culmination of three months of exposure to weekly Bible teaching. The Lord prepared me to understand the commitment that I was making.
So, to be a good witness for Christ, we need to work hard at explaining the truth for people, and Peter models this effort in Acts 3. He follows up his invitation with solid biblical arguments. He starts in verses 22-23 by saying,
Moses said, 'The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.'
The Old Testament, as we know it, was often called the Law and the Prophets. In fact, some Jews at the time considered the Law to be more authoritative. So, Peter quotes from Deuteronomy 18:15-19 to show that Moses foretold the coming of another prophetic leader like himself. Though he does not say it explicitly, his point is that Jesus is that great prophet and that there will be consequences for those who do not heed him.
But he goes farther, showing that Israel’s entire existence anticipates the coming of Jesus. Verses 24-26 tell us that he said,
And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, 'And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.' God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness."
The Jewish people were all descended from Abraham. So, Israel’s existence and hope were all rooted in the covenant promise of blessing that God gave him. It is first described in Genesis 12:1-3 and then reiterated several times. Here Peter quotes Genesis 22:18.
When God called Moses, he gave him the Law to lead people into the promised blessing. But they failed to obey, so the prophets from Samuel onward kept looking forward to the ultimate realization of that blessing in the Messiah’s kingdom. Peter argues that Jesus came for that purpose. He will accomplish the ultimate restoration that Peter just mentioned in verse 21. But for his hearers to participate in it, they must turn from their wickedness to believe in him.
Most of Peter’s audience probably knew the Old Testament well. He draws upon that knowledge as he sites these passages. But as we interact with unbelieving people today, we may need to take much more time to patiently explain ideas like the authority of God, the problems of sin and judgment, and the need for salvation. In doing so, we should use Scripture as Peter does. Hebrews 4:12 describes its power by saying,
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
To be a good witness, we must prepare ourselves to explain the truths of the gospel from the Bible.
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As followers of Jesus Christ, our mission is to bear witness to him. To fulfill this calling well, we must pay attention to those around us, showing compassion in tangible ways. We must confront their sin and share the hopeful invitation to repent and believe in Christ, patiently explaining the hope of the gospel from God’s Word.
So, if you have never done so, I invite you to turn to Jesus. But as I mentioned earlier, you might not have heard the gospel this way before. It might have been communicated to you in a harsh, condescending tone or in an emotionally manipulative approach that pushed you away. If that’s the case, you need to understand that it wasn’t right. I encourage you to see the heart of Jesus for people. Chapter 9 in Matthew’s Gospel gives us great insight into him.
If you are following Jesus, how are you doing as a witness? Are these five ingredients present in your life? Which ones are most lacking? I encourage you to make a determined effort to grow in that area.
May we faithfully proclaim the hope of the gospel!
Reflect
How has this study changed your thoughts about witnessing?
What is your biggest challenge to being a good witness for Christ?
What steps could you take to grow in that area?