Acts 3:12-19 (NRSV)
Read Acts 3:12-19 on biblegateway.com
Verse 12When Peter saw it, he addressed the people, "You Israelites, 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? Verse 13The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him. Verse 14But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you, Verse 15and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. Verse 16And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you. Verse 17"And now, friends, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. Verse 18In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. Verse 19Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out,
Devotion
This week's readings begin with Peter addressing a crowd of Israelites, and the text invites us to wonder with the Israelites. Peter and John have just healed a man who had been unable to walk, and Peter asks the crowd, "Why do you wonder at this?" Well, because it's a wondrous thing to behold! It's not every day one gets to see such a transformation, and wonder seems a natural response.
Peter and John have just recently seen an even greater transformation. Their teacher and Lord has risen from the dead! Now, they want to be sure everyone knows that it's God who does these mighty things. It isn't by their own power that the man now walks, but by the power of God, who has been working wonders since the days of Abraham and Sarah, and who continues such wonders even today. What a joy that God includes us in this great work!
Prayer
Wondrous God, you kept impossible promises to Abraham and Sarah, you sent your Son to defeat the power of death and you worked through the apostles to heal and teach. Help us to see how you continue to work through us, that we may proclaim your kingdom in all we do; through Jesus Christ, our victorious Lord. Amen.