(This Bible study is very lengthy and may be difficult to read in one sitting. For the convenience of the reader, we have provided a downloadable printer-ready PDF version. )

The third chapter of the book of Acts begins with Peter and John going to the temple in Jerusalem at the hour of prayer (Acts 3:1). The apostles came across a lame man at the gate who asked them for alms (verses 2-3). What are alms? Many will power through the first few verses of this chapter to get straight to the miracle performed in Jesus’ name. Alms are very important to think about because Jesus commanded His disciples to give alms!  

“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.² Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.³ But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:⁴ That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly” (Matt. 6:1-4) 

The key word in these verses is the word WHEN. This word signifies that the giving of alms is not optional. It is not an issue of IF but WHEN! Are you a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ? If so, you should be giving alms as the Lord commanded His disciples. But again, what are alms?  

According to the Strong’s Concordance, the word alm means compassionateness, i.e. (as exercised towards the poor) beneficence, or (concretely) a benefaction. The act of giving alms is about showing compassion to those who are poor or are in need. Giving alms is not exclusively about giving money. It is about filling a need for those who have needs. This concept is found in the law recorded by Moses. Read Ex. 23:10-11; Lev. 19:9-10; Lev. 25:35-36; and Deut. 15:1-15 where this principle of giving to the poor is promoted.  

Jesus amplifies these ideas written by Moses by saying, “Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.” (Matt. 5:42) 

The reason for focusing on this issue of giving alms is because human nature tends to turn inward during times of difficulty. God expects us to give to others rather than only being concerned with our own needs. Let me also say that this does not mean that your giving should cause disaster in your own life. What good does it do to destroy your family to help someone? When being charitable, be mindful not to give beyond what you are able (see Deut. 16:17.)  

Lastly, it is important to reflect on how charitable deeds performed in the name of God the Father and Jesus Christ can point others to God. This concept is exemplified in Matt. 5:16. All the good that you do as a Christian should glorify God the Father!!!  

Keeping Jesus’ Commands  

The issue of charity goes beyond the mere giving of goods to those who have need. It is also about providing for the spiritual needs of others. In Matthew 10, we see Jesus Christ instructing His twelve disciples that were to become His apostles (Matt. 10:1-6). Jesus told these men exactly what they should do.  

“And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.⁸ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.⁹ Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,¹⁰ Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.” (Matt. 10:7-10)  

This is exactly what we see Peter and John doing in Acts 3:6-7. Notice that Peter tells the lame man that he and John have no silver and gold. Jesus told them not to take silver and gold with them. Jesus also told them to heal the sick, raise the dead, and cast out devils, all of which you can read about in the book of the Acts of the Apostles. These men went about doing what they were instructed to do by the Lord Jesus Christ.  

They did not devise their own plans on how to preach “the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” They did exactly what Jesus told them to, right down to the smallest detail. Jesus said “freely ye have received, freely give.” This is a statement about charity. Jesus “gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.”  The apostles received this power for free and they received more power after receiving the Holy Spirit. They were instructed to use this power to help others. Humans naturally turn inward in times of persecution or difficulty, but the early Christians did the exact opposite of human nature. They faithfully kept the commands of Jesus!!! 

They were not told to take collections and erect houses of worship. They were told to travel and stay in the houses of those who were worthy. This is very different from what we see those who espouse to be the ministers of Jesus Christ doing today. Preaching the gospel does not require private planes, cars, buildings, personal studios, and all the other window dressing added by modern preachers. This statement is not to denigrate anyone, but to point out how many are more interested in showmanship rather than the purity of the gospel of the kingdom of God. Those who claim to be sent forth by the Lord Jesus Christ ought to proclaim His gospel exactly the way He instructed.  

As the world gets darker, Christians should do their best to avoid ministries that provide bread and circuses; that is entertainment rather than the unfiltered gospel. The book of Acts shows us that the true ministers of God have no need to use secular tactics to capture the attention of an audience. The early disciples of Jesus Christ preached the hardcore truth about the need for repentance and did not use clever and subtle arguments to convince people into being Christians. Those employing these tactics should be avoided even if their intentions are good. Remember, not everyone who calls Jesus Lord and does work in His name will enter His kingdom. That right is reserved for those who DO the will of the Father (Matt. 7:21-23). 

There is a tremendous amount of deception within ranks of those professing to be Christian. Jesus tells us to differentiate false Christians by their fruits (Matt. 7:15-20). Paul the apostle gave a similar warning to Timothy (2 Tim. 4:2-5). Paul assured Timothy that professing Christians would gather teachers to themselves to avoid hearing the hard truth. These so-called Christians would prefer to hear fables, and this is what we see happening in our time. (Also, keep in mind that this trend began during Paul’s era and has continued for nearly 2000 years.) Paul told Timothy to make full proof of his ministry by preaching the word in and out of season including reproving, rebuking, and exhorting with patience and doctrine. This describes the kind of minister you need to be associated with!!! Avoid all the t-shirts, hoodies, coffee mugs, bumper stickers, etc. which are merely ways of increasing the revenue streams of many ministries. Let others identify you as a Christian by who you are, not the “Christian” trinkets you keep around you. Stay clear of these ministries that are constantly trying to raise funds rather than freely providing a service to others. A ministry is not a business; it a service to God and man.  

In addition, Christian fellowship has absolutely nothing to do with communicating via social media platforms or downloading the cellphone application of your favorite ministry. The apostles sent personal letters (epistles) and personally visited the brethren without having access to cars, trains, planes, etc. They stayed in the homes of believers in the towns they visited. They ate dinner with them, built tents with them, prayed with them, and discussed scriptures late into the night. This is real fellowship. Remember, this is what Jesus told them to do when He trained them for their offices. This is what ministers are supposed to be doing; serve others. Learn to distinguish between a true minister of God and someone producing content as a revenue stream. Unfortunately, the charlatans are plenteous, but you can avoid them by knowing what Jesus told His ministers to do and disassociating with anyone who isn’t actively trying to meet His standard! 

Lastly, I want to reiterate Jesus’ warning about wolves in sheep’s clothing. The goal of this serious warning is to prepare the hearts and minds of Christians for the darker days ahead. Jesus tells us that many will come in His name and deceive many (Matt. 24:5). This is included in the beginning of sorrows. During the Great Tribulation, there will be false prophets and false christs (Matt. 24:23-26). This is very disturbing to think about, but Jesus Christ warned us for a reason. Please, please, please read verse 24 several times. The greatest deception will come through those who claim to be Christian, wolves in sheep’s clothing. By their fruits you can know them (Gal. 5:19-23). These wolves will lead many into falling away from the truth according to Jesus. Beware and guard yourself against the traps to come. 

(By the way, each one of us needs to scrutinize our own character and deeds. If we are not producing the fruits of the Spirit, then we are not of God’s flock (Matt. 25:31-46). Remember, Jesus commanded us to have a peculiar type of character that is opposite of the world. Do not follow wolves into destruction or be classified as a goat at the return of the Lord Jesus Christ!!!)  

Peter’s Second Recorded Sermon 

Through faithfulness to the commands of Jesus, Peter was able to perform a mighty miracle.  Upon seeing the lame man leaping for joy, a crowd formed to see what was done by Peter and John (see Acts 3:8-11). Peter goes on to preach a powerful sermon about repentance, conversion, and lawlessness. Please read Acts 3:12-26 several times before proceeding to the rest of this Bible study.  

In verse 15, Peter emphatically makes the point that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead and His disciples are witnesses of this fact. The miracle that the crowd witnessed was done through faith in the name of Jesus (name being a symbol of the authority) and not by any power Peter and John held exclusively (verse 12 and 16). In verses 17-18, Peter makes it plain that Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of the suffering of the Messiah at the hands of men. This prophecy is made plain in Isa. 53.   

Through ignorance that generation chose a murderer over the prophesied Messiah (verses 14 and 17). Nevertheless, Peter declares that the crowd must repent.  

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. ²⁰ And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: ²¹ Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.” (Acts 3:19-21)  

In previous installments, we have discussed the terms repentance and conversion. Many preachers discuss repentance, but mostly in a way that is unbiblical and very few discuss conversion. To recap, to repent is to think differently. This is about thinking differently about sin. It is about accepting what God has to say about sin and rejecting your own (and the world’s) ideas about sin. Repentance; however, is a noun and refers to a state of being whereas repent is a verb. To live in a state of repentance, you must repent first.  

The state of repentance has three parts. It includes having a change in mind, a change in feeling, and a change in behavior. These three are the natural consequences of thinking differently. If you have truly repented, then your thinking about sin should change, your feelings toward sin should change, and your conduct should change towards sin. Again, repentance is a state of being.  

Conversion is about turning or changing direction. Conversion is in conjunction with repentance. We can change our minds about sin, but we must turn to God. We are not converted if we turn to our own ideas or someone else’s. The scripture makes it plain that conversion is turning to God the Father and accepting His standards for character. Peter told the crowd to change their thinking and turn to God so that their sins may be blotted out.   

In the same breath, Peter brings up the kingdom of God. He explains that sins will be blotted out “when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” Remember that the world is vastly different then God intended. God did not create the earth so that it could be filled with sin. He made man in His own image and likeness. God intended us to be like Him in character; however, mankind’s character is far from His. This is a consequence of Adam’s sin and subsequence generations choosing to live in sin (Rom. 3:23).  

Fortunately, we have a merciful God who will send Jesus Christ to refresh the earth. Peter refers to this as “the times of restitution of all things.” Jesus will return and restore the earth to the way it was established. Jesus as Messiah will rule over the whole earth, upholding the justice and judgment of God. The beauty in this message is that all of the harm caused by mankind’s participation in sin will end and the world will be filled with the joy and knowledge of God (Isa. 2:2-4). Peter did not teach about going to heaven, but he did teach about the refreshing of the earth coming forth from the presence of the Lord.  

Keep your mind on the times of restitution! The coming of the kingdom of God is so important that all of God’s prophets have spoken about it! The world is filled with darkness, but faith in God’s promise to establish His kingdom on this earth should bring us unshakeable joy.  

Prophecy from Moses  

 After speaking on the kingdom of God, Peter refers to a prophecy recorded by Moses. Many of the Jews in the crowd would have been familiar with this prophecy. Peter explains: 

“For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. ²³ And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.” (Acts 3:22-23) 

Be sure to read Duet. 18:17-19. Peter was quoting from this passage. Compare what Peter quoted to what Jesus said in John 12:48-50. Jesus’ declaration shows that He was the prophet Moses was talking about. Moses prophesied that a prophet would rise from among the descendants of the Israelites. This prophet would only speak what God commanded Him to speak and what He says to them will be required of them. If something is required, then it must be carried out. Moses was explaining that whatever this prophet commanded must be done.  

Jesus was that prophet Moses spoke of before his death. What he said was preserved for us so that we may know who was the prophet that God sent who spoke what God commanded! Read the following: 

“Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. ⁴⁶ For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me. ⁴⁷ But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?” (John 5:45-47) 

This issue of believing the prophet that God sent is of the utmost importance. Moses wrote that it would be required of those who hear that prophet’s words. Many make the mistake of thinking this means merely believing in the existence of the Messiah. We should not make the same mistake. The Messiah is also the prophet that Moses preached about. A prophet is used by God to warn people of what is coming and to explain to them what they must do. This is what Jesus did! He prophesied of a coming kingdom that would be ruled by God. This prophesied kingdom will rule over the entire earth. Jesus also explained how we can enter into that kingdom.  

The professing Christian world honors the Messenger but ignores His message. Everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) Jesus taught will be required of us!!! Jesus spoke what God the Father commanded Him to speak. If we believe this, then we should diligently keep ALL the teachings of Jesus Christ because those teachings come straight from God the Father. Jesus did not receive His training from the sermons of men. He spoke the Father’s doctrine, yet so many “believers” do not believe the Father’s doctrine is applicable to us because of Jesus’ crucifixion. Do not make the mistake of believing in the Messenger while not believing His message!!! Jesus’ sermons show us the way into the kingdom of God. To ignore them is to self-select yourself as unworthy to enter that kingdom.  

The Core of Jesus’ Teachings  

It is necessary at this point in our study to discuss the core of Jesus’ teachings. This is a life-or-death issue and requires more attention than I can give it in this one study. Please study this issue beyond what is written below.  

Let us begin at the parable of the sower and the four types of ground. This parable can be found in Matt. 13, Mark 4, and Luke 8. We will focus our attention on the interpretation provided by Jesus. Compare Matt. 13:19 with Mark 4:14 and Luke 8:11. According to these verses, the seed is the word of God, but notice that Matthew calls it the word of the kingdom. Jesus sows the word of the kingdom. The kingdom of God is central to Jesus’ teachings, yet modern preachers avoid it or communicate vastly different ideas about it that do not align with what Jesus taught.  

Reread the three verses cited above. Matthew says that those who hear the word about the kingdom but do not understand are like seed thrown to the wayside. Mark, Luke, and Matthew declare that satan is the one taking the word of the kingdom out of their hearts. Recognize that the key point is that these people hear the word of the kingdom, but they do not understand it. If they did, then they would not allow satan to take away something so precious. This point is made plain in Matt 13:44-46. Someone who truly understands the word of the kingdom would give everything to possess it! Unfortunately, everyone who hears does not understand at this time; therefore, satan takes away what was sown in their hearts.  

The other three groups understand the word of the kingdom (see Matt. 13:20-21; Mark 4:16-20; Luke 8:13-15). Despite their understanding of the word of the kingdom, those on stony ground do not endure persecution and those among thorns allow worldliness to stop them from being fruitful. Those on good ground hear the word of the kingdom, understand it, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience, having an honest and good heart. These are not my own words. This comes directly from your Bible.  

The word of the kingdom is to be kept. Those who truly believe it should bring forth fruit to perfection. Again, this goes beyond mere belief in Jesus. This is about growth and character. When you hear others say that there are no works, call them out for it! There is work to do. We must grow and develop the fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) with God’s help. Even Paul declares that God has ordained good works for us to walk in (Eph 2:10). Which fruit of the Spirit can you develop without taking action? Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance do not develop out of the ether. They come from actively practicing these principles and bringing fruit to perfection with God’s help.  

The core of Jesus’ teachings is character. Every parable and sermon He gave included a message about character. Character is of the utmost importance to the Father; this is why Jesus spoke about it so much. Also read the Jesus’ interpretation of the tares among the wheat in Matt. 13:37-43.  

Understand that this parable is about the kind of character required for entry into the kingdom of God. Jesus says, “The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity.”  (verse 41) The key words in this verse are offend and iniquity. Offend comes from a Greek word that has to do with a snare or setting a trap. Iniquity means violation of law. All those that violate God’s law and set traps for others to sin will be cast in a furnace of fire according to verse 42. This happens when Jesus is ruling over the earth and is an issue of character. Jesus expects the children of the kingdom to keep the law and not to cause others to violate it! 

Remember, Jesus is that prophet who speaks what God has commanded Him to. What He has taught will be required of us. If you hope to enter the kingdom of God, you cannot willfully violate His law and cause others to do so (Matt. 5:19). Now let us read the end of Peter’s sermon.  

“Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. ²⁵ Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. ²⁶ Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.” (Acts 3:24-26)  

Jesus was sent to bless and turn every one of us away from iniquity which is lawlessness. Jesus told His disciples that iniquity would abound as the tribulation approaches (Matt. 24:12). This is not talking about nonbelievers. Consider that the word for love is agape which is the love of God. The love of God only comes from the Holy Spirit (see Rom. 5:5). Jesus warns that His followers will turn to lawlessness at the end of the world and will allow the love that God has placed in them to grow cold. Please reread Matt. 24:12. The agape waxing cold is because of the abundance of lawlessness. To understand this verse fully, you must understand sentence structure. The verse could be written “The love of many shall wax cold because iniquity shall abound.” This is no different than the sentence, “And because of the abundance of rain, the garden will burst with life.”  

“But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. “ (Matt. 24:13)  

The abundance of lawlessness will cause the love of many to grow cold, but those who do not fall prey to the spirit of lawlessness (that is endure unto the end) shall be saved! Again, this is a life-or-death issue that must not be ignored. Jesus came to save us from the consequences of lawless behavior. He came to show us how to turn away from iniquity (Acts 3:26).  

The lessons to be learned from Peter’s sermon are: 

1. God sent us a prophet in the form of Jesus to show us what will be required of us.  

2. The prophet Jesus is also the prophesied Messiah who will institute the restitution of all things. 

3. If we do not turn away from lawlessness (disobedience to God’s law) and be converted, then we will be destroyed from among of the people of God.  

This is guidance for the end times!!! Do not ignore what Jesus says about the law in connection with character. It is the law that’s shows us sin, the character we should not have. Please understand that agape is not loving God, it is THE LOVE OF GOD. Rom. 13:10 tells us that agape fulfills the law instead of doing away with it as some suggest. Also read Matt. 5:43-48. It is God the Father’s expectation that His children perform the works of the law through love. The children of the Father must exercise His level of love until the end. Do not allow the lawlessness of others to defile your heart and cause the love of God in you to grow cold. Jesus provided a perfect sacrifice for us to blot out our sins and provide us with an opportunity to turn away from lawlessness. Do not lose sight of this, even if others fall away from the truth.  

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. ²⁰ And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you.” (Acts 3:19-20) 

Change how you think about sin and be fully converted (that is turned from sin) so that your sins may be blotted out when Jesus is sent to initiate the times of refreshing!!!!