While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. 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. 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. 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.
Comment: The ‘he’ of sentence one was the man who yesterday we saw miraculously healed. And I propose that the clinging was not due to ankle weakness but to eternal gratefulness! Peter listed off the great names of Jewish history to clearly let the listeners know that he was talking about Jehovah God. Then he laid the crucifixion and death of Jesus at the feet of his listeners. What do you think Peter meant by referring to Jesus as the ‘Author of life’? Then Peter gives, correctly, all the glory for this miracle to what Jesus did through faith in Him. Words can mean so much – and I love the way Peter said ‘this man…whom you see and know.’ It was not a story to them but a visual reality, we must accept it by faith or label it a ‘myth’!
Prayer: Please grant me the boldness which Peter showed in speaking Your message, O Lord.
As I read it! 