- Covered In His Dust
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- Acts Chapter 3
Good morning! ☀️
"When disciples followed a rabbi, they followed him closely so they would never be out of his sight, never be someplace where they couldn’t hear him speak. They followed him so closely that his sandals often kicked up dust."
May you be covered in His dust.
If this is your first time getting Covered in His Dust, WELCOME!
Read Chapter 3 before reading my notes. They’ll make more sense.
Access previous notes on Acts by signing into your account. Click 'Read Online' at the top right of this post and scroll down to find them waiting for you.
Just to set the scene, Peter and John were at the temple for the afternoon prayer at 3 pm.
Early followers of Jesus still thought of themselves as Jews. They believed Jesus was the Messiah that their Jewish faith had promised. So, they kept following many Jewish traditions, like going to the temple for prayer and celebrating Jewish festivals.
They saw their belief in Jesus as a completion of their Jewish faith, not a break from it.
In Jewish tradition, people had specific times each day when they would pray:
Morning Prayer (Shacharit): This took place in the morning, around sunrise.
Afternoon Prayer (Mincha): This prayer was held in the afternoon, around 3 PM or the ninth hour. It coincided with the time of the afternoon sacrifice in the temple.
Evening Prayer (Ma'ariv): This prayer took place in the evening, after sunset.
Is there power in the name of Jesus?
Salvation: "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12
Authority over Evil: "The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, 'Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!'" Luke 10:17
Prayer: "Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it." John 14:13-14
Baptism: "And Peter said to them, 'Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'" Acts 2:38
Healing and Miracles: "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!'" Acts 3:6
Short answer. Yes. Absolutely.
I think I know what alms are… but do I?
Alms are charitable donations for the poor, like money, food, or other needs they might have.
Giving alms didn't have the same negative stigma that begging sometimes has today. It was actually seen as a good and important part of religious life. People were encouraged to give alms as a way to show kindness and fulfill their religious duties.
Asking for alms at the temple and begging on street corners today are similar because both are about people in need asking for help. But there are some differences.
In biblical times, people were encouraged to help the poor as part of their faith. The man in the Bible was placed at the temple gate, where a lot of people gathered for worship, making it a good spot to ask for help.
Helping the poor was seen as a virtuous act and part of religious life. Nowadays, people have mixed feelings about begging; some are willing to help, while others might view them as lazy or taking advantage of the system.
Solomon's Portico
Solomon's Portico was a covered walkway on the eastern side of the Temple's outer court, called the Court of the Gentiles. It was part of the Herodian Temple, which expanded the Second Temple.
The portico had long rows of columns supporting a roof, providing a sheltered space where people could gather, teach, and discuss religious matters.
The name "Solomon's Portico" comes from the belief that it was built on the remains of the original Temple of Solomon. Although this is debated, it was an important feature of the Second Temple.
The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob,
By referring to "The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob," Peter is linking Jesus directly to the God of their ancestors, the same God they have always worshipped.
He’s showing that belief in Jesus is not a departure from their faith but rather a fulfillment of it.
The crowd was well aware of the scriptures, so when Peter said,
the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus,
He showed that Jesus fulfilled a 700-year-old prophecy.
"Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted."
“and you killed the Author of life,”
Peter's words must have been filled with deep emotion. It's easy to imagine his lip quivering and his voice shaking as he spoke.
Peter himself had experienced profound regret and sorrow for denying Jesus during His most desperate hour. The pain of his own past actions likely added to the intensity of his words.
When he spoke to the crowd, he not only pointed out their rejection of Jesus but also drew from his own experience of having forsaken him.
Peter’s message was a heartfelt plea for the people to recognize their actions, repent, and embrace the forgiveness and new life offered through the resurrected Jesus.
The rejection of Jesus is the end of life. Full stop.
But there’s hope
There was hope for the Jews who had denied Christ, and there’s hope for you and me.
Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,
I don’t get it.
I almost understand this scripture… but I don’t.
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.
When we started this chapter, I asked the question, “Is there power in the name of Jesus?”
When Peter says, "And his name—by faith in his name," he's talking about the power of the name of Jesus. In their culture, a name meant a lot more than just what you call someone; it represented who they were and what they could do. So, when Peter talks about the name of Jesus, he means everything Jesus is and stands for.
By healing the lame man, Peter and John showed that Jesus' power was still at work, even though He wasn't physically with them anymore. This miracle was important because it proved to everyone that Jesus' followers had real, divine backing.
For the early Christians, this was a huge lesson. It showed them that their faith in Jesus gave them the power to continue His work. It also reassured them that Jesus was still very much involved in their lives and mission.
So, Peter’s message was simple but powerful: through faith in Jesus' name, amazing things can happen. This miracle helped spread that message and strengthened the faith of the early believers.
After Peter’s second speech, 2,000 more men came to faith, not including women and children.
Peter ends his speech by connecting Jesus to the Jewish prophecies, showing them He was the promised Messiah.
“Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. It is to him you shall listen.’”
“I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.”
“And in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”
Peter tells the crowd that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah, a prophet like Moses, and the fulfillment of God's promises to Abraham.
There’s a lot going on here. Don’t miss it.
It’s only been 50 or 60 days since Jesus was crucified and resurrected. This is all very fresh in the minds of the Jews.
The miraculous healing of the lame man by Peter and John showed their divine power and gave them credibility.
Peter linked Jesus to Jewish prophecies, proving He was the promised Messiah. This must have made them think and question what they'd just done.
The apostles were eyewitnesses to Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, which must have been compelling, especially after healing a man who had been lame for over 40 years.
And most importantly, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was working to open people's hearts.
For most of my life, when I read the Bible, I saw it as a religious document. I didn't see it as history.
When I visited Israel I was able to see the Western Wall.
I was baptized in the Jordan River.
I looked out on the city of Jerusalem from the Garden of Gethsemane.
It’s all there!
When you read the Gospels and consider the evidence, the Bible transforms into a living, breathing historical narrative.
I love you,
George
Uncovering Scripture
George Sisneros is a full-time missionary in Guatemala and the founder of Ordinary Missionaries and the El Rosario Christian Academy for Boys.
He’s been married to his wife, Vonda, for 25 years. He’s a father to nine children, five adopted.
George and his family will be expanding to Cuba in 2024.