KEPHA'S
PREACHING (ACTS 3)
Let us read the preaching of Kepha (Peter) in Acts 3:
"The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let [him] go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did [it], as [did] also your rulers. But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. 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; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: 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. 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. And it shall come to pass, [that] every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. 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. 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 3:13-26)
Some times ago Kepha (Peter) and Yohanan (John) "went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, [being] the ninth [hour](at three in the afternoon)" (Acts 3:1). One of the prayers was Amidah. The first blessing of Amidah is Avot. "Known as Avot ("Ancestors") this prayer offers praise of God as the God of the Biblical patriarchs, "God of Abraham, God of Isaac and God of Jacob." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amidah)
Kepha began his preaching by the first words of Amidah.
Then he shared the Good News about Messiah Yeshua.
May be Kepha wanted to tell in his preaching: now you prayed at the temple, you love Hashem, G-d of your fathers. G-d sent His Son Messiah Yeshua for you!
1Cor 9:20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews...
Kepha's preaching has two parts:
- the conviction of Israel;
- mercy to Israel
His preaching is like the preachings of prophets e.g.:
"Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. They have made it desolate, [and being] desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth [it] to heart. The spoilers are come upon all high places through the wilderness: for the sword of the LORD shall devour from the [one] end of the land even to the [other] end of the land: no flesh shall have peace. They have sown wheat, but shall reap thorns: they have put themselves to pain, [but] shall not profit: and they shall be ashamed of your revenues because of the fierce anger of the LORD. Thus saith the LORD against all mine evil neighbours, that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit; Behold, I will pluck them out of their land, and pluck out the house of Judah from among them. And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them out I will return, and have compassion on them, and will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land. And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, The LORD liveth; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built in the midst of my people. But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the LORD." (Jer 12:10-17)
We need to understand: Hashem convicts Israel and show mercy to Israel.
Christians need bless Israel.
Gen 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Too it is very important Kepha's preaching was after healing of man.
"Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted [him] up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God:" (Acts 3:6-9)
The conclusions
1. Apostles went to the temple to pray like Jews.
2. Kepha's preaching was spiritual. There is connection with this preaching and the Jewish prayer Amidah.
3. Before Kepha's preaching there was the healing of man.
4. There are both the conviction of Israel and mercy to Israel in Kepha's preacing like Israeli prophets.