Acts of the Apostles chapter 3 starts with the encounter between Peter, John, and a disabled man. This encounter changed the life and the identity of this man. He moved from being identified as a beggar at the temple portico to being a man capable of standing and walking. His healing becomes a testimony that Jesus is alive, that in His name a miracle happened.
In continuity with this miracle, Peter and John, in today’s first reading, continue to testify that Jesus is alive and that in his Name, they preached repentance for the forgiveness of sins and experiencing times of refreshment. Today’s story and many others testify that “something happened” in the life of Peter, John, and other disciples. These men who previously shut themselves up with fear now courageously announce the Good News.
Going through Peter’s speech, one must acknowledge his faith, courage, and humility. By saying that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has glorified Jesus by raising him from the dead and that it is in his Name that the disabled man walks, Peter testifies that Jesus is alive. The disabled man who had been cured becomes a sign of what could happen to whoever encounters the power of the Risen Jesus.
Saved by the Knowledge of the Truth
The humility of Peter is perceptible in two ways: He refused to take credit for the healing and did not dissociate himself from his brothers and sisters. Instead, he tried to understand them: “Now I know, brothers and sisters, that you acted out of ignorance just as your leaders did.” Peter could not have said this without having experiential knowledge of who Jesus is. He did not go about condemning them. Instead, he acknowledged that his people lacked the knowledge of faith about Jesus. I see in the attitude of Peter a love that seeks the well-being of others from the evangelical perspective, a love that understands that sometimes people reject Jesus and the Gospel out of ignorance. The attitude of Peter reminds me of the prayer of Jesus on the Cross: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing!” Peter is saying God is offering mercy and forgiveness to whoever repents of his or her sins.
Call to Repentance
“Repent therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away and that the Lord may grant you times of refreshment (comfort).” Because Peter loved his fellow Jews, he invited them to conversion. Although they acted out of ignorance, the Good News is that God has transformed their wrongdoings into a history of salvation. Peter is saying to them: “Don’t be trapped by your dark past, with Christ a promising new future is possible.” This new future that he describes as “times of refreshment” is accessible to all who live Christ-centered lives. Therefore, we should not allow sins to suffocate our souls and prevent them from experiencing the Joy and Peace of the Resurrection. For it is Christ himself who transforms lives from within and makes us courageous witnesses of His Good News.
The Attitude of Peter Questions My Attitude Toward People
As a Christian living in a world that challenges our faith daily, how do I relate to those who do not share the same faith with me, those who have a misconception of the Gospel? Am I patient and humble enough to witness the Gospel in words and actions? In a polarized world, where what some call the ‘tyranny of relativism’ is being felt in various aspects of our lives, we need divine wisdom to testify that Jesus is alive. Thanks to the testimony of Peter and John, the disabled man who was excluded from the temple because of his infirmity can now praise God and rejoice with others. Encountering Jesus and the power of His resurrection makes us joyful witnesses to the truth of the Gospel.
