In The Name | The Book of Acts (week 3)

Devotional

Day 1: Interruptions as Invitations to Divine Encounters

The lame man at the Beautiful Gate expected alms, but Peter and John saw an invitation to demonstrate Jesus’ power. Interruptions often disguise divine appointments—moments when God asks us to pause our routines to participate in His work. Slowing down creates space to see people’s dignity, not just their needs. When we fix our gaze on others as image-bearers, we become conduits for Christ’s transformative power. What begins as a distraction can become a doorway for miracles. [04:49]

“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!’ And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.”
(Acts 3:6–7, ESV)

Reflection: Where has an interruption recently frustrated you? How might God be inviting you to see His purpose in that moment instead of rushing past it?

Day 2: The Authority Behind the Name

Peter made clear the miracle flowed from Jesus’ authority, not his own. The name of Jesus carries resurrection power—the same power that healed the lame man and emboldened ordinary fishermen to defy religious leaders. To act “in Jesus’ name” means surrendering our inadequacy to His sufficiency. Miracles magnify Christ, not the messenger. When we lean on His name, we trade self-reliance for divine partnership. [20:00]

“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.”
(Acts 3:16, ESV)

Reflection: What situation are you facing where you’ve been trusting in your own “silver and gold” instead of Christ’s authority? How might you actively rely on His name today?

Day 3: From Relief to Restoration

The man at the gate stopped hoping for healing—he’d settled for survival. Decades of disappointment taught him to expect coins, not transformation. Jesus specializes in restoring what we’ve stopped believing could change. His power exceeds our lowered expectations, turning coping into leaping. True healing begins when we fix our eyes on the One who sees beyond our brokenness to our potential. [09:28]

“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
(Isaiah 43:19, ESV)

Reflection: Where have you stopped praying for restoration in your life or others’ lives? What would it look like to hope again for Jesus’ “new thing” in that area?

Day 4: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Impact

Religious leaders dismissed Peter and John as “uneducated common men,” yet couldn’t deny their spiritual authority. Time spent with Jesus leaves an imprint no degree can replicate. Our qualifications matter less than our proximity to Christ. When we prioritize relationship over reputation, God uses ordinary obedience to spark extraordinary change. [25:09]

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.”
(Acts 4:13, ESV)

Reflection: What insecurities about your “ordinary” status hold you back from sharing Christ’s work in your life? How might your story carry unique power precisely because of—not despite—your authenticity?

Day 5: Repentance as the Path to Refreshment

Peter linked repentance not to shame but to liberation—sins blotted out, hearts renewed. True repentance isn’t groveling but turning toward the Father’s embrace. Like a parched land welcoming rain, souls find refreshment when we release what weighs us down. Jesus’ invitation remains: trade heavy burdens for His lightness, stagnation for His forward motion. [17:16]

“Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”
(Acts 3:19–20, ESV)

Reflection: What habit, mindset, or relationship might God be asking you to release this week? How could surrendering it create space for His refreshing presence?

Sermon Summary

Luke sets Peter and John on the well-worn path to the temple at the hour of prayer, and the Beautiful Gate meets an ugly story. The gate shimmers with brass, but a man laid there from birth has been reduced to his condition. Peter’s “Look at us” restores dignity before it restores ankles. The name of Jesus then breaks in: “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give to you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” The text sends him walking and leaping and praising God, and sends the crowd into wonder.

The name of Jesus becomes the line that runs through both chapters. Peter refuses to let credit collect on him or John. The healing is not their “power or piety,” but God glorifying his servant Jesus. Peter presses the moment toward repentance: “Repent therefore and turn back… that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” The gospel is not mere relief; it is restoration that ushers refreshment on the far side of a turned life.

God’s timing in this scene carries weight. Luke notes the man is over 40, which means Jesus likely walked past him before. The Spirit uses that delay to make this miracle a microphone for witness, and thousands believe. Miracles become setups for messages, and changed lives point people to Jesus.

Chapter 4 shows the other response. The leaders jail the apostles, but Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, keeps the point clear: “By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth… this man is standing before you well.” The image shifts to an extension cord. The apostles do not generate power; they stay plugged into Jesus, and his power flows through them. Peter then nails down the center line: “There is salvation in no one else… no other name under heaven… by which we must be saved.”

God delights to do this through ordinary people. The rulers see “uneducated, common men,” but they also see men who “had been with Jesus.” Proximity carries authority. When ordered to go quiet, the apostles answer with witness: “We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” The church then prays, not for safety, but for boldness. God shakes the room and fills them afresh. The story ends where it began, with the name of Jesus on their lips and power in their steps. And under it all sits a deeper image: every person is that lame man by a beautiful place, unable to enter, until Jesus comes near, lifts, forgives, and brings them into the presence of God.

Key Takeaways

1. The name of Jesus carries authority The text ties healing, preaching, and salvation to one center line: Jesus’ name. Authority is not generic power; it is the King’s signature on the moment. When that name is spoken in faith, the living Jesus acts, and human glory gets out of the way. Humility keeps the channel clear. [19:33]
2. Interruptions can be divine invitations Peter and John make space to be stopped, and the Spirit turns a routine prayer hour into a resurrection moment. Speed often makes hearts miss eye contact and dignity. Slow presence becomes the doorway where God’s timing meets human need. Availability often outruns ability. [05:38]
3. Repentance opens the door to refreshing Peter does not stop at amazement; he calls for a turn so that “times of refreshing” can come. Refreshing is not a vague vibe but the presence of the Lord reentering a surrendered life. The hard grace of change becomes the soft grace of joy, peace, and renewal. [16:50]
4. Ordinary people carry extraordinary power The rulers see common men, then realize they have been with Jesus. Proximity, not pedigree, explains boldness. When the branch stays plugged into the Vine, fruit shows up, and Jesus gets the credit. Formation in his presence beats performance for his applause. [25:09]
5. Pray for boldness, not merely safety The church does not ask to avoid threats; it asks to speak with courage while God stretches out his hand. That prayer aligns with heaven, and heaven answers with shaking and fresh filling. Boldness is not bravado; it is love refusing to go silent. [30:07]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:40] - Healing at the Beautiful Gate
[01:51] - Who said and the Name
[04:49] - Interruption as invitation
[06:15] - Look at us, restored dignity
[08:49] - Silver and gold, rise and walk
[12:34] - God’s timing and patient hope
[16:50] - Repentance and times of refreshing
[18:46] - Opposition and arrest
[19:33] - By the name of Jesus alone
[20:00] - Extension cord, not the power
[24:42] - Ordinary people who have been with Jesus
[29:28] - Praying for boldness, not safety
[32:21] - All are the lame man spiritually

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Acts 3:1-10 (ESV)
Acts 4:12 (ESV)
John 14:6 (ESV)

Observation questions

In Acts 3:6, Peter says, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you.” What did Peter offer instead of material relief, and how did the man respond?
When the religious leaders questioned Peter and John in Acts 4, how did Peter clarify the source of the healing (Acts 4:10)?
According to the sermon, why might Jesus have walked past the lame man earlier in His ministry but allowed Peter and John to heal him later? [12:34]
What phrase did the religious leaders use to describe Peter and John in Acts 4:13, and what did they notice about them?

Interpretation questions

Why do you think Peter emphasized “the name of Jesus” repeatedly in Acts 3-4 instead of taking credit for the miracle? How does this connect to the idea of humility in ministry?
The sermon described miracles as “setups for messages” [17:55]. How does the healing of the lame man create an opportunity for Peter to preach repentance and refreshment?
Acts 4:13 says the religious leaders recognized Peter and John “had been with Jesus.” What does this imply about the relationship between proximity to Jesus and spiritual authority?
The apostles prayed for boldness instead of safety when facing opposition (Acts 4:29-31). Why might boldness matter more than protection in spreading the gospel?

Application questions

The lame man had likely lowered his expectations to mere relief after decades of suffering [09:28]. Are there areas in your life where you’ve stopped hoping for God’s restoration and settled for temporary relief? How can you rekindle faith for deeper healing?
Peter and John viewed interruptions as divine invitations [04:49]. What distractions or “interruptions” in your daily routine might God be using to invite you into someone’s story?
Repentance leads to “times of refreshing” (Acts 3:19). Is there a habit, attitude, or relationship where God is calling you to turn toward Him to experience renewal? What practical step could you take this week?
The sermon compared believers to “extension cords” carrying Jesus’ power [20:00]. How can you prioritize staying “plugged in” to Christ through prayer, Scripture, or community to ensure His power flows through you?
The early church prayed for boldness, not safety [30:07]. What fears or obstacles make it hard for you to share your faith openly? How might praying for courage instead of comfort change your approach?
The lame man’s healing drew crowds to Jesus. Who in your life needs to see tangible evidence of God’s work in you? How could sharing your story—even a small part—point them to Him?

Sermon Clips

37s

“What Peter realizes is that miracles are actually just setups for messages. That he uses this miracle moment as a microphone opportunity. He's like, hey, God just did something super cool. I I have a captive audience. People being like, what is happening? Why is this guy walking and leaping and praising God? And he's like, it's because Jesus healed him. You should follow Jesus. It's refreshing. It's going to be good for you. Your sins will be forgiven, you'll be made brand new and so he preaches, changed lives point people to Jesus.”

42s

“What blows my mind about this, and I I've never thought about this until this week when I was studying it, is if this guy's over 40 and he's at this specific gate that they think he's at, this gate called Beautiful, it is very, very likely Jesus has walked by him. He's in Jerusalem at this temple, well known temple. People enter it all the time. It's busy. Jesus, you know, just ascended weeks before this. Jesus probably has walked past this person. This was really like an moment for me this week as I was thinking about it. Because I'm like Jesus could have easily healed this guy a long time ago.”

41s

“broken in body, he has an ugly situation but he's by a gate called Beautiful. This entrance to the temple where it had Corinthian brass and it was actually visually beautiful and this entrance to be a place where they could meet with God and yet he's outside of it. And I wonder if we've ever felt that way coming to church or going to small group or interacting with other believers where we're like, we're in proximity to a beautiful thing but our situation feels broken. Our situation feels ugly. It feels like not what it should be. There's a disconnect between what I see and what I'm experiencing and in that moment, he's given value”

53s

“can we lower our expectations and settle for relief? I think sometimes that's why we we stop hoping and we start coping. We stop hoping that God will actually show up and we just start managing. We turn to other things, we turn to distraction or we turn to alcohol or we turn to eating or shopping or relationship. We turn to something else because what what I was hoping for doesn't even seem like an option and I'm settling for just relief. But Jesus doesn't leave him with just relief, he he brings restoration. I love that Peter directs his gaze at him in verse four and him and John, they're like look at us and he looks at them and he says, 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.”

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