As they were speaking to the people, what three entities came to arrest them?
What preaching, specifically, were they disturbed by?
How long did they have Peter and John in custody? Why?
However, what was the result among the people who heard Peter’s sermon?
How many men, by now, were believers?
Who all were gathered together in Jerusalem the next day?
Where did they position Peter and John to question them?
What question did they ask?
Who influenced Peter’s response?
What, according to Peter’s response, were they put on trial for?
Did Peter give a direct answer to the priests and rulers in verse 10? What was his answer?
How, in this passage, did Peter describe Jesus?
How did Peter elaborate on Jesus concerning salvation?
Why did the priests and rulers marvel?
Who did they realize they had been with?
Why could they say nothing against Peter and John?
Why did they want to severely threaten them?
What did the priests and rulers command Peter and John?
What was their response? What could they not help but doing?
Why couldn’t the priests and rulers punish them?
How old was the healed man?

Thought Questions

What was so disturbing about the idea of resurrection to the priests and Sadducees? How do you feel about it?
Compare this story to the story of Peter in the courtyard of the high priest in John 18. How long ago had that happened? What are the differences and similarities between those events? Think about who was involved in the questioning, where this was taking place, and what was at stake to him. How was Peter able to answer so boldly this time?
Would you be able to be that bold? What do you have to do to acquire that boldness?
Read verse 13. What made the priests realize that Peter and John had been with Jesus? Do you think other people would be able to tell, from being with you, that you have been with Jesus? How?
Read verse 19. In what circumstances do you think it is more important to obey God than men? What would you have done in this situation? Do you think you would have the courage to follow Peter’s example if this kind of situation were to come upon you?

My prayer is:
for the Holy Spirit’s power to be able to answer anyone with boldness in matters of Jesus Christ, in any situation;
for the conviction that it is more important to obey God than men, despite the cost;
and for God’s grace showing in my life so that others will immediately take note that I have been with Christ.

Whose God glorified Jesus?
But what did the people do to him?
Who was determined to let Jesus go?
What two descriptions of Jesus are found in verse 14? The one in verse 15?
Who did the people want let go instead of Jesus?
Who raised Jesus from the dead? How did they know this happened?
What made this man strong (referring to the lame man who was healed in vs. 1-12)? Did the people know him?
What excuse did Peter give for the people?
Who foretold that Christ would suffer?
What two things did Peter tell the people to do in verse 19? What two things did he say would come as a result?
Then, what would happen according to verse 20? Where did Jesus have to go in the meantime? Who, again, predicted this? Since when?
Who is an example of one of these prophets? What did he say?
What, according to Moses’ word, would happen to those who would not hear that Prophet?
Who is another example of a prophet who also foretold of Jesus?
Who were the people Peter was speaking to sons of?
What were they to be blessed by? How, specifically here?

Thought Questions

Compare Peter’s sermon here with his first one in the previous chapter. What are some similar points that he made? What are the differences?
Think about the points Peter made and the way he presented them that are common to both his sermons, and how we can apply them when preaching or speaking to others about Jesus.
In both situations, what had happened immediately before to get the people’s attention? Even if we don’t have a miraculous occurrence to help us, how can we use the testimony of God’s power to help others learn about Jesus?
So far, do you see a pattern in how much credit Peter and the apostles took for these miracles, and how much they gave to Jesus? Did they do anything to try to attract attention to themselves? How does that help you figure out the authenticity of “healers” in our time?
What did Peter tell the people that they needed to do in both sermons (2:38 and 3:19)? Is this important? What did he say would be the result? Can we receive the Holy Spirit without repentance and conversion?
What is conversion? See verse 26. Can we go on enjoying our sins again after being converted? How do we avoid them?

My prayer is:
to seek to find ways of presenting the living Christ to others in a convincing way which only focuses on Him;
to give God only all the credit for the miracles, large and small, that occur in my life and that I see in other places;
to fully seek repentance from my sins and conversion, being willing to fully turn away from them to seek Christ instead.

Who went up to the temple? When was the hour of prayer?
For how much of his life had this man been lame?
How did he get to the temple gate? What was he there to do?
What did he ask Peter and John for?
What two things did Peter do when he first encountered the man?
What did Peter say he didn’t have? What did he have?
How exactly was Peter’s command worded? In whose name?
How did Peter help him up?
What happened then?
Where did the the man leap and walk to first? What did he do?
How did the people around respond?
How, then, did the lame man relate to Peter and John?
Who ran to the porch where they were?
What was Peter’s response?
Whose power did the people think actually healed the man, according to how Peter said they were acting?
Thought Questions

Do you have an hour of prayer? Do you have a place of prayer?
When you meet a homeless person on the street, do you fix your eyes on him or her, or do you avert them, trying to avoid contact? What can we learn from how Peter and John initially made contact with the man here?
Do you think Christians now can have the power of Christ to heal people in miraculous ways? Why or why not?
What does the formerly lame man’s immediate reaction after being healed tell you about him? Would you respond the same way? What would you have done first?
How would you have responded if you were a witness to this event?
What does the crowd’s reaction tell you about their thoughts? Do you think God had a wider audience in mind when he healed the man, besides just the man himself?

My prayer is:
that I would have even more compassion for the poor and sick among us, prayerfully offering them whatever resources I have available;
that I would have the faith to believe that even I can see Christ’s miracles done in His name according to His will–but not through any of my power;
And that, upon receiving the merciful power of God in my life, I would respond by not only walking but leaping and praising Him.