The reason of the healing

Hearing the man who was healed praising God loudly, many people gathered at once at Solomon’s Portico, where Peter and John were. Peter took this opportunity to deliver a message, which was an evangelistic message using the Old Testament. “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why are you staring at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him walk?” (1) The address “Men of Israel” is a formal way of addressing them. “Israel” is the name given to the people of the covenant. They are the descendants of Jacob. After the Babylonian Exile, the name “Jews” became common, but originally, they are the covenant people of Israel. Here, Peter intentionally uses an accommodating name, which will soon change to the more familiar “brothers” (v 17). (2) This healing was not due to human power or devout. Luke emphasizes that the apostles were ordinary people. “The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His Servant Jesus.” (1) “The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” is a name invoked in the daily prayers of the Jews. Peter emphasizes that God is the God of the Abrahamic covenant. (2) “The God of our fathers” is a familiar name to the Jews. It appears in the standing prayer called “Amidah” (18 prayers, also known as the “Shemoneh Esrei”). “The God of our fathers” also refers to the God of the Abrahamic covenant (Ex. 3:13). (3) “His servant Jesus” indicates that Jesus came to earth as “the Servant of the Lord (Yahweh).” The concept of “the Servant of the Lord” was well known among the Jews (ref. Isa. 42:1, 49:6-7, 52:13, 53:11, Matt. 12:15-21). (4) God “has glorified” His Servant Jesus. The fact that Jesus was crucified was known to all the audience. Peter asserts that this Jesus has been resurrected and exalted to heaven. Israel failed to demonstrate a faith befitting the people of the covenant (rejected Jesus). How about us? Let us strive to live a life of faith that does not bring shame to the name of Christian.