Sinning Through Ignorance

Acts 3:11-26

It was widely accepted that Jesus could heal people, and they often went to see him do it. Over two months before, the Jews had seen Jesus crucified. There are no records of any healings during the period before Pentecost, and the miracles afterward had been largely unnoticed. Suddenly a lame man was dramatically healed by one of Jesus’ disciples. Can you picture the consternation?

“And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.” (Acts 3:11)

The lame man wasn’t about to let the men who’d done such a wonderful thing for him get away, and the crowd entering could see him standing and holding on to them. They knew he’d never been able to stand before, and came to see what was going on.

“And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?” (Acts 3:12)

Miracles seem so amazing to us because we are comparing them to our own power. Because the miracle was effected by someone’s actions, we credit the person with some special powers or spiritual relationship. Peter asked why they were amazed at the healing of a lame man. The attitude is demonstrated by the Church a few miles from here called the Greater Miracles Church of God. How does one decide what are greater miracles? As Peter pointed out, the power is not in the person, but in God.

“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.” (Acts 3:13-15)

The Jews knew what Jesus had done, and many of them had been part of the crowd who called for his crucifixion at the priests’ urging, demanding Barabbas’ release instead. They had also heard the rumors of his resurrection, if they had not seen him themselves. Peter and John had seen him themselves. By resurrecting Jesus, God has shown him to be the Messiah.

“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.” (Acts 3:16)

A nationally known company will sometimes give their employees a pad of purchase orders with the company billing information so employees can materials without delay. Because suppliers trust such companies, they may accept the purchase order and fill the order without setting up a regular charge account. When they do, the employee is able to purchase materials in the company’s name because of the supplier’s faith in the company. The employee’s only part is in demonstrating he is authorized to use the P.O. In a somewhat similar way, the lame man was healed by Jesus name through faith in his name.

Peter was only exercising the authority he had been granted when he told the man, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” That the man was healed demonstrated that Peter actually had that authority, but more importantly, that Jesus was in fact the Messiah, as he claimed, and that Israel had been wrong in crucifying him.

“And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. But those things, which God before had showed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.” (Acts 3:17-18)

Though they had seen and heard Jesus’ teachings and miracles, the Jews were still blinded by their religious teachings, and failed to recognize who Jesus was, so they followed their leaders in having him crucified. Paul persecuted Christians, but in I Timothy 1:13 he states, “… but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.” Judas, on the other hand, knew all the details, and could not claim ignorance, because he had experienced all the benefits of faith but chose not to receive Christ as Lord.

It is people like Judas, that Hebrews 6:4-6 speaks of. “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” They have seen at first hand what God does and can do, yet they reject Christ. As Hebrews 10:26 tells us, “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.”


The Jews had sinned in having Jesus crucified, and deserved God’s punishment, but because of their ignorance, they could still be forgiven. Having the miracle and knowing that it was effected through faith in Jesus, they have lost some of their innocence, and can no longer claim ignorance. Now they must make a choice.

“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.” (Acts 3:19-21)

If they would repent, acknowledging and turning from their sin, and allow God to convert or change them, the sin they had done would be erased when they stood before God. They would see the Messiah God had promised them, even though he will remain in heaven until the day of Judgment. On the other hand, if they refused, they would suffer the consequences of their sin, and ignorance will not be an acceptable excuse. It is the same thing he told them they needed to do in Acts 2:38-39.

“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.” (Acts 3:22-24)

Because Jesus came as a Jew in fulfillment of prophecy, the Jews were the first ones exposed to what he was offering. However, even the prophecies to Abraham made it clear that it was for the entire world, not just the Jews.

“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 3:25-26)

A mistake many people make is wanting God to give them what they want when the blessing he offers is freeing us from our sin and the natural consequences of it. Many people are like the drunk or drug addict, who want assistance so they can continue to have an income without having to curtail their drug or alcohol use. That is not what God offers. He insists on making a change, on converting the person.