LESSON FIVE
THE NAME OF JESUS

TEXT: Acts, Chapters Three & Four.
Signs and Wonders:
•	In Acts 2:43 we read that many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 
•	In Acts 4:30 the church prayed that signs and wonders might be done by the name of the holy child Jesus. 
•	This would be according to what Jesus had stated as recorded in Mark 16:17, "These signs shall follow them that believe."
•	 It is still true that signs should follow the preaching of the Apostolic Gospel. 
•	We should never follow signs but rather, signs should follow us.

The Gate Beautiful: 
•	The lame man was laid every day at the gate of the temple, which is called Beautiful. 
•	This gate was furnished by Herod and was made of precious Corinthian brass. 
•	The gate was eighty feet high and sixty-five feet broad, and it took twenty men to close it.
•	The gate was a type of another gate, which was far more beautiful, a gate that gave entrance not just into the temple but into the very presence of God. 
•	That gate is Jesus who is the door.

The Hour of Prayer: 
•	Peter and John went into the temple at the hour of prayer. 
•	The apostles continued steadfastly in prayers (Acts 2:42). 
•	One of the reasons miracles followed their ministry was the fact that they continued in prayer.
•	There were three hours of the day set aside by the Jews as hours for public prayer: The third hour which was nine A.M.; The sixth hour which was twelve o'clock noon; the ninth hour which was three P.M.
•	The ninth hour was the very hour that Jesus died upon the cross. 
•	It was through the value of the death of Christ that the healing came to the poor beggar.

The Healing of the Lame Man: 
•	The lame beggar had been a cripple from birth. 
•	He was now at least forty years old (Acts 4:22).
•	The miracle was unexpected. 
•	The man was begging for some money and when the apostles spoke to him, he expected to receive some coins. 
•	However, it was healing he received. 
•	The healing was instantaneous and complete and performed in the name of Jesus.
•	Peter took him by the right hand. 
•	Undoubtedly the beggar had held out his hand so that Peter might grasp it. 
•	Hands are used for receiving as well as giving. 
•	God's big hand reaches down to the sinner and all the sinner need do is reach up a little hand to receive.
•	The healed man walked, entered the temple, and praised God. 
•	Not only was he healed physically but also his soul was able to rejoice in the Lord.
•	Peter held the lame man by the hand (verse 7) and then the beggar held Peter (verse 11).
•	 He no longer needed support but he held on to the apostles in joy and love. 
•	Likewise when a sinner accepts Jesus Christ he will cling to those who brought him the message of deliverance.
•	No longer on the outside but now on the inside of the temple the beggar rejoices in the Lord and attracts a large crowd.

The Name of Jesus: 
•	The "NAME" is found thirty-three times in the book of Acts.
•	Peter stated that "His name through faith in His name hath made this man strong." (Acts 3:16). 
•	Again he states that "there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). 
•	These two statements of the Apostle Peter show that:
1.	There is healing in the NAME of Jesus;
2.	There is salvation in the NAME of Jesus.
•	There are many, many blessings associated with the name of Jesus. 
•	Water Baptism must be administered in the Name of Jesus. 
•	The Gospel must be preached in Name the of Jesus. 
•	Remission of sins is in the Name of Jesus. 
•	We are encouraged to ask what we will in the Name of Jesus. 
•	We have the assurance of His presence, when we meet in His Name. 
•	The Name of Jesus is a strong tower in which there is safety.

 Witnesses of the Resurrection: 
•	When the miracle brought together a large crowd, Peter used the opportunity to preach to them the Apostolic Gospel. 
•	The change that had taken place in Peter was a great miracle in itself. 
•	A short time before he had denied the Lord and did not have the courage to confess the Lord.
•	 Now the rulers of Israel marveled at his boldness knowing that in the estimation of the world he was an unlearned and ignorant man. 
•	They took knowledge that he had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13).
•	Peter placed great emphasis upon the resurrection of our Lord. 
•	In the four Gospels it was the Pharisees who gave the greatest opposition to Jesus. 
•	In the is Acs the it Sadducees who oppose the Christians. 
•	The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection and became angry when Peter preached that Jesus had risen from the dead. 
•	They Peter had and John arrested and put in prison over night. 
•	The next morning they were brought before the most powerful among the priests.
•	Annas in the Jewish eyes was the real power of the priesthood. 
•	Caiphas was the son-in-law of Annas and was appointed high priest by the Roman Government. 
•	They were other rulers and elders present. 
•	Their question was clear, "By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?"
•	Peter did not hesitate to preach the truth before these rulers. 
•	He was able to do this because he was "filled with the Holy Ghost" (Acts 4:8).

The Results That Followed the Miracle: 
•	Let us mention just a few things that followed the healing of the lame man.
1.	The persecution of the church began with Peter and John being arrested placed and in prison over night.
2.	The number of conversions increased until there were five thousand believers in Jerusalem (Acts 4:4). 
•	This is the last time any such numbering is mentioned.
3.	The Christians loved one another and shared their material possessions and ministered to one another. 
•	This sharing was quite voluntary. 
•	This was an example of Christian love; it was not Christian communism. 
•	The right of possession was not abolished.

LESSON FIVE
SELF HELP TEST

A. Explain why it was the Sadducees that gave the greatest persecution to the church rather than the Pharisees.

B. How old was the man who was healed at the Gate Beautiful?

C. At what time of day was he healed?

D. The expression "NAME" referring to Jesus is found how many times in the book of Acts?

E. State clearly THREE definite results that followed the miracle of the healing of the lame man.

F. What does this miracle teach us about the name of Jesus?