¹²When Peter saw it, he addressed the people, “You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? ¹³The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him. ¹⁴But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you, ¹⁵and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. ¹⁶And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you.

¹⁷“And now, friends, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. ¹⁸In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. ¹⁹Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out.”

• Light a candle to remember Christ’s presence with you.
• Sit five to fifteen minutes in silent meditation paying close attention to the deep breath.
• Peter heals a beggar and the crowd looks on with skepticism.
• Remember a time recently when you were looked upon with skepticism.
• What is it that the person or crowd rejected?
• What did you notice in your body?
• Were any senses particularly heightened?
• How was Christ with you?
• What gave you strength to persevere?
• What did you learn about your faith?
• Did the person/crowd repent and turn toward God?
• How did you extend forgiveness?
• What did you need to repent to turn toward God?
• Give thanks to God for this time in prayer and for any new insights you have received.
• Share as you feel led in the reply box below.