Peter Preaches In Solomon's Portico
The healing of the lame beggar has drawn a massive, marveling crowd into the covered colonnade known as Solomon's Portico. Seizing the moment, Peter boldly addressed the Israelites, rebuking them for staring as if he had healed the man by his own power or piety. He explicitly laid the credit—and the blame—where it belonged.
He told the crowd they had disowned the Holy and Righteous One and put the Prince of Life to death. Yet, offering immense grace, Peter declared they acted in ignorance. He pleaded with them to repent and return, so that their sins may be wiped away and that "times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord."
"Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord..."
— Acts 3:19
Timeline Box:
Peter's second major sermon utilized the crowd gathered by the healing of the beggar.
Job Is Stripped Of His Wealth
In the land of Uz, a blameless and upright man named Job has faced an unimaginable day of terror. Through a series of rapid, devastating messenger reports, he learned that his oxen, donkeys, sheep, camels, and servants were all destroyed or stolen. Worst of all, a great wind collapsed a house, killing all ten of his children in a single moment.
"And he said, 'Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. Yahweh gave and Yahweh has taken away. Blessed be the name of Yahweh.'"
— Job 1:21
Timeline Box:
Job's sudden loss sets the stage for the greatest biblical exploration of suffering and sovereignty.
Job's Friends Arrive To Mourn
Hearing of all the adversity that had come upon him, Job's three friends—Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar—have arrived. Seeing him from a distance, they did not even recognize him due to his severe physical affliction. They wept, tore their robes, threw dust on their heads, and sat down on the ground with him for seven days and nights without speaking a single word.
"And they sat down on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights with no one speaking a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great."
— Job 2:13
Timeline Box:
The initial silence of Job's friends demonstrated profound grief before their later, flawed theological arguments.
