Acts 3&4 Notes

Here are my notes from simply reading through Acts chapters three and four:
 3:1 They had a special time set aside for prayer (3 in the afternoon). What if we set aside a specific time each day to pray.
3:6-10 Peter did not have money to give to the crippled man which is what the crippled man was asking for, but he gave the man something so much more valuable. He gave him something that the man would not have even thought to ask for. How many times do we ask for something less that what God can grant us. We have such low expectations, but look here at Peter, he had very high expectations and trusted that in the name of Christ Jesus such a miracle could be achieved! What faith this man had! I think that much of this faith is missing in today's society.
3:12 Wow! Once again you can see Peter's faith and humility. And of course God's awesome power!
4:2 The Sadducees were disturbed by what Peter and the disciples were teaching. Whenever we take a stand for Christ then there will be people disturbed. The message of Christ is not comfortable, but challenging to the hearts of men. Taking a stand for Him is not going to be an easy task.
4:4 Despite the challenges Peter and John faced, and how they may have felt like failures for having been thrown in prison, they were far from it. The message which they preached was sown by the Spirit and the numbers of the church grew.
4:8-12 Peter was filled by the Holy Spirit. He did not have to worry about what to say in his time of need, for the Spirit provided him with words to defend his case for Christ. The defining part of these verses is that Peter was not relying upon his own strength to defend himself, but instead upon the strength of the Holy Spirit.
4:13-17 The men were amazed at Peter and John. They were unschooled men, and what they had done was beyond what anyone like them could ever have dreamed of doing. They were called to do what they alone could not do, but that through Christ, in His power, could be achieved. We are often called to things that we do not feel ready for, talented enough for, or simply are convinced that we will fail. It is in these situations that we must hand over the reigns to Christ, and let Him do His work in us. It is in these moments that we meet with real success because in our own power we are limited and frail, but in Him ALL things are possible. The people were not able to deny that what Peter and John had done was a miracle so in order to stop them they had to forbid them from doing things in the name of Jesus Christ.
4:18-22 Peter and John refuse to stay silent about their faith. It is so important to them that they do not care what trouble comes to them in their short lives on the earth, they only care that Christ's message is proclaimed to all the earth. How often to we think of preserving our own reputation above sharing our beliefs with others. Our hesitation to share Christ is another big difference between the church today and the church then.
4:23-31 Instead of simply disobeying their orders Peter and John went to their fellow believers and they prayed together. They prayed for strength, courage, and boldness to proclaim Christ to those around them. Instead of acting hastily their decision for Christ was made with great prayer, and they prayed with each other and for each other. The power of prayer in the early church is beginning to be a theme in this book. How can we include more prayer in our lives?
4:32 Once again the theme of unity is presented. Nothing belongs to one person, but as a family in Christ they are one.
4:33-36 The early church gave generously of all they had. Today we are so attached to our belongings. We would like to think that we would leave them behind if asked to, but we continue to cling to what is worldly and don't give generously to those more needy than ourselves around us. How can we be helping those around us who are in need?