A lame man healed
January 21, 2020
Commentary
It was three o’clock in the afternoon and a prayer meeting was about to start in the temple (v. 1). A new faith had come to Peter and John, but they still followed the law of Moses. For them, the new faith and the old discipline could walk hand in hand. Peter and John were opposites in their temperament; however, they enjoyed fellowship because of their love for one another.
While on their way to the prayer meeting, they met a man who had been lame from birth. He was begging for something from them (v. 2). In the East it was the custom for beggars to sit at the entrance to a temple or a shrine. Perhaps Peter showed him his empty pockets, for he said to him, “Silver and Gold have I none.” Peter may have been poor; however, he was rich toward God, for he went on to say, “but such as I have give I thee; In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk” (vv. 3-7). When we have a “felt” need, we should not hesitate to ask God to provide. We should be aware, however, that God knows our “actual” needs as well as our “felt” needs. By His grace, he often chooses to withhold what we think we need in order to give us something better.
The man was healed instantaneously. He went “walking and leaping and praising God”. Notice he did not praise Peter for the miracle (v. 8). Everyone around him was astonished at what had happened (vv. 9-10). He was no longer limited to his fixed place at the gate but was now able to into the temple. And all the people saw him walking and praising God.
Application
Today we have seen there is power in the name of Jesus. After the lame man was healed, notice in Acts 3:8 what filled his heart. He trusted in the name of Jesus, and his heart was filled with praise. I must not forget to thank people who help me, but most of all I should remember to praise God for His care and protection.
Acts 3:1– 10 (NET)
1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time for prayer, at three o’clock in the afternoon. 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried up, who was placed at the temple gate called “the Beautiful Gate” every day so he could beg for money from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple courts, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked directly at him (as did John) and said, “Look at us!” 5 So the lame man paid attention to them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, stand up and walk!” 7 Then Peter took hold of him by the right hand and raised him up, and at once the man’s feet and ankles were made strong. 8 He jumped up, stood and began walking around, and he entered the temple courts with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 All the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and they recognized him as the man who used to sit and ask for donations at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with astonishment and amazement at what had happened to him.
Illustration: Duke of Wellington “ “I’d give more praise”
The Duke of Wellington, the British military leader who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo, was not an easy man to serve under. He was brilliant, demanding, and not one to shower his subordinates with compliments. Yet even Wellington realized that his methods left something to be desired. In his old age a young lady asked him what, if anything, he would do differently if he had his life to live over again. Wellington thought for a moment, then replied. “I’d give more praise,” he said. (Bits & Pieces, March 31, 1994, p. 24).