A Cripple Healed
Acts 3:1-7.
Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze, as did John, and said, “Look at us.”And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.
Dear Saints,
The witness “in Jerusalem” (1:8) began on the day of Pentecost but was to continue for many days. This particular story was probably chosen because of the opportunity it presented for such a witness.
Entrance (v. 1-2). The lame beggar was strategically placed at one of the main gates to the temple so that people who came in would see him and hopefully be moved to give him alms. Peter and John went to the temple at the time of the second hour of prayer (the first being the third hour), as was the custom of the early believers.
Expectation (v. 3-5). The beggar drew the attention of Peter and John when he asked them for alms. When they turned to him and engaged him, his hopes grew that they would give him something. He of course expected either money or food, hardly anything more.
Excess (v. 6-7). One can imagine the initial disappointment when Peter declared that he had no money. But God is not limited by the shortsightedness of our requests. He “is able to far more abundantly than all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). Peter commanded the man “in the name of Jesus” – it was by the authority of Jesus that Peter was commanding – to stand and walk, then taking him by the hand, raised him and he was able to stand! Imagine the pleasant surprise of a man who had never stood or walked since birth. He definitely got a lot more than he had asked for. What are you asking God for? The man asked and received in excess of what he expected. It may be that “You do not have, because you do not ask” (James 4:2).
Your Loving Pastor Chris.