Part Seven Acts 3:1-10

Acts 3:1-10 Now Peter and John were going to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer. And a certain man who had been lame from his mother’s womb was

Acts 3:1-10 being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were

Acts 3:1-10 entering the temple. And when he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms. And Peter, along with John, fixed his

Acts 3:1-10 gaze upon him and said, “Look at us!” And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.

Acts 3:1-10 But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene – walk!”

Acts 3:1-10 And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened.

Acts 3:1-10 And with a leap, he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.

Acts 3:1-10 And all the people saw him walking and praising God; and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the

Acts 3:1-10 temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

This miracle of healing the lame beggar will draw a wonderful crowd for Peter to preach to again.

The first three verses help set the scene for this amazing event!

Acts 3:1 Now Peter and John were going to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer.

Peter and John were close friends, business partners, and ministers.

Luke 5:8-11 But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” For amazement had seized him and all his

Luke 5:8-11 companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon,

Luke 5:8-11 “Do not fear, from now on you will be fishers of men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.

With John’s brother James, they made up the inner circle of the twelve disciples.

Jesus had entrusted them to make the preparations for the Lord’s Supper.

Luke 22:8 And He sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.”

Peter and John were the first of the disciples to visit the tomb after the resurrection.

John 20:1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb.

John 20:2 And so she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and

John 20:2 we do not know where they have laid Him.”

The early chapters of Acts often find them traveling and ministering together.

Acts 3:1 Now Peter and John were going to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer.

It’s important to note that the temple was part of their every day life.

Psalm 55:16 As for me, I shall call upon God, and the Lord will save me.

Psalm 55:17 Evening and morning and at noon, I will complain and murmur, and He will hear my voice.

They were well acquainted with the temple and spent a great deal of time there.

Acts 3:2 And a certain man who had been lame from his mother’s womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the

Acts 3:2 temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple.

Very few who were lame from birth would ever walk.

There were three prime locations for beggars.

Prime Spots The houses of the rich – (Luke 16:19-21) The main highways – (Mark 10:46) The temple – (Acts 3:2)

You may notice the same thing taking place today!

His regular routine was to beg at the temple gates.

The Beautiful gate was one of the best locations to beg.

Not only did crowds throng at the temple each day, but many would try to impress God with their piety.

Beggars knew people would be prepared to give and could often catch them with their purses wide open.

The gate called Beautiful inside the temple mount area on the eastern side separated the Court of the Gentiles from the Court of the Women.

Like other gates, it was large and ornate.

Josephus states it was made of Corinthian brass and was so large it took twenty men to close.

The lame man was strategically placed at the gate for maximum effect.

Acts 3:3 And when he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms.

He clearly expected mercy in the form of money from Peter and John.

Little did he realize he was about to receive the greater mercy of healing and salvation.

Verses 4-8 reveal a powerful sign from God.

Acts 3:4 And Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze upon him and said, “Look at us!”

Acts 3:5 And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.

Acts 3:6 But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene – walk!”

Acts 3:7 And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened.

Acts 3:8 And with a leap, he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.

At least four aspects of this miracle are extremely noteworthy!

Four Aspects It was unexpected. It was done in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ! It was instantaneous. It was complete.

It was unexpected!

Acts 3:4 And Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze upon him and said, “Look at us!”

In response to the beggar’s cries for alms, Peter and John fixed their gaze upon him.

This word for gaze is the same one used in Acts 1:10 to describe the apostles’ intense gaze at the Lord.

G816 ἀτενίζω at-en-id'-zo To gaze intently: - behold earnestly (steadfastly), fasten (eyes), look, set eyes.

The two apostles focused their attention on the cripple, commanding him, “Look at us!”

Acts 3:5 And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.

The beggar responding with eager anticipation, probably thinking, “Pay day!”

But Peter’s response was totally unexpected.

Acts 3:6a But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you:…

They definitely have his undivided attention.

He’s expecting a little money to ease his pain and desperate situation, but God gave of Himself.

It was done in the name of Jesus Christ!

Acts 3:6 But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene – walk!”

The beggar had little reason to believe in Jesus Christ.

Jesus had not changed his plight when He was here.

Jesus had been executed as a blasphemer.

That beautiful phrase deserves another look!

“In the name of” means by virtue of Christ’s character, authority, and power.

Peter had seen the Lord heal countless times.

Now, acting on behalf of His Lord with the power delegated to him, he commands the beggar to walk.

It was instantaneous!

Acts 3:7 And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened.

The beggar’s confusion didn’t last long.

He experienced strength coming into his body!

The beggar did not even need to be taught how to walk.

He received coordination and balance instantly.

It was complete!

Acts 3:8 And with a leap, he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.

Peter didn’t have to manhandle the beggar to get him on his feet.

As soon as he felt the strength surge through his feet, ankles and legs…

…with a leap he stood upright and began to walk.

His symptoms were completely gone.

Peter and John didn’t have to support him as he limped along.

Instead, he entered the temple with them dancing and leaping and praising God.

His joy and excitement knew no boundaries!

I love how the story continues!

Verses 9-10 reveal some pretty wonderful results.

Acts 3:9-10 And all the people saw him walking and praising God; and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the

Acts 3:9-10 temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

There were three results of this miraculous healing.

Three Results Joy for the beggar! Praise and worship toward God! A testimony to the people!

Joy for the beggar!

The sedate, stately ritual of the evening sacrifice was slightly disturbed by loud cries of celebration.

Praise and worship toward God!

There was a definite contrast between those going through the motions of religion and one beggar who just discovered Jesus!

A testimony to the people!

The beggar’s outburst of praise and worship brought shock and amazement to the crowd.

It was a very public and undeniable testimony!

They had seen this beggar at the temple gate for years and now in the name of Jesus Christ he was completely healed.

Even the Jewish leaders didn’t deny the healing.

Acts 4:16 What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we

Acts 4:16 cannot deny it.

There’s no doubt the people remembered the Old Testament prophecy from Isaiah concerning the coming of the Messiah.

Isaiah 35:5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped.

Isaiah 35:6 Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will shout for joy. For waters will break forth in the wilderness and streams in Arabah.

The crowd is charged and continues to grow as Peter prepares to preach again!

To anyone who has ears to hear… Jesus Christ is the Messiah and He is Lord of all.

Amen!