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9. The Healing of a Cripple (Acts 3:1-10)
ACTS 3:1-10
1 Peter and John were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 A certain man who was lame from his mother’s womb was being carried, whom they laid daily at the door of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask gifts for the needy of those who entered into the temple. 3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive gifts for the needy. 4 Peter, fastening his eyes on him, with John, said, “Look at us.” 5 He listened to them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!” 7 He took him by the right hand, and raised him up. Immediately his feet and his ankle bones received strength. 8 Leaping up, he stood, and began to walk. He entered with them into the temple, walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 All the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 They recognized him, that it was he who used to sit begging for gifts for the needy at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. They were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
After the apostles and church members prayed together they entered the temple. They did not despise the place of worship of their heavenly Father, though they themselves had become a temple of the Holy Spirit. Because of their continuous prayers and pure thanksgiving God had clothed them with an excessive power. No one finds spiritual power except in continual prayer and Bible study. The apostles’ hearts were filled with the love of God, which bends way down to earth to help the poor. They did not indifferently pass by the needy and the poor, for the love of God prompts us to serve all men.
When Peter and John went up to the crowded and noisy temple courtyard to pray together and receive a blessing, they heard a soft voice beside them. They turned around, having been interrupted by a poor man crippled from birth, who had not taken a step in his life without the help of others. The Lord’s ministers had mercy on the poor man and desired to help him. The Holy Spirit urged them to believe in Jesus’ power, and strengthened their trust in the Savior. Peter and John immediately realized that the Lord wanted to glorify His name in the suffering man.
Peter told the poor man that he was not richer than him, for the members of the early church abstained from possessions and lived together from a common fund. Peter expressed the principle apparent in every living church: “We have neither silver nor gold. If we had we would sacrifice them to glorify Christ and serve the poor.” Where money is heaped up in the general fund of a church there is little love, and instead a spreading stinginess. That is why God’s power does not indwell a church rich in money, whereas the church empty of money, but rich in faith, is filled with the love of Christ. So which of the two do you want, dear brother, power or money? Christ or the world? These things can never go together.
The apostles gazed into the eyes of the man lame from birth. They sensed that this poor man, in his innermost being, knew that these men cared for him. They did not despise him or desire to rule over him like demagogues. At first, he hoped to receive a generous amount of money from them, but when as he heard that the apostles were poor, like him, his expectation faded.
The lame man listened intently when Peter mentioned the strange name of “Jesus.” He did not think anything special of those who had been given this title, which means “God helps”. Peter, however, was referring to the only Helper, Healer, and Savior there is, who is alone the true Christ. The lame man might have previously heard much about this man, who had been crucified and raised again. He might have noticed something of the ocean of joy that dwelt in people as a result of this name. The message of the Holy Spirit, that God had raised up the One who had been crucified and then taken Him to heaven, had not remained hidden in the streets and back lanes of Jerusalem.
The lame man heard the command to walk in the name of Jesus. He felt Peter’s hand take hold of his wrist, and then felt a powerful current of love running through his body. Suddenly his muscles and ankles grew strong and his bones were straightened. The patient heard the words: “Walk in the name of Jesus Christ.” He ventured to take the first step and saw, with great surprise, that he could walk.
The lame man had never taken a step in his life. Now he jumped like a deer and ran like a child. He was filled with loud rejoicing. He did not praise the apostles, but immediately glorified God. The healed man did not run straight home, for he knew that Jesus had healed him. Instead, he accompanied the praying apostles into the temple to worship and praise God with them. In his overflowing joy he ran to the right and to the left, trying out his bones and legs. He experienced, for the first time, what we experience everyday - God gives us grace that we may walk. Have you thanked your Lord for this privilege?
Since it was now 3 o’clock in the afternoon, many of the people were gathered together in the temple for public worship. They all knew the poor beggar, who was running about gladly and exceedingly cheerfully. He had become a token of Christ’s power. They were all amazed, and felt this new power at work among them.
What about you, dear brother? Do you sit like the lame man at the gate of God’s temple, asking alms and mercy of those who enter into and come out of the temple? Or has Jesus’ power revived you, so that you can walk, leap, jump and offer praise in His name? Do you continually glorify Him with your behavior, day and night?
PRAYER: O Lord Jesus Christ, we thank You that You healed the lame man through the faith of Your apostles. Let Your name be also hallowed through our faith. Fill us with Your mercy, so that we may not love money, but serve the poor in Your name. Heal us with Your power, so that we may walk in Your name and praise You.
QUESTION:
- What is the meaning of the statement: “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth”?