Acts 3:1-10
GAINING INTEREST
Have you ever had “one of those days” when nothing went as planned? If you’re human, the answer is a resounding, “Yes!” We have all had days full of interruptions, surprises and difficulties, causing our personal calendar to get tossed out of the proverbial window.
On just such a day, you woke up with a bright smile on your face, ready to tackle everything on your agenda. Then something happened, turning your day upside-down. The “something” could have been any number of circumstances. Perhaps a friend or family member had a medical emergency. Maybe a friend needed a listening ear. You may have simply lost your car keys (in the days prior to Uber and Lyft). I’ve even had plans change because of emotional outbursts in our home, or because I remembered an important task I failed to complete yesterday.
Unexpected events are to be expected. There are certainly going to be days we don’t accomplish a single item on our to-do list. Normally, when we think of a day passing in unpredicted and unplanned ways, we think in terms of negative impact; our day was interrupted because of difficult circumstances. There are times, however, when good things prevent us from following our intended schedule for the day. Perhaps a good friend stops by for a visit. Maybe a loved one kidnaps you for a surprise trip to a dream location.
The fact remains: You never know what a day may bring. In Acts 3, Dr. Luke records a story about a man whose day turned upside-down in a flash. He woke up with a normal day on the calendar, but—as you might have guessed—it did not go as he had planned.
As I have meditated and prayed over this passage, there are three truths God has put on my heart. Grab your Bible and let’s explore these truths together.
READ ACTS 3:1-5
① GOD PERFORMS MIRACLES
This story begins with, “One day.” It was just another ordinary day. Nothing special about it. People roamed the streets of Jerusalem as they did every other day. Mules hauled carts and wagons laden with goods. Wares and produce were being sold along the dusty streets. Clean laundry hung from the lines strewn between the stone buildings. The sun had risen in the east and was making its way through the cloudless sky. No, nothing out of the ordinary here.
On this most ordinary of days, the apostles Peter and John were going up to the temple for afternoon prayer. Nothing special about that. It was what they did every other day of the week at 3:00 in the afternoon.
At the same time Peter and John are making their way to the temple, someone else is also approaching the temple, but for a very different reason. A man crippled from birth was going there to beg money from individuals who were on their way to church. This was his routine. According to verse 2, he sat at the temple gate for the sole purpose of begging every day.
It was not a flashy life. In fact, he couldn’t even walk to the temple on his own accord; he was carried there. Not only was he reliant on others to transport him to the temple gate, but he was also reliant on the generosity of strangers to provide for his needs.
On this most ordinary of ordinary days, two worlds collide. Peter and John are getting ready to stroll right past this same crippled beggar they had kindly ignored every other day. The beggar, however, doesn’t sit quietly by the temple gate waiting for people to drop coins in his cup. No, he makes his need known. Scripture very clearly says the crippled man asked Peter and John for money. You can almost hear his cry, “Alms! Alms! Alms for the poor!”
Peter and John look straight at him, but he’s not looking back. His eyes are cast downward. Dejection and discouragement weigh heavily upon his shoulders. People have spit on him and cursed him. He is an outcast and the butt of many jokes. It’s difficult for the crippled beggar to look people in the eye.
Peter and John demand his attention, saying, “Look at us!” At this very moment, the man’s head jerked up, eyes full of expectation. Anticipating a monetary gift, the man at the temple gate is undoubtedly feeling hopeful, expectant and glad. With three little words spoken by Peter and John, our discouraged, crippled beggar becomes highly optimistic and his spirit is lifted. His eyes light up with gladness and now he only wonders, “How much will they give?”
His hopes are high. He’s on the edge of his seat with anticipation. He’s ready to utter, “God bless you,” to these two men who dared to look him—a crippled beggar—in the eye! Our story continues...
ACTS 3:6
Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have…”
At the hearing of these words, the beggar’s hopes have been dashed. Just seconds after feeling so incredibly hopeful, the crippled beggar is now experiencing sadness and disappointment. His shoulders probably drooped while a heavy sigh escaped his lips.
Then Peter continues…
“...but...”
It is a word you either love to hear or hate to hear. For this man who was first hopeful, then disappointed, this tiny little word no doubt sparked his curiosity. In just a matter of seconds, this crippled beggar has been on an emotional rollercoaster and he’s certainly ready for the ride to be over. He’s ready for these two men to just get to the point. “But what?” he wonders.
Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”
Peter and John offered something to the crippled beggar for which he hadn’t even asked. They offered healing. The ability to walk and run and jump. Freedom.
Refer to your Bible once again.
READ ACTS 3:7-10
It was a miracle!! The man could walk! He had asked for alms, but got legs instead. He received far more than he had asked for, and was now the happiest man in town. It doesn’t require much imagination to envision this man walking and jumping and praising God. He didn’t merely plod along, silently grateful for the ability to walk. No! He caused a great commotion such that ALL the people in the vicinity of the temple gate saw him. Then, they all realized a miracle had happened on that most ordinary of days. Just as they went about life as usual, a miracle transpired right under their noses!
ACTS 4:22
"For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old."
For the better part of forty years, he had sat—everyday—at the temple gate called Beautiful begging for money. Relying on other people for his basic needs was the core of his existence. But one day... On an ordinary day of the week, he woke up crippled and went to bed with strong ankles and legs, able to walk and run and jump. This man’s life would never be the same.
Our once-upon-a-time crippled beggar credited God for the healing. Twice in these verses we read, “praising God.” Peter may have been the one to stretch out his hand, but it was God who healed. The crippled man knew it, giving credit to God in a loud voice.
ACTS 3:12
When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?
ACTS 3:16
By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus‘ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.
Peter left no room for misunderstanding. He made sure the crowd who had quickly gathered also understood the source of healing. Peter assured the crowd he was not a man of special powers, but rather, it was in the name of Jesus this man had been healed.
* INTERSECTING LIFE *
Indeed, God heals! He does not promise to heal every sickness and disease, but He is perfectly able to bring the dead to life, to make the lame to walk, to make the blind to see.
Perhaps you’re thinking, “I’m not dead. I’m not lame. I’m not blind.” The question I would pose to you, then, is this: “What healing do you need in your life?” Do you need a healing of the heart? Maybe you need God to mend the wounds inflicted on your heart from a cruel world. You need God to heal bitterness, anger, self-condemning thoughts, insecurities, or fears. There are troubles in your heart you can not possibly heal on your own.
Friends, we are the crippled beggar. We have infirmities only Jesus can heal.
You need God to intervene and heal a wound no doctor can touch. Guess what? He can do it on the most ordinary of days. The kicker? You have to want healing. You have to be willing to take the hand of the One who offers healing.
Did the crippled beggar have a choice to receive healing? He most certainly did! Peter first said to the man, “Walk.” Then he extended his hand to the beggar. At that very moment, the crippled man could have kept his hand to himself and said, “You guys are crazy!” Instead, he reached out his hand—in faith—and was miraculously healed. Transformed. Changed forever.
I believe there was only one reason compelling this crippled beggar to extend his hand for healing: He didn’t want to stay where he was. He didn’t want to be reliant on other people every day for the rest of his life.
In the same way the beggar desired change, you have to want healing. You have to come to the point of saying, “I don’t want to be bitter forever.” “I don’t want to hang on to this hurt.” “I no longer want to live in fear.” “I don’t want to…" (you fill in the blank).
Only you know how to fill in the blank. I can think of several instances in my own life when I have expressed these sentiments to God. There was a season in life when I said, “God, I don’t want to deal with this habit anymore.” Another time, it was fear. Whatever your need, are you ready to be healed?
If you’re willing to say, “Yes, I do want to be healed! I want God to heal my heart,” take a moment and express your desires to God. Reach out to God and let the healing begin today.
② AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXERCISE FAITH
This story from Acts 3 is more than just a story about a man being healed. It’s also a story about exercising faith. My green eyes were opened to this aspect of this story several years ago while watching the television series A.D: The Bible Continues. This short television series depicted the lives and times of the apostles and early believers. Our story from Acts 3 was included in the series. When I saw it played out on the screen, I realized this is more than a story about healing; it is also a story about exercising faith.
Peter had lived life with Jesus for three years. During those three years, Peter had witnessed many miracles at the hand of Jesus. Peter saw Jesus walk on water. He watched Jesus feed 5,000 men with two loaves of bread and five fish. Peter was in the boat when Jesus calmed a raging storm with nothing more than a vocal command. Peter likely drank the wine Jesus fashioned from ordinary water. He saw the power of Jesus’ touch when He healed a blind man. Peter was at the tomb when Jesus called to Lazarus, “Come forth!”
Aside from Jesus' own resurrection, Scripture records 35 miracles accomplished by the hand of Jesus. Maybe Peter wasn’t present for every single miracle, but he surely witnessed most of them. After Jesus had ascended into heaven, I have a feeling Peter spent time pondering Jesus’ words. When the crippled beggar asked him and John for money, perhaps Peter remembered Jesus’ words recorded in John 14:12.
JOHN 14:12
I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
As the crippled man asked for money, Peter recognized an opportunity to move from “You will do” to “I have experienced.” There was a gap between what Jesus said would be accomplished by faith and what Peter had experienced by faith. Peter actively bridged the gap by exercising his faith. Peter believed the Spirit of power in him could do more than he could accomplish on his own.
In full assurance of what God could do, Peter extended his hand to the crippled beggar and said, “Walk.” A word we hear all the time. A simple word. It’s not a word that excites people or raises them off their rockers. A common word, yes, but spoken by the power of God in the name of Jesus, it held life-changing potential for one man who had never walked a day in his life.
In my opinion, the television depiction of this encounter displayed well the faith of Peter. He gives a partial sideways glance at his buddies as if to say, “I’m going to try out the power of the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.”
Did Peter have any doubts, or did he act in complete confidence? I don’t know the answer to this question, but I do know he had faith at least the size of a mustard seed. Peter was willing to move outside of his comfort zone and try something new—in the name of Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit for the glory of God.
I love the example of Peter’s faith here. He is an example of one who moved from one side of the chasm to the another; from “will do” to “have experienced.” He did so by faith.
* INTERSECTING LIFE *
I believe God fills our lives with opportunities to exercise our faith. For each of us, those “faith steps” will look very different, for our spiritual journeys are as unique as our own fingerprints. For me, starting this blog was a huge step of faith. Others have started a blog in a matter of minutes on a whim. What requires faith for you will be different for me. The question really isn’t what requires faith. The question before us is this:
When are you going to take your step of faith?
I believe you already know what God is asking you to do. How long are you going to sit on your hands, knowing full well what God has asked you to do? It isn’t necessary to focus on the finish line. Just focus on the next step. God is with you as you plunge forward into the unknown. God would not ask you to do something he wants someone else to accomplish. Trust him. He’s got you right smack-dab in the middle of his hand and he isn’t going to drop you now.
③ ANY ORDINARY DAY CAN BE MOVING DAY
For the better part of four decades, the crippled beggar sat at the temple gate begging for money. Day after day it was the same. Same location. Same scenery. Same tactics. Same goal. He had not known of life much beyond that spot. He certainly didn’t know of life inside the temple—it was a place he was not allowed to enter. His crippled state made him “unclean.” He was unfit to enter into a place where God was present. Prohibited from entering the temple, he did the next best thing: He sat at the temple gate. As he did, he watched many people enter the temple to worship freely. From a distance, he could only imagine the activities transpiring just a stone’s throw from where he sat.
But then one day...Peter spoke in faith, and the crippled man was healed! His first steps? You guessed it! Straight into the temple.
ACTS 3:8
Then he went with them into the temple courts.
He was no longer an outsider! He no longer had to imagine life within the temple walls because he was now experiencing it firsthand!
When he woke up that day, he assumed it was going to be another normal, ordinary day of begging. He could not have been more wrong!
❏ Little did he realize it was the day he would be healed.
❏ Little did he realize it would be the day he moved from outside the temple gate into the temple courts.
❏ From beggar to worshiper of God.
❏ From outcast to talk of the town.
❏ From down and out to up and in (literally).
* INTERSECTING LIFE *
Are you sitting outside the temple gate? You’re the person who has never experienced God’s presence or power firsthand. You’ve only watched others enter into God’s presence.
There is no need to “clean up your act” first. You don’t have to get rid of the bitterness and hatred, fears and insecurities, bad habits and bad thoughts. The beggar didn’t go home and take a shower before he went into the temple. No! He went straight in praising God for his changed life!
Today may very well be moving day for you. If you have questions about what it means to become a follower of Jesus, click the link below.
If you are ready to move into God’s presence today, I would love to hear from you! You could also reach out to friend. Contact a Bible-believing church in your area. Wherever you live, let someone know you are ready to move into God’s presence!
And so this story in Acts 3 is far more than a miracle! Yes, it’s about the power of God to perform miracles. It’s also about exercising faith. It’s about moving from observer to participant in worship.
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible: The New International Version (NIV) Study Bible, 10th Anniversary Edition. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society (Zondervan Publishing
House).
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