1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 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. 3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. 4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 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!” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. 12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? 13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16 And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
17 “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. 22 Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ 24 And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. 25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ 26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
Peter and John were heading into the temple when they encountered a lame man who was carried daily to the temple to beg from those who entered the temple. This man was lame from birth which is important in light of the miracle that would soon take place. He was well known to those who visited the temple because they walked past him every day. When Peter and John arrived, he asked them for money. Peter asked the man to focus on them. Perhaps he was so busy asking everyone who walked by that he wasn’t really concentrating on what Peter had to say. He turned his gaze to Peter and John expecting to receive something. Peter told him that he didn’t have silver or gold, but what he did have he would give him. With that, he said, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” Then Peter helped the man up and in that moment [of faith] his feet and ankles were strengthened and he could not only walk but leap about. He was instantaneously and completely healed, just like when Jesus healed. The man went into the temple with them walking, leaping, and praising God. This naturally caused a stir. Everyone recognised him as the lame beggar who sat at the entrance to the temple and they were amazed at what had happened to him.
Peter used the opportunity to address the crowd. He was speaking to Jews and his message was focussed on them as it was on the day of Pentecost. First, he put the focus on God as the healer, it was not because of their own power or godliness that the man was healed. Then he turned the focus onto Jesus and how the Jews had treated Him. They had handed over the pure and sinless Messiah to Pilate to be crucified and when he wanted to release Him, they asked for a murderer to be released instead. They had killed the Author of life but God raised Him from the dead and again Peter pointed out that he was an eyewitness to all of this. Then Peter explained that it was by faith in Jesus’ name that the man was made strong and given full health. The man had clearly believed that it was Jesus who could heal him and give him the ability to walk.
Peter prepared a way for them to respond in repentance. He pointed out that they had acted in ignorance (Luke 23:34) as had their leaders. Jesus had suffered as prophesied by the prophets. But now they needed to repent and change their minds about Jesus so that their sins could be blotted out. If the nation did this, then Jesus would return to establish His Messianic reign in Israel. Peter reminded them that Moses had promised a Prophet they were to listen to (Deut 18:15) but whoever did not listen to that prophet would be destroyed. Samuel, and all the prophets who came after him, had also predicted those days. Then Peter brought the focus back to that generation. They had the prime opportunity to receive the covenant blessings of Abraham if they would respond through individual belief and corporate obedience.
Some are still living in ignorance and need to make a choice about Jesus. For those of us who have believed, we need to decide how we are going to live for Jesus. Are you looking for opportunities to give more than what you have materially? You know about the gift of eternal life, you should be looking for every opportunity to share that with others. How can you share the good news about Jesus with someone today?
Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan
Righteousness by Faith: Romans 9-10