Acts 3:3-7 3When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms. 4But when Peter looked intently at him, along with John, he said, “Look at us!” 5And he began to give them attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6But Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not possess, but what I do have, this I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, rise up and walk!” 7And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened.
A divine encounter took place next as Peter and John reached the Beautiful Gate. The people we meet are not accidents but opportunities for them to encounter God’s grace flowing through us. What goes through the mind of the homeless or beggars as people walk by them? The man thought that these two men passing him, who had a kind expression on their faces, would surely be able to help him. Peter takes center stage, with John participating but not speaking. Peter stopped and got the man’s attention by looking straight at him. We have to give the apostles credit for stopping in the first place. They had watched Jesus’ compassion many times over the past few years. Now they had his Spirit in them. Their thinking and actions were changing to become more like Jesus.
The countless people who passed the man would only throw him a coin, but Peter and John actually stopped and talked with him. This situation was different than when others passed him, so the man gave them his attention. An excitement must have swelled up in him, thinking this was his lucky day! These two guys had something special for him, maybe a large gift that would help him survive for a week or a month! His imagination must have kicked in, thinking he would get something from these two fellows.
Verse 6 gives the surprise and turning point in the man’s life. The first words he heard were disappointing. Peter had no money to give him. The man thought that what he needed most was money, but Peter had something greater to give him. People today think that all they need is more money to find happiness and peace. Peter’s response got right to the heart of the matter: Jesus Christ of Nazareth. The man’s experience of Jesus in a personal way came with the command Walk!
Peter became involved in the miracle by grabbing the man and lifting him up. The man joined in the miracle by leaping up and following Peter and John into the temple. This miracle involved the faith of Peter as much or more than the faith of the man. What prompted Peter to speak in Jesus’ name? The Holy Spirit was moving in Peter’s life, filling him with assurance, confidence, and direction and enabling him to be a vessel for God’s power to be experienced by others. The name of Jesus represents his person, power, and presence. Peter spoke with authority over a handicap that was beyond human ability to do anything about. His authority came from his association and relationship with Jesus. This story illustrates what Jesus promised his disciples about their ability to do miracles in the future (John 14:12). The man received a resurrection of sorts because of the power of the One who was raised.
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