This morning we’re going to begin chapter 3. Chapter 3 starts with an incredible miracle, the first one after the miracle at Pentecost, and then it transitions into an incredible gospel-centered sermon. Our focus today will be on verses 1-10.

Verse

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

Commentary

The first thing we see here is Peter and John together. According to the NT, these two men spent a considerable amount of time with one another. In the gospels we learn that they were:

Partners in a fishing business (Luke 5:10).

Members of Jesus’ inner circle of the 12 disciples (Matt 17:1, Mark 5:37, Luke 8:51).

The preparers of the last Passover meal (Luke 22:8).

The two disciples that followed Jesus to the high priest’ house after He was arrested, the other 9 fled (John 18:15).

They were the first of the disciples to visit the tomb after the resurrection (John 20:2).

In the early chapters of Acts we see them traveling and ministering together (4:13, 4:19, 8:14). Why were Peter and John together here, what were they doing? It says, “They were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.”

“Going up” suggests that it was their custom to go to the temple frequently which is affirmed by Luke’s statement back in 2:46, “And day by day, attending the temple together.” The Jewish day began at 6AM and ended at 6PM.

According to the daily schedule there were three special prayer times:

Morning prayer, the 3rd hour (9AM)

Afternoon prayer, the 6th hour (12 noon)

Evening prayer, the 9th hour (3PM) (sacrifices were brought and given)

Interestingly, the crucifixion account in Mark 15 shows that Jesus was nailed to the cross during morning prayer, the 3rd hour, and darkness fell on the land during afternoon prayer, the 6th hour, and Jesus died during evening prayer, the 9th hour, which was when the sacrifices were made. It’s incredible to me that while the Jews were gathered together crying out for a deliverer during those prayer times at the temple, God was actually answering their prayers because their Deliverer was just outside of the city gates being delivered on a cross at Golgotha. And yet, because of their sin, obstinacy and ignorance they didn’t even know it.

Friend, have you come to realize that the Deliverer has been delivered? Maybe you have offered up prayers to God seeking deliverance. Millions of Jews and Muslims do every day. I’m here to tell you that God has already answered your prayer. He did so by sending His only begotten Son to deliver us from our sins, and to wash us in His precious blood, and to cloth us in His perfect righteousness so that He may present us as perfect before God Almighty. That is how God answered your prayer. Will receive what He has done by faith? Will you repent of your sins and turn to Him, trusting in Jesus as your Lord and Savior?

Back to the text. Peter and John are going up to the temple during evening prayer, the 9th hour, as was their custom. Look at verse 2:

Verse

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.

Commentary

As Peter and John approached one of the entrances to the temple they noticed a lame man being carried and then dropped off. It says that the man had been “lame from birth”. How did the author know that the man had been “lame from birth”? It is likely that Luke may have interviewed this guy later on or received information from other witnesses or from the apostles. Luke was a diligent historian. This little insight will prove to be most valuable later on in our study. It says that the lame beggar was put at the “Beautiful Gate daily”. This particular time would’ve been optimum for a beggar because it was when the Jews brought their offerings and sacrifices to the Lord. This particular entrance, the Beautiful Gate, was optimum because of the amount of traffic that went through it.

William Barclay

“Such a place was considered the best of all positions because, when people are on their way to worship God, they are disposed to be generous to others.”

So every day at the same time, a handful of people, probably his friends, carried him to his normal spot so that he could beg. Look at verse 3:

Verse

3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms.

Commentary

The lame beggar noticed Peter and John as they approached the gate. It says that he “asked to receive alms.” He probably said, “Can you guys help me out with a little cash?” Maybe he held up a sign that said in Aramaic, “Can’t work for food, please help.” I doubt that he held one up that said, “Why lie about it, I just need a beer, please help.” Look at how Peter and John responded to him in verses 4-6:

Verse

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.

Commentary

It says that Peter and John stared at him and said, “Look at us.” Verse 3 says that the lame beggar saw them so that means that he was already looking at them. Why did Peter then say, “Look at us?” if he was already looking at them? I think this was Peter’s way of drawing his attention to their appearance. Peter and John were not wealthy men but rather average or even below average. They were Galilean fishermen who hadn’t been on the job for a couple years because they left to follow Jesus. Peter and John didn’t have money, belongings, or anything else of any value on them. Peter says to him (paraphrased), “Look at our appearance, do we look like we have something to give you?”

When Peter said this, the lame beggar fixed his attention on them hoping to receive something, anything. And Peter said to him, “I don’t have any treasure pal”, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you.” The lame beggar’s eyes must have widened and his ears probably perked up.

And then Peter offered him something far greater than a few coins which would have bought a meal or two. He said, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”

Peter offered this man the greatest gift, the gift of healing, in the name of Jesus Christ. It is highly probable that Peter remembered the words of Jesus as he made this offer. Listen to what Jesus said in John 14:12-14.

John 14:12-14

12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

It is so very important that when we bring our petitions before God that we too offer them in the name of Jesus Christ.

When we seek God for wisdom, seek it in the name of Jesus Christ. When we seek God for direction, seek it in the name of Jesus Christ. When we seek God for healing, seek it in the name of Jesus Christ. When we seek God for mercy and grace, seek it in the name of Jesus Christ.When we seek God for the salvation of others, seek it in the name of Jesus Christ. When we seek God for provision, seek it in the name of Jesus Christ.

Peter and John told the lame beggar to stand up in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth! And then it says that Peter “took him by the right hand and pulled him up.” And then the man’s “feet and ankles were made strong.” And then it says in verse 8 that he “leapt to his feet and began to walk.”

How does a man who has never walked before immediately start walking? I have three boys that were once babies who all had to learn to walk. Each of them stumbled around the house crashing into tables and the floor. They had to develop coordination and balance through practice. And what about people who have temporarily lost the use of their legs because of an accident or something? I’ve been around for 42 years and have never read or heard of a case where a person leapt to his or her feet and started walking. I’ve read plenty of cases where people learned to walk again over time.

Our guy didn’t do any of those things he simply leapt to his feet and started walking. He had no surgery, physical therapy, or anything else. The last thing verse 9 says is that he “praised God.” That was the primary purpose for the miracle. That God would receive praise. That God would be worshipped. That is the primary purpose behind salvation too. God does not save because of love only, no, He saves sinners for the glory of His name.

The Bible teaches repetitively that God does everything for the glory of His name. This is a difficult truth for the majority of evangelicals to swallow, especially the American ones. We live in a culture that declares that we are number one and that we deserve the very best.

And the church propagates a very similar message by inferring and even preaching that God’s love for us the main point of the Scriptures and the pinnacle of all truth. Listen to some verses that seem to indicate otherwise. You may follow along with your insert.

1. God created us for His glory (Isaiah 43:6-7).

2. God called Israel for His glory (Isaiah 49:3).

3. God rescued Israel from Egypt for His glory (Psalm 106:7-8).

4. God raised up Pharaoh to show His power and glory (Romans 9:17).

5. God defeats Pharaoh by the Red Sea to show His glory (Exodus 14:4).

6. God spared Israel in the wilderness for the glory of His name (Ezekiel 20:14).

7. God gave Israel the Promised Land for the glory of His name (2 Samuel 7:23).

8. God did not cast away His people for the glory of His name (1 Samuel 12:20-22).

9. God saved Jerusalem from attack for the glory of His name (2 Kings 19:34).

10. God shepherds His people for His name sake (Psalm 23).

11. God restored Israel from exile for the glory of His name (Ezekiel 36:22-23).

12. Jesus sought the glory of His Father in all that He did (John 7:18).

13. Jesus told us to do good works so that God would get glory (Matthew 5:16).

14. Jesus warned that failure to seek God’s glory makes faith impossible (John 5:44).

15. Jesus said that He answers prayers so that God would be glorified (John 14:13).

16. Jesus endured His final hours of suffering for the glory of God (John 12:27-28).

17. God gave His Son to vindicate the glory of His righteousness (John 17:1).

18. God forgives our sin for His own sake (Isaiah 43:25 & Psalm 25:11).

19. Jesus receives us into His fellowship for the glory of God (Romans 15:7).

20. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Son of God (John 16:14).

21. God instructs us to do everything for His glory (1 Corinthians 10:31).

22. God tells us to serve in a way that would glorify Him (1 Peter 4:11).

23. Jesus is coming again for the glory of God (2 Thessalonians 1:9-10).

24. Jesus’ ultimate aim for us is to see and enjoy His glory (John 17:24).

25. God’s plan is to fill the earth with the knowledge of His glory (Habakkuk 2:14).

26. Everything that happens will redound to the glory of God (Romans 11:36).

God is very much about His glory. His glory is the underlying motive for all that He does. This truth does not malign or minimize His great love, mercy, and grace. It is the foundation for which those things stand. If God were not passionate about His glory, He certainly would not be passionate about healing and saving sinners.

What is your deepest desire?

Is it to make more money?

Is it to get married one day?

Is it to have children?

Is it to have good children?

Is it to have your children move out?

Is it to be physically fit?

Is it to find your dream job?

Is it to own your dream house?

Is it to have your spouse become your “ideal” mate?

If you are a Christian your deepest desire should be to glorify God. That is the mark that God puts on every true believer. If you believe that you are a Christian and are, at the same time, unconcerned for the glory of God, you’re probably not a Christian. God’s glory and true saving faith are synonymous. They go hand in hand.

Back to the passage.

Our lame beggar was healed in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth and he leapt to his feet and began to praise God. Look at verses 9-10:

Verse

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.

Commentary

This guy got noticed. The people around him recognized that he was the lame beggar from the Beautiful Gate and they saw him walking and praising God. And it filled them with wonder and amazement. Wonder and amazement are great English words but they don’t quite capture the full magnitude of the crowd’s response.

Wonder is translated Thambos.

Thambos is a state of astonishment due to both the suddenness and the unusualness of the phenomenon.

Amazement is translated ekstasis (ecstasy).

Ekstasis is a state of intense amazement, to the point of being beside oneself with astonishment.

We might describe the crowd as being “blown away”. They could not believe what they were seeing. They were beside themselves with amazement. They were so used to seeing this guy laying on a mat begging for change at the gate that his leaping, walking, and praising were nearly unbelievable. There may have some present that were able to connect the dots of the lame beggars healing with Isaiah’s prophesy. A couple weeks ago we learned that the miracles of Pentecost were directly tied to Joel’s prophesy in 2:28-29 which were about the Messianic Age. Peter preached about these things in his sermon.

The healing of the lame beggar was another signifier that the Messianic Age had begun. Isaiah 35:5-6 says that at the onset of Christ’s rule and reign:

Isaiah 35:5-6

“Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer…”

Again, back in verse 8 of our text, The lame beggar did what? He “Leapt to his feet…”

Now this whole event was a primer for what was to come. The apostles had the crowd’s attention and Peter is about to tie what they’ve seen to Jesus. He’s about to preach the gospel just as he had done in front of the marveling multitude on the day of Pentecost. So the stage is set and we’ll have to wait until next for it to unfold.

Closing Thoughts

As a new church we've really got to think through how we minister to those around us.

We want to be a church that ascribes much glory to God through our efforts. The way that we can achieve this is by doing ministry biblically. Biblical ministry has one ultimate goal and that is to bring God praise and glory. Biblical ministry achieves this by being holistic. Holistic simply means to be concerned with the “whole” person rather than just the soul or just the body or physical needs.

The church, however, tends to put all of its emphasis on one or the other rather than on both at the same time. This happens when the gospel is preached and preached and preached and the physical needs of people are left unattended. Or when the physical needs are met and met and met and the spiritual needs are left unattended. When we look at the ministry of Jesus, we can clearly see that He was very concerned with both the physical and the spiritual wellbeing of people. Jesus healed and fed people and He also preached the gospel with power and authority. As a church we must make it our steadfast goal to do the same.

We have seen a terrific example in our text of how powerful and fruitful it can be when a child of God meets someone’s physical need. Peter healed a man by the power of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ holy name and he leapt to his feet praising God, worshipping, and that grabbed the attention of a whole lot of people which set the stage for Peter to preach the gospel.

If the lame beggar had not been healed, if he had not had his physical need met, there would not have been any wonder, amazement, or a stage set. If the gospel had been preached without the initial blast of the miracle, Peter would not have had the reference point he needed to tie his sermon to Jesus. The miracle and the gospel worked hand in hand. Now I’m not suggesting that we go out and attempt to work a bunch of miracles or anything like that. I am suggesting that we do holistic ministry which is focused on showing compassion and charity towards others as well as sharing the good news with them. That’s the kind of church we need to be. That’s the kind of church Christ calls us to be.