1 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; 3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Commentary
Vs. 1 “Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.”
Here we see that even though Peter and John were apostles of Christ they were not men removed from the world, nor the people around them. Nor were they dressed in such a way as to make themselves notably religious men (as the scribes and Pharisees and priests of the Jews were). And so here going to the Temple at the hour of prayer, (for as of yet they were not yet removed from their Jewish religious practices, for the Temple was still standing, and as of yet it was only to the Jews that they witnessed the Gospel.), they would’ve looked like just two ordinary men who were seeking God amongst the throng of people also doing so.
Vs. 2-3 2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; 3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.
Now it was as the people were entering the Temple there was laid at one of its gates called Beautiful a man lame from his mothers’ womb, whom they laid daily there, who would ask alms from those who entered the Temple. And so, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple he asked for alms, that is a charitable gift (i.e. spare change and such) from them.
Vs. 4-8 4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.
Even though Peter and John were on their way into the temple at the hour of prayer, when the crippled man appealed to them for alms they did not pass him by, but rather seeing him in that helpless state, and seeing that their was a chance for God’s grace and power by the Holy Spirit to be manifested to him, they stopped, and Peter fixing his eyes upon him, said to him: “Look at us.” And so, the beggar gave them his attention; for he expected to receive something from them (vs. 4-5). Therefore, when Peter saw that he had the beggar’s attention he said to him, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” Vs. 6 And with that Peter gave the beggar his right hand and he lifted the beggar up, and immediately the Scripture says his feet and ankle bones received strength (vs, 7). And so, the beggar himself now leaping up stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God (vs. 8)! That was then an amazing miracle and sight for all to see the Holy Spirits power at work, which totally transformed that once lame man’s person. For that is what is being displayed here, not just the healing power of the Spirit of the Lord, but the transformative Resurrection Power of the Lord Jesus Christ through the Gospel, which likewise transforms every person who through it believes in Him. For just as Peter healed the lame man here so does the Lord Jesus Christ’s Power go out through His Gospel to heal those once crippled by their fears or failures, making them to walk and run and leap for joy also! Same with those blinded by god of this age, who in their ignorance are only doing those things which are not fitting to do, the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ brings to all who believe in Him not only the remission of their sins, (and thus new and everlasting life, and thus a complete change of their person, 2 Cor. 5:17), but also having been brought to life by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ the desire for righteousness and Godliness and truth, and thus the power and freedom and grace to rise above their sins, and this worlds degenerating ways. Or those who are privileged in this life, who apparently lack nothing, except the most important and soul satisfying thing (which no one can buy, and no amount of money can acquire it for them), they too can also have God’s healing power which will not only open their eyes, but He will completely transform their hearts and lives and thus persons through the Gospel when they believe in Him! Therefore, even though the apostles Peter and John did not have silver or gold to give to the man, they did have the immeasurable riches of Christ, (which must I remind you that we who believe in Him likewise have), who achieves far more through our own weaknesses and lack of resources, than He does through our storing up our wealth, or saving up our power, when we step out in faith with Him! And so even in their own apparent “poverty”, they were more than able by the Spirit of the Lord to bring a true and lasting blessing to this crippled beggar. Who did not just need some spare change, (for that would’ve only brought him right back there the next day seeking the same), but rather what he needed, and what they provided by the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and thus by the Spirit of the Lord, was a complete transformation of his person! Again, that is the power of the Gospel that is on display in this passage, that can likewise be manifested and magnified through any of us who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ when we in faith likewise step out in faith and share the Gospel. For when it is received in faith it will bring about a transformation of that person that will last forever! The question then is not whether we have enough resources to accomplish the mission that the Lord Jesus Christ has called us to do (Matt 28:18-20), rather are we going to step out in faith, as the Lord creates or presents opportunities before us, and in boldness of faith as Peter did begin to let the Lord Jesus Christ work through us!
Vs. 9-10 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
When God does a mighty work by His Spirit in restoring someone to Himself the evidence of it will be undeniable! And so, it was when all the people now saw the once crippled man walking and praising God, (For who can contain their own thanksgiving when God brings about one’s salvation!), they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. Therefore if the unbelieving Jews or their rulers thought that they were going to bring an end to the Lord Jesus Christ’s mighty works and deeds on earth, (and thus His moving people to believe in Him), by Crucifying Him, they are now seeing that neither they, nor anyone else, can either hinder or thwart His Work in heaven or on earth! For the Gospel will by the Will and the Word of God always go out in power, sometimes clearly seen by all like here, and sometimes only seen by those forces which appose it.
Scripture Quotations
New King James (1982):Thomas Nelson.
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