Act 3:6-10 “Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God: And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.”
As was expressed in previous verses, Peter is speaking to a man who was born lame. He had been brought by others to the temple daily his whole life to beg help from those entering the temple. He did not enter the temple but was merely set down by the gate called Beautiful. In this manner, he was able to have some sort of living.
As Peter and John were entering the temple, this lame man called out to them. He was hoping to receive a few coins from them. Unlike many others may have done, Peter did not simply ignore him or hand him a little money and move on. Peter stopped and looked earnestly upon this man.
I am sure that when Peter told this lame beggar that he had no money, the lame man was very disappointed. In his mind, that was the only reason he was there. Looking at Peter and John, he must have wondered what they could do for him if they had no silver or gold. He certainly did not expect what came next.
The first thing that Peter gave this man was the understanding that it was not about Peter at all. Peter told the lame man in a few simple words who his help was coming from. It was in the name (authority) of Jesus Christ of Nazareth that Peter had something to give him. The same authority caused the lame man to receive it.
Like the lame man, we had only expectations of gathering worldly things when the grace of God was revealed to us. We were not looking for an encounter with Jesus of Nazareth, even as the scripture teaches us (Isa 65:1, Rom 10:20). Even though we might have heard the words of the gospel from the mouth of some man, it was not that man who performed the miracle in our lives. It was the Holy Ghost through the authority of Jesus of Nazareth.
Peter, by the leadership of the Spirit, reached out a hand to this beggar and pulled him to his feet. The lame man immediately felt strength where there had been only weakness before. What a blessed opportunity we have each day to extend a hand to someone who is struggling, like Peter did. What a joy we have, to be able to tell them, “I cannot help you, but I can tell you about the One who can!”
The lame man rose to his feet, and by the authority of Jesus, he was strengthened. He did not go running home to show his family and friends. Instead, he went into the temple walking and leaping and praising God. This is the reaction of every one of us who knows that we have been healed of sin and no longer must beg the things of this world!
Many will be amazed at the change in us, but none more than we ourselves. Some may question if it is real. Others may wonder what is wrong with us and no longer care to be around us since we are no longer dependent on the way of life that once sustained us. We no longer sit at the gate to beg but walk in the temple of the Living God!
May God bless us to never lose sight of the truth that it is not about silver and gold but about the wondrous power and authority Jesus Christ of Nazaeth!
