Act 3:6-7 | KingComments | STEP | While the church is gathered together daily in the temple, a lame man is set down every day at the gate of the temple, called Beautiful. The name of the gate, which symbolically expresses the magnificent religion of the Jews, contrasts sharply with the appearance of this lame man who is a symbol of the true condition of the Jews. He can do nothing and depends on the goodness of people who bring him to the temple. And when he is placed there, he is dependent on the goodness of the temple visitors. When people are in a religious mood, they are often more generous. The place he has at the door of the temple is therefore not badly chosen. He will have sat there for many years, because he is more than forty years old ( ). This man is reminiscent of the sick man who had been lying at a pool called Bethesda for thirty-eight years ( ). Like that man, this man is a picture of Israel under the law. The people have wandered through the wilderness under the law for almost forty years; under the law they would never have reached the promised land with the promised blessing. Only God’s grace has brought them into the land. Thus also the sick man at Bethesda has been healed by the Lord and thus also this lame one will be healed in the Name of the Lord. This man is so close to the holy place and yet so far away from it. And hasn’t the Lord Jesus been there often? Would he never have seen Him entering the temple buildings? In any case, he never appealed to Him. Without the man realizing it, the end of his misery is near when Peter and John appear among the temple visitors. When he sees them, while they are about to go into the temple, he also asks them to receive alms. Could Peter and John, who have been there often together with the Lord Jesus, never have been addressed by him before? We do not know. We do know that asking for alms this time will bring him a lot more than gold and silver can ever give. Only God knows why people ignore the gospel for many years and are saved one day. To Peter and John, the request for alms is the reason to make known the mighty Name of Jesus Christ. Peter fixes his gaze on him. He pays attention to nothing but the lame one. He sees not so much his need but rather the opportunity to glorify the Lord Jesus. John does the same. He too is only concerned with the glorification of Christ. Although Peter is the speaking and acting one, John is one of spirit with him. Their undivided attention is focused on the man. Then Peter asks him to look at them. The man must renounce everything around him and only look at these two apostles who are standing there in the Name of the Lord Jesus. By looking at them he looks at Him in an indirect sense. He doesn’t realize that, but Peter and John do realize that they are standing there with the power of the Lord. That is why Peter can say: “Look at us.” It is not about them, but about Him Whom they represent. The man does what is asked of him and looks at them. All he expects is a gift. His thoughts don’t go much further. Our thoughts often don’t go much further either. We are more focused on earthly treasures than heavenly treasures. Then Peter speaks words that bear witness to what he does not have and what he does have. He has no silver or gold, but he does have the power of the Lord Jesus to heal. In the Old Testament, silver and gold are means of reconciliation, but Peter reminds us in his first letter that true salvation does not come through silver or gold, but through the precious blood of Christ ( ). The Name of Christ is the true means of restoration and also gives strength to enter the sanctuary, as we see here. Instead of earthly fortune, Peter possesses a source of happiness and strength in heaven, in Jesus Christ. He draws from that source to give this man a blessing far beyond earthly prosperity. In the Name of Jesus Christ he gives him the command to walk. Peter calls the Lord Jesus “the Nazarene”, which speaks of His descent from the despised Nazareth. That Name blares echoes over the temple square as the Name that gives strength to heal. The religious leaders thought to be rid of Him, but He reveals from heaven even a greater power than during His life on earth. Such an expression of power in spoken words is rare today. Many sincere Christians today are gathering silver and gold for the work of the Lord, while the power of the Name of the Lord remains largely unused. Many contemporary healers do speak the Name of Jesus with great power to heal, but cannot repeat Peter’s first words, “I do not possess silver and gold”. Peter not only speaks words of authority in the Name of the Lord Jesus, but he also seizes the man by the right hand and helps him up. Here we see again that wonderful combination of Divine and human action. God does what we cannot do – strengthen his feet and his ankles – and we must do what we can

‏ Acts 3:6-7

Healing of a Lame

While the church is gathered together daily in the temple, a lame man is set down every day at the gate of the temple, called Beautiful. The name of the gate, which symbolically expresses the magnificent religion of the Jews, contrasts sharply with the appearance of this lame man who is a symbol of the true condition of the Jews. He can do nothing and depends on the goodness of people who bring him to the temple. And when he is placed there, he is dependent on the goodness of the temple visitors. When people are in a religious mood, they are often more generous. The place he has at the door of the temple is therefore not badly chosen. He will have sat there for many years, because he is more than forty years old (Acts 4:22).

This man is reminiscent of the sick man who had been lying at a pool called Bethesda for thirty-eight years (Jn 5:5). Like that man, this man is a picture of Israel under the law. The people have wandered through the wilderness under the law for almost forty years; under the law they would never have reached the promised land with the promised blessing. Only God’s grace has brought them into the land. Thus also the sick man at Bethesda has been healed by the Lord and thus also this lame one will be healed in the Name of the Lord.

This man is so close to the holy place and yet so far away from it. And hasn’t the Lord Jesus been there often? Would he never have seen Him entering the temple buildings? In any case, he never appealed to Him.

Without the man realizing it, the end of his misery is near when Peter and John appear among the temple visitors. When he sees them, while they are about to go into the temple, he also asks them to receive alms. Could Peter and John, who have been there often together with the Lord Jesus, never have been addressed by him before? We do not know. We do know that asking for alms this time will bring him a lot more than gold and silver can ever give. Only God knows why people ignore the gospel for many years and are saved one day.

To Peter and John, the request for alms is the reason to make known the mighty Name of Jesus Christ. Peter fixes his gaze on him. He pays attention to nothing but the lame one. He sees not so much his need but rather the opportunity to glorify the Lord Jesus. John does the same. He too is only concerned with the glorification of Christ. Although Peter is the speaking and acting one, John is one of spirit with him. Their undivided attention is focused on the man.

Then Peter asks him to look at them. The man must renounce everything around him and only look at these two apostles who are standing there in the Name of the Lord Jesus. By looking at them he looks at Him in an indirect sense. He doesn’t realize that, but Peter and John do realize that they are standing there with the power of the Lord. That is why Peter can say: “Look at us.” It is not about them, but about Him Whom they represent.

The man does what is asked of him and looks at them. All he expects is a gift. His thoughts don’t go much further. Our thoughts often don’t go much further either. We are more focused on earthly treasures than heavenly treasures.

Then Peter speaks words that bear witness to what he does not have and what he does have. He has no silver or gold, but he does have the power of the Lord Jesus to heal. In the Old Testament, silver and gold are means of reconciliation, but Peter reminds us in his first letter that true salvation does not come through silver or gold, but through the precious blood of Christ (1Pet 1:18-19). The Name of Christ is the true means of restoration and also gives strength to enter the sanctuary, as we see here.

Instead of earthly fortune, Peter possesses a source of happiness and strength in heaven, in Jesus Christ. He draws from that source to give this man a blessing far beyond earthly prosperity. In the Name of Jesus Christ he gives him the command to walk. Peter calls the Lord Jesus “the Nazarene”, which speaks of His descent from the despised Nazareth. That Name blares echoes over the temple square as the Name that gives strength to heal. The religious leaders thought to be rid of Him, but He reveals from heaven even a greater power than during His life on earth.

Such an expression of power in spoken words is rare today. Many sincere Christians today are gathering silver and gold for the work of the Lord, while the power of the Name of the Lord remains largely unused. Many contemporary healers do speak the Name of Jesus with great power to heal, but cannot repeat Peter’s first words, “I do not possess silver and gold”.

Peter not only speaks words of authority in the Name of the Lord Jesus, but he also seizes the man by the right hand and helps him up. Here we see again that wonderful combination of Divine and human action. God does what we cannot do – strengthen his feet and his ankles – and we must do what we can – seize by the hand and raise up.