The Crippled Beggar Is Healed
THE CRIPPLED BEGGAR IS HEALED
ACTS 3:1-10
Peter and John were a disappointment to the lame man at first, but God had more to give.
Acts 2:43 speaks of the apostles’ “wonders and signs,” wrought in proof of the divine reality of the Christians’ claim to be the people of God. This section gives one illustration of what is meant and contains a directory of evangelistic “method” which all Christians may profitably study. Luke’s purpose, however, in recording the incident, is to indicate the important consequences which followed, leading to a rupture of the church with Judaism, as Jesus had foreseen (Mark 2:21-22).
The scene is laid at the Nicanor Gate of the Jerusalem temple, specially noted for its magnificence. Hence the title, Beautiful Gate. The impotent beggar is a picture of dire need, whose only virtue is an awareness of his sad condition. Peter’s response is twofold, in what he said (3:4,6) and, no less important, in what he did (3:7). The action of the gospel matches the word of the gospel; and this is ever the pattern of meaningful evangelism.
The need is met (3:7) as the Name of Jesus Christ is invoked to release the power which attended his healing ministry in Galilee. So it is seen that the once crucified Jesus is alive, not only as an affirmation of faith or a statement of personal testimony (given in 2:32), but as a dynamic force at work in this world and effective in transforming the lives of those who call upon him. Similarly, the apostolic message which may have seemed to be so much talk is invested with a new significance. Peter speaks “in the name of Jesus Christ”—and miracles happen. Cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:5, where the miracle-working accompaniment of Paul’s preaching was more in terms of a dedicated group of men than spectacular happenings as in this story. But is the “age of miracles” past?
Note 3:1: the Jews observed two hours of daily prayer. The “evening” one was at 3 p.m. 3:2: the Jewish historian Josephus describes this temple gate as one that “far exceeded in value those gates that were plated with silver and set in gold.” 3:6: what could not be bought with money is freely offered. The same phrase in 1 Peter 1:18, however, may point to a deeper meaning. Judaism was powerless to meet the beggar’s case; the gospel is able. 3:8: a fulfillment of Isaiah 35:6 and a sign that the Messianic age has arrived, according to Matthew 11:4-6. 3:10: there was no mistaking the identity, and so no possibility of explaining away the miracle.