All we have to Give is Everything. Acts 3:1-10

Acts 3:1-10

Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer. 2 And a man who had been lame from his mother's womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms. 4 But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, "Look at us!" 5 And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, "I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene — walk!" 7 And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. 8 With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God; 10 and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

NASU

Acts 3:1-10 Exposition

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

Peter and John were going together to the temple at the hour of prayer. We are reminded by this that these early believers retained their Jewish practices of worship since God did not change. They went to the same temple and at the same times for prayer and other activities as before. The difference was that now they possessed a greater joy, one might imagine, than before, as before they went in hope of God's promises and now they went knowing the fulfillment of those Promises, namely that Jesus was the Messiah!. Worship was no longer seeking after an unrealized blessing, but thanksgiving for the blessing that had been received. Their attendance to worship has the result of placing them in an ideal place to tell others who came seeking God about the good news of Jesus. At the same time they attended to their own need for prayer as a follower of Jesus will still need and even desire communication with God through prayer.

2 And a man who had been lame from his mother's womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple.

There at the temple they encountered a man who also went to the temple for the purpose of encountering the crowds. He was born “lame” that is unable to walk and was being carried along by those who helped him get to that place where he would beg for his daily needs. The man was arriving for his usual purpose but would find his needs met beyond expectation this day.

3 When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms.

His encounter with perter and John begins with his ordinary request. We should be advised as the Church of Jesus Christ that many times those who come to us will be seeking something other than Spiritual fulfillment. Our opportunity arises not only to share what we have but also to share our greater gift, the good news of Jesus Christ.

4 But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, "Look at us!"

The Apostles do not pass him by but in fact engage him all the more, ensuring by their request “Look at us” that they had the man's attention. They were not about to slip by or offer a silent prayer but to engage him fully and personally.

5 And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.

Again the man seeks the usual remedy for his situation, expecting nothing more than the alms that the usual worshipers would give.

6 But Peter said, "I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene — walk!"

A word concerning miracles- There are those who go to great lengths to prove that either miracles were the sole property of the Apostolic age, or that they are surely for today. I do not see that either extreme is biblical. Certainly if we are encouraged as we are in James and elsewhere to pray for the recovery of the sick that we then ought not to neglect such prayers even in the cases of the most impossible situations, illnesses, injuries or the like. Likewise experience would seem to show that miracles while not restricted to the Apostolic age alone are not the ordinary experience today. That being said, I believe in any circumstance where a miracle is needed we ought to ask confidently of God trusting in God's goodness, God's personal love for His children, and God's omnipotence and therefore power and ability to effect whatever he wills. Trust in God also dictates that we would submit to His will in the result and stand on faith that our prayers are heard and answered as God wills and for our benefit.

The encounter here demonstrates the work of the Spirit in the Apostles where Miracles where the means of demonstrating the true power of Christ, active still in the world through the Holy Spirit. They spoke in Jesus name, which they would later use to demonstrate that it was Jesus alone and no power or holiness of their own which healed this man.

Perhaps we should be encouraged by the power shown here that there is more available to us through faith than the ordinary thing we usually expect. The man came looking for money which the Apostles did not give, but he received healing instead. The Apostles do model this for us that when it is within our power to give we should not withhold. If it is money then give it, but more so do not withhold the good news of the gospel, prayers, or whatever ministry we may offer. We also should never give only what is asked for if the real means to more fully meet a need is at our disposal.

7 And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened.

Since they could give the man healing in Jesus Name they did so, and demonstrated the power of Christ. Surely we see the greatness of this miracle, a man born crippled made whole, but how much greater is the miracle which we take for granted as ordinary, that through the death of Christ, our sins and the separation from God they cause, are removed from us and we are restored to eternal life as though we'd never sinned. Physical healing is small by comparison. The devil has so blinded us as to make a great deal of temporary physical restoration and to devalue eternal life.

8 With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.

His actions are a demonstration of how we are to respond to a gift from God. His gratitude is displayed through the enthusiastic use of his new gift and through the outward expressions of His praise to God as the source of his blessing. We should never forget or neglect the praise of God for each of His blessings.

9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God;

If our praise is hidden then no one will take note. The man was not making a public display of his righteousness or good works, but was praising God publicly. We often mistake the command to be humble and to not display our righteousness before the world as a command to make our faith a “private matter” known only to ourselves and to God. This is not the case. The man is not displaying himself as it were to be seen as a religious man to gain attention for himself or the praise of men. He is displaying the greatness of God through worshiping Him and giving God due credit for the blessing he has received. God must not be removed from the public square by the very people who ought to be proclaiming His praise.

10 and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

One of the greatest witnesses for Jesus Christ is the life changed by Him. The people knew this man to be the one who was lame and who begged daily. Now heis seen restored and praising God. This draws attention and causes those who knew Him to take note that something amazing had happened. This brings about another occasion for Peter to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.