Unlikely Leaders

Peter and John Forbidden to Do Christ’s Work

This chapter is based on Acts 3; 4:1-31.

A short time after the Holy Spirit came down, Peter and John were going up to the temple At the gate Beautiful they saw a cripple, forty years of age, whose life from birth had been one of pain. For a long time this unfortunate man had wanted to be healed but was far away from where Jesus was working. His pleadings finally persuaded some friends to carry him to the gate of the temple, but he found that the One on whom he had centered his hopes had been put to death. ULe 23.1

His friends knew how long he had eagerly hoped to be healed by Jesus, and they brought him to the temple daily so that passers-by could give him small donations to relieve his needs. As Peter and John passed him, he asked for a little money from them. “Peter said, ‘Look at us.’ So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, ‘Silver and gold I do not have.’” The crippled man’s face fell, but the apostle continued: “‘But what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.’ ULe 23.2

“And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God. Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple.” ULe 23.3

And “all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed.” Here was this man, a helpless cripple for forty years, rejoicing in the full use of his legs and happy in believing in Jesus. ULe 23.4

Peter assured the people that the cure had happened through the merits of Jesus of Nazareth, whom God had raised from the dead. “His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.” ULe 23.5