North Beach Vineyard Church – Sunday, April 23, 2023
Pastor Rick’s Study Notes:
(PRT)
v. 1 Now Peter and John were going up to the Temple for the three o’clock time of prayer. v. 2 And this specific man known to be lame from birth was being carried, like every day, to sit at the Temple gate called Beautiful so he could ask for alms from those going into the Temple. v. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter the Temple, he begged to receive alms. v. 4 Peter then, along with John, watched him closely, and said: “Look up at us.” v. 5 That got his attention! He looked forward to what he might receive. v. 6 Peter, instead, said: “I don’t have silver or gold; but this is what I have to give you. In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” v.7 And he gripped him by his right hand, raise him up, and at once his feet and ankles became strong. v. 8 Then, leaping up, he stood, then walked around. He went into the Temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. v. 9 And all the people saw him walking around, praising God. v. 10 Even more so, they recognized him. He was the man who sat at the Temple Gate Beautiful to beg alms. They were filled with wonder and amazement over what was coming together for him. v. 11 The man was still clinging to Peter and John and all the people were greatly astonished and ran together to join them at the Solomon’s Porch.
v. 1 Now Peter and John were going up to the Temple for the three o’clock time of prayer.
Peter and John, and the rest are Jews. They continue to pray in the Temple even while investing most of their time leading the church in homes. They were Jewish followers of Jesus. And Temple had morning, noon, and afternoon prayer times.
Up to the Temple is the common way to say it. The Temple Mount dominated the skyline.
v. 2 And this specific man known to be lame from birth was being carried, like every day, to sit at the Temple gate called Beautiful so he could ask for alms from those going into the Temple.
Some translations have “there was a man.” It’s more like “there was this man.” This is important to us because, though we may be anonymous to the vastness of people, we are significant and our story is woven into the grand redemptive story. This man, it was this man.
Notice Dr. Luke asking the right questions: lame from birth (not from an accident), they propped him up at an important piece of real estate, excellent to receive alms.
This was his life; he held no illusions of walking today. He was collecting what he could for the day’s bread. And here, Peter and John give him “tomorrow’s bread, today” from the stores of heaven.
This man, is known. Peter and John had seen him multiple times. Jesus had walked by him on the way into the Temple.
v. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter the Temple, he begged to receive alms.
The most natural thing for one who is outcast or marginalized in most of the world is to find a way to beg. We saw this in Europe, South America, Mexico, and I hear in Asia it’s even more prominent. We don’t see much here (the street corner sign carriers, perhaps.)
This man had a pitch, a line he would ask: mercy, have mercy, or something like this. In fact, the verb indicates he “began to ask” as in repeated his pitch. He has a short window to get the attention.
v. 4 Peter then, along with John, watched him closely, and said: “Look up at us.”
When one would beg, eye contact was not the goal. No eye contact is safer. Just money in the cup. Peter and John broke the rule. They established social connection. They valued him and invited him into this moment of miracle. And asked this man to reciprocate. Were the followers looking for faith in this man? Were they looking for God’s timing to be present? In the NT, healing took place because of the faith of the person praying, the person bringing, and the person in need.
v. 5 That got his attention! He looked forward to what he might receive.
With just a look, expectation rose. What kind of gift would he receive?
v. 6 Peter, instead, said: “I don’t have silver or gold; but this is what I have to give you. In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”
Two things to note here: 1) this miracle is happening on the heels of a great outpouring of generosity, and 2) this miracle is happening “on the way.” Not in the Temple. Not within the established power structure. It happened on the way. This is the pattern for evangelism, for healing, for spotting God’s timing on lives.
Money was no longer the most important thing. The power of God to heal, to save, to care for the hurting, to demonstrate the Kingdom by acts of kindness.
The statement “in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth” isn’t a formula. It is the acknowledgement that the power to heal and the authority to bring healing comes at the Name.
The word for “rise up” carries the connotation of “get up out of your sleepiness” or “leave the sleep behind.” Peter invites him to stand up on his own and shake off the sleepiness. When he sees he needs the faithful grip of one who knows Jesus is healing him, he reaches down and pulls him up (same word for rise up and raise up here.)
v.7 And he gripped him by his right hand, raise him up, and at once his feet and ankles became strong.
This is Dr. Luke again – strength immediately when to the place it was needed, all the bones in the feet and ankles. And, the one who’d never walked, began walking around while others marveled. This man feels the strength in places he’s never felt. And his only response is to jump up at the tug of Peter’s right hand.
v. 8 Then, leaping up, he stood, then walked around. He went into the Temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
The power to heal and strengthen was so present that this man didn’t just stand up, he popped up. Why stop there? He’s up. And he cannot, simply, get enough of this new thing God has given him. He hops and leaps, and praise is on his lips. Here’s a question? Does he acknowledge Jesus the Nazarene as the source of his miracle?
He gave up his real estate and heading to the Temple. Each step was a new test. Each hop, a new hop.
v. 9 And all the people saw him walking around, praising God.
He is causing quite the stir. Anyone acting like this man would attract attention. But they recognized him, and all the more, the scene was focused on what God had done. Just the previous chapter, note that many miracles and signs and wonders were already happening. Just because a miracle touches a life, doesn’t mean the word will spread. But here, everyone at the prayer meeting and beyond heard it. Each time they walked by the spot at the Gate Beautiful, someone could say, that’s where the cripple sat forty years every day.
v. 10 Even moreso, they recognized him. He was the man who sat at the Temple Gate Beautiful to beg alms. They were filled with wonder and amazement over what was coming together for him.
The word could mean what was happening to him; but there is the sense that this was all coming together for a reason. This was the most public miracle thus far (except the obvious pouring out of the Spirit.) It rocked the power structure. Just when they thought they had gotten rid of the troublemaker Jesus, they discover this power in Jesus’ name.
v. 11 The man was still clinging to Peter and John and all the people were greatly astonished and ran together to join them at the Solomon’s Porch.
Remember why they came to the Temple – to pray and when they got to the place for prayer, they realized it was more about the Name and how God had done this miracle for this man.
v. 16 For by faith in the name of Jesus, this man you can inspect and you know has been made strong; His name and the faith given to him has made him complete and whole before you all.
It’s the Name. Faith given – this is a gift this man received. And he was fully restored.
Small Group Questions:
Acts 3:1-11
- Have you ever had an experience with, given to, or talked with a beggar?
- As you read these verses, “normal” things are going on. What are the “normal” things happening in vv. 1-5?
- Things went beyond “normal” in v. 6-7. What became the catalyst for this change?
- What do you do when God’s miracle, or His voice, or the timing of His provision shows up in the middle of your normal things?
- Words like “wonder,” “amazement,” and “astonished” are used here. What about Jesus amazes you? How can we pray tonight for God to do something that amazes?
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