Saints Peter and John Healing the Lame Man - Nicolas Poussin (1655)

Peter heals a lame beggar at the Temple (Acts 3:1 – 3:10)

At three o’clock in the afternoon, Peter and John were going to the temple at prayer time. A man, lame from birth, was being carried up. He was placed at the template gate (the “Beautiful Gate”) every day so he could beg for money from those going into the temple courts. Peter and John looked directly at him and said, “Look at us!”

The lame man, expecting to receive money from them, gave them his attention. But Peter said,

“I have no silver or gold but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus, stand up and walk!”

Peter then took the man by the right hand and raised him up, and at once, the man’s feet and ankles were made strong. He jumped up, stood, and began walking around.

The man entered the temple courts with them, walking and leaping and praising God. All the people saw him walking and praising God and they recognized him as the man who sat outside and begged for donations. They were filled with astonishment and amazement at what had happened to him.

What the story means to us today

With faith, anything is possible

This event, the first miracle mentioned following Jesus’ death, is an introduction to the authority Jesus bestowed on the apostles – and us. It shows that the authority God granted to Jesus continued through the disciples.

It was surely easier for the disciples to believe Jesus’ message since they witnessed Jesus’ miracles firsthand. Today, faith is harder to maintain. Regardless, we have a similar authority today – each of us is capable of great things. But if we could corral enough faith, truly anything would be possible.

Additional thoughts and considerations

Validation of Peter’s act of healing

The verses tell us the man was lame from birth. His lifelong condition would be attested by the disciple Luke, a physician by trade (and author of the book of Acts).

Peter Heals a Lame Beggar - Martin Luther (1853)

The verses also tell us the lame man was taken to the temple every day. He would have been familiar to the people who regularly visited the temple. Thus, Peters act of healing would also have been validated by many people.

The disciple’s instruction to remain in Jerusalem

The story also shows the disciples followed Jesus’ instructions to remain in Jerusalem. Peter and John were going to the temple when they met the lame beggar. Recall that Jesus had told the disciples,

“Stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high. Do not leave Jerusalem but wait for the gift my Father promised.”

The “gift my Father promised” will be revealed in later verses.

What does “in the name of Jesus” really mean?

We often end our prayers with “in the name of Jesus”. But what does “in the name of Jesus really mean?

Peter and John responded to the lame man’s request for money with one of the most poetic verses in the Bible:

“Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have, I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ, stand up and walk.”

Thus, we immediately see the disciples using Jesus’ name as an indication of the authority under whom their miracles would continue to manifest. It’s important to remember that the miracle was granted by God, through faith the disciples developed from witnessing Jesus’ miraculous works on Earth. The disciples’ use of Jesus’ name outwardly acknowledges the source of their power rather than trying to take credit for the miracle.

Peter Heals a Lame Beggar at the Temple - Rev. Richard Gilmour (1904)

 “In Jesus’ name” is not a magical phrase or meaningless incantation that we use to get what we want. We use Jesus’ name in prayer to glorify him, to acknowledge that the power of God was manifested through Jesus, and that we appreciate and acknowledge Jesus’ sacrifice for us. God used Jesus to deliver a new message to us, and through use of his name, we continue God’s plan.

The science and history behind the story

The time for prayer – three o’clock

The verses tell us,

“Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time for prayer, at three o’clock in the afternoon.”

The description “going up” to the template accurately reflects the temple’s elevated position in the city. Outside historical references tell us that the stated prayer times in Judaism were early in the morning, at sunset, and at 3:00 PM in the afternoon.

The Beautiful Gate

The verses say that Peter and John were about to enter the temple courts that surrounded the temple. The lame man was begging near one of the gates that led into the courtyards. The location of the temple gate referred to as “The Beautiful Gate” is unclear. Various theories have been proposed. It may refer to the Nicanor Gate which separated the Court of the Gentiles and the Court of Women. Or it may have been the Shushan Gate located along the eastern wall.

Bible Text

NIV

3 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

The New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011. Print.

The NET Bible

3:1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time for prayer, at three o’clock in the afternoon. 3:2 And a man lame from birth was being carried up, who was placed at the temple gate called “the Beautiful Gate” every day so he could beg for money from those going into the temple courts. 3:3 When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple courts, he asked them for money. 3:4 Peter looked directly at him (as did John) and said, “Look at us!” 3:5 So the lame man paid attention to them, expecting to receive something from them. 3:6 But Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, stand up and walk!” 3:7 Then Peter took hold of him by the right hand and raised him up, and at once the man’s feet and ankles were made strong. 3:8 He jumped up, stood and began walking around, and he entered the temple courts with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 3:9 All the people saw him walking and praising God, 3:10 and they recognized him as the man who used to sit and ask for donations at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with astonishment and amazement at what had happened to him.

Biblical Studies Press. The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible. Biblical Studies Press, 2006. Print.

New King James Version

3 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; 3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982. Print.

The Message

      1–5 3 One day at three o’clock in the afternoon, Peter and John were on their way into the Temple for prayer meeting. At the same time there was a man crippled from birth being carried up. Every day he was set down at the Temple gate, the one named Beautiful, to beg from those going into the Temple. When he saw Peter and John about to enter the Temple, he asked for a handout. Peter, with John at his side, looked him straight in the eye and said, “Look here.” He looked up, expecting to get something from them.

      6–8 Peter said, “I don’t have a nickel to my name, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!” He grabbed him by the right hand and pulled him up. In an instant his feet and ankles became firm. He jumped to his feet and walked.

      8–10 The man went into the Temple with them, walking back and forth, dancing and praising God. Everybody there saw him walking around and praising God. They recognized him as the one who sat begging at the Temple’s Gate Beautiful and rubbed their eyes, astonished, scarcely believing what they were seeing.

Peterson, Eugene H. The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2005. Print.

King James Version

3 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; 3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. 4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. 7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ancle bones received strength. 8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God: 10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.

The Holy Bible: King James Version. Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009. Print.

Sources: NIV, The Message, The NET Bible, King James Version, NET Bible Notes, Faithlife Study Bible, The Apologetics Study Bible, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Jamieson, Fausset, Brown Commentary, The Bible Reader’s Companion, Matthew Henry’s Commentary, Holman Concise Bible Commentary, The Bible Exposition Commentary, The Teacher’s Bible Commentary, The Teacher’s Commentary, The Bible Guide, Word Studies in the New Testament, Holman Bible Handbook, Calvin Commentaries, Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines, The New Manner and Customs of the Bible, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, The Lexham Bible Dictionary, Easton’s Bible Dictionary, Harper’s Bible Dictionary, Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible, The Archaeological Encyclopedia, Biblical Archaeology Review, The New Bible Dictionary, The Lexham Analytical Lexicon, Glossary of Morpho-Syntactic Database