Acts Study | Session 7 | 3:1-11

In today's study, we pick up in Acts 3:1 and work our way down to verse 11. 

Chapter 3
VERSE 1: Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. I find it extremely interesting that Peter and John are going to the temple at the hour of prayer, i.e., 3:00 p.m. Why would they go to the temple? This is the new church after all, right? No, it wasn't. They are still under the Law at this point. And make no mistake, sacrifices were still involved in the on goings of the temple.

As a matter of fact, this would have been for the evening sacrifice mentioned in (Exo_29:39). Again, nothing has changed in regards to where the apostles go to worship. The temple was still very much the center of spiritual life. There was no Baptist church on the corner yet.

VERSES 2-3: 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; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. Now we see that as Peter and John started to enter the temple through the gate that was called Beautiful, they came upon a lame beggar.

VERSE 4-8: And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 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. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. Number one, this is Peter continuing to use the keys that he had been given in Mat 16:19. These keys have absolutely nothing with him being the first pope by the way. Number two, this was a continuation of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that had occurred on the day of Pentecost as prophesied by Joe 2:28-28. Number three, all of this was preparation for the expected acceptance of the offered Kingdom.

Side Note: It is not wise to to build a healing ministry today based on these verses. As I stated earlier, no one beyond the apostles had the ability to do this.

Dr. Randy White says it this way, "the church of Rome used to say that because of their wealth they could no longer say 'silver and gold have a none'; but they were never able to say 'rise and walk.'"

I have heard many say that because of the technological advances in the west, we no longer see these types of miracles, no, it is not because of technology, instead, it is because the Kingdom offer was refused and the gifts that accompanied it left with it. No, that doesn't mean God does not heal today. He obviously does.

VERSE 9-11: And all the people saw him walking and praising God: 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. And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering. The miracle (as intended) brought amazement to the people and built a ready-to-listen crowd for Peter's second sermon. The signs gifts were always followed by the Kingdom Gospel.