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Acts 3       English Standard Version (ESV)

The Lame Beggar Healed

¹ Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. ² And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. ³ Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. ⁴ And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” ⁵ And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.⁶ But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” ⁷ And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. ⁸ And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. ⁹ And all the people saw him walking and praising God, ¹⁰ and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Peter Speaks in Solomon’s Portico

¹¹ While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. ¹² And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? ¹³ The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. ¹⁴ But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, ¹⁵ and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. ¹⁶ And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all. ¹⁷ “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. ¹⁸ But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.¹⁹ Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, ²⁰ that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, ²¹ whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. ^……”

REFLECTION:

• Peter healed a crippled man in Jesus’ name. And he then called the crowd to repent and believe in Jesus. The name of a person represented that person. When Peter healed this man in the name of Jesus, he was saying that it was Jesus who was ultimately responsible for the healing, not Peter. Peter healed him in the power of and with the authority of Jesus of Nazareth.
• The “completely” healed man was a powerful testimony to the power of God and the truth of Peter’s words. Recall a time when you felt broken and in need of healing.
• How did Jesus heal those “crippled” areas of your life? How have you seen the power of God demonstrated in your life and in the lives of others?
• Thank God for the powerful ways that He has transformed and healed you and is continuously doing to mold you into the likeness of Christ. Ask Him to give you the opportunity to talk about Jesus to one person this week.

PRAYER:

Dear Lord Jesus, I am fully aware that my life is filled with flaws, my body is weak, my spirit is weary, and my thoughts are filled with various forms of arrogance and prejudice. I am a person who is spiritually blind and mentally crippled, without Your healing, without Your companionship and support, how could I have come to this day step by step? Today, my life is still filled with various imperfections, and I only ask that You continue to support me, accompanying me with Your tender love and gentleness in the spring breeze and autumn rain, in the winter snow and summer sun, so that Your power may be made perfect in my weakness. Heavenly Father, I see Your love and great power in the exquisite and beautiful wings of birds, in the delicate and transparent tail fins of fish, and in every bright red leaf of autumn. The heavens and earth may grow old like a garment, but Your love will endure forever! This world is still filled with various flaws, so let me and my brothers and sisters manifest Your great power with our weaknesses, comforting the sorrowful, soothing the painful, wiping away tears, until the day of complete restoration, when You will dwell with us and all things will be made beautiful and perfect. Amen!

HYMN:

What A Savior – youtu.be/wG_710JTagU