Acts 3:1-11 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is Acts 3:1-11. As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below. Let’s go!
Acts 3:1 (NIV)
1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer–at three in the afternoon.
On verse 1: At this point the early church was still comprised entirely of Jewish Christians. Thus these early Christians would continue the habit of going to the Jewish temple to worship God. Later on, as more and more non-Jewish (Gentile) people became Christians, the early church would need to tackle the question of whether these Gentile Christians had to follow Jewish customs like going to the temple. In the meantime, here we see Peter and John going to the temple just like other Jews. The traditional temple prayer times included 9am, 3pm and sunset.
Acts 3:2 (NIV)
2 Now a man crippled 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.
On verse 2: I wonder who put the crippled man at the temple gate called Beautiful every day. Who put him there? Whoever it was, I bet it was someone who believed that if there was anywhere in the world that a crippled man should be able to find hope, it’s at the gate of the place where people worshiped God.
Likewise, if there’s any place where people can find hope, it should be at the front door of the church. When people think of you and your church, do they think “hope”? If not, it’s probably time for an image change. Through your actions and words, may people come to think of you and your church as a place where hope lives and where help can be found.
Acts 3:3-5 (NIV)
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.
On verses 3-5: Unlike the countless people who would pass by the crippled man without even looking at him or peer at him only from the corner of their eye, Peter and John both look straight at this crippled man (v4). By looking straight at him, Peter and John were showing compassion to this crippled man and affirming his worth as a human being. Peter tells the crippled man to look back at him, possibly because the crippled man was so ashamed and beaten down by rejection that he wouldn’t even look at the people he was asking to help him. What can we learn from this? How you look at people physically can send a message about how you see them emotionally.
Acts 3:6 (NIV)
6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you.
On verse 6: Peter didn’t focus on what he didn’t have, but used what he did have to help this man. Peter also didn’t concern himself with what the crippled man asked for, which is money. Rather Peter focused on what the crippled man didn’t ask for but which he needed even more, which is healing.
What can we learn from this? You were made to make a difference in others’ lives with what you have, not what you don’t have. Also, while it is important to meet the felt needs of people so as to build a bridge to them, don’t just focus on what people are asking for but focus on what people really need, even if they don’t know it or acknowledge it themselves.
Acts 3:6b-8 (NIV)
6 …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.
On verses 6b-8: Here we find the first healing miracle recorded in Acts. Peter tells the crippled man in the name of Jesus Christ to walk. Then Peter takes him by the hand and this man’s feet and ankles become strong such that not only is he able to walk but also to jump and praise God.
What can we learn from this?
First, there is hope and healing in Jesus’ name. That is why we as the church are commanded to pray for the sick and for their healing (see James 5:14-16). Does that mean that every time we pray that healing will automatically come? No. Our job is not to heal but to pray for healing. Whenever God heals pursuant to our prayers, praise God. But whenever God chooses not to heal at that moment, it may mean that it is not yet time and that God has a greater story He is writing with that person’s life. With that in mind, see my comments below regarding verses 9-11. Is there someone whose healing you need to pray for today?
Second, the picture of God healing the crippled man is a picture of what God has done for us too. You could say that when we were spiritually crippled and unable to stand, Jesus took us by the hand, helped us up and by His grace we became strong. In fact, our situation was worse than this formerly crippled man’s situation. For we were spiritually dead, but Jesus made us alive.
Acts 3:9-11 (NIV)
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.
11 While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade.
On verses 9-11: Why had God waited this long to heal this man who had been crippled from birth? It’s because God was using this crippled man’s healing as part of a greater story God was writing with the early church. Because this crippled man was healed at that very moment, it brought attention to the early church and to the message that they were preaching. His healing was an instrument God was using to accomplish a much bigger purpose: to let even more people know about the hope that is in Jesus.
So whenever you question why God hasn’t said yes to your prayers yet, it’s because God has a better timing. God has plans not just to bless you but to bless others through you and your story.
Jesus, thank You that there is hope and healing in Your name. Thank You for the times when You answered positively to our prayers to heal. And thank You also for those times when You said no, because You were using that situation to do something even greater that would impact even more people. I pray that my church and I would be a place known by others for the hope and help we bring. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
Copyright © 2022 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.
