Walking and praising God is the phrase used to describe the man who was lame at the temple gate. This man had been crippled all his life. He needed the assistance of friends or family to move anywhere. He could not walk or work, so he was resigned to begging to survive. He must have had loyal friends and family because in Acts 1:2 we are told they took him daily to sit at the gate.
Act 3:1-2 “Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 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”
As Peter and John are headed to the temple for prayer, the lame man sees them and asks them for money. In his estimation, and of those who brought him, his need was for money. Since this man had been lame from birth he was resigned to his condition. It was customary for the poor and invalid to beg to support themselves, and it was common to see them sitting at the gate where people would be headed to the temple. Those who were followers of God would be more likely to give.
When Peter and John enter the gate headed to the temple, he makes his request for money. They looked at him and told him to “Look on us.” Because of this, he was expecting them to give. I am sure the majority looked away and ignored him when they passed by because they didn’t want to deal with him. I can only imagine the emotions this man must have been feeling. He has their attention, and he is hopeful of receiving money. Then as Peter says, “Silver and gold have I none,” his hopes were shattered, but he was about to have his hopes fulfilled as they tell him to “Rise up and walk.” Were these men for real! Peter reached down and took him by the hand and lifted him up and he felt the strength come to his feet and ankle bones. There was no hesitation to praise the one who was responsible for his healing. I love verse 8 where he leaped up, walked into the temple with them and he was “walking, leaping, and praising God!”
Act 3:3-8 “Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. 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.”
There was no doubt to everyone that God was the source of his healing. They had seen this man day after day sitting and begging at the gate. In verse 10, it says they were filled with wonder and amazement at what happened to this man. This miracle of God would open the door for the gospel to many.
Act 3:9-10 “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.”
In the following verse Peter had gained an audience to proclaim Jesus to those who did not believe Jesus was the Messiah, the Savior of the world. This was all in God’s plan to proclaim salvation was available for all.
While we read this and see that it was a great demonstration of God’s power and love, we need to see the application for our own lives.
- The world is full of people who are sin sick. They have been sick since birth because they were born with a sinful nature. They cannot be helped simply by giving them money or things. The only hope for them is to have the healing power of Jesus. Only He can replace the life they are living with eternal life. They too can know what it means to leap for joy and praise God for being healed internally forever.
- It is our responsibility to tell them. To meet them where they are and explain the gospel to them.
- It is our responsibility and privilege to live a life so different from the world that they notice and ask us for help. If you are living a life that is sold out to Jesus your actions, and attitudes should be different from theirs. If the people that are not saved around you have not ask you about your faith, or what is different about you, you need to examine yourself. You may be more like them than you are Jesus.
- When we win someone to Jesus it will spark an interest in others. This miracle caused others to want to know by what means it happened. Peter and John were ready to tell them. We need to always be ready to proclaim Christ. Don’t miss a divine appointment because it will make you late for something else. Don’t be so concerned about things that the souls of men take a backseat to your schedule.
- When we are right with God we will be walking and praising God!
Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
