A Study of Acts: Peter & John and the Paralytic
Acts 3:1-6; John 21:18-23 - Look for the single opportunity for redemption and share the power of the Lord!
“Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer. And a man who had been lame from his mother’s womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple. When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms. But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, “Look at us!” And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!””
Acts 3:1-6 NASB1995
The third chapter of Acts begins with Peter and John going up to the temple at the ninth hour (the afternoon around 3-4 pm) to pray. This must have been a sight to behold by the other disciples who had been in the group for more than three years. Peter and John had known each other for a long time, probably as neighbors and fishing rivals and then as disciples jockeying for the best position around Jesus. John called himself “the beloved disciple” in his Gospel and Peter (formerly Simon) was called the “Rock” by the Lord. But they are now together, united by the Holy Spirit, serving as the leadership of the new church. I like this commentary from Precept Austin:
What an interesting combination! Only God would have put these two together for their personalities were almost polar opposites. Peter was outgoing, gregarious, loquacious, impetuous, opinionated. Someone said the only time he opened his mouth was to change feet. John was serene, contemplative, reflective, tender, self-effacing, the one Jesus loved and who leaned on Jesus' breast at the Last Supper. (disciple "whom Jesus loved" Jn 13:23). In fact, five times John refers to himself as the one "Jesus loved!" (Jn 13:23, 19:26; 20:2; 21:7,20). Peter and John were "one" in Jesus. Does that describe your (my) relationships with brothers and sisters with whom you (I) will spend eternity?
Do you have brothers or sisters that are so different, yet so full of the Lord? Always think about Peter and John!
Let’s go back to the end of the Gospel of John and see what the Lord had to say to Peter about both of them; Jesus has just restored Peter to honor by asking him (three times) if he loved Him, taking away the shame of Peter’s denial and telling him to lead His sheep. Jesus then says this to Peter:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.” Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He *said to him, “Follow Me!”
Peter, turning around, *saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His bosom at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” So Peter seeing him *said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?” Jesus *said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!” Therefore this saying went out among the brethren that that disciple would not die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?””
John 21:18-23 NASB1995
Jesus clearly identifies two different fates for these beloved disciples, who both witnessed the Transfiguration, saw Jesus heal the daughter of Jairus, and raced to the tomb after hearing astonishing news from Mary Magdalene. This last rebuke from the Lord probably stung Peter quite a bit and he knew that he would die as a martyr and John would not, but it is a great lesson for all of us. Each one of us has our own destiny and divine will governing our lives; looking around at other believers and their good fortune or blessings (in envy) or trials (in false empathy, being secretly grateful for not suffering the same) is not focusing on Him and walking your unique path in His Will by not looking to the right or left.
So back to the scene at the temple. At the gate (called “Beautiful”) where Peter and John approach the temple, there was a man who was carried there everyday who was lame at birth. Obviously, someone cared enough about this man to get him there so he could beg for alms from passersby. Let’s look at this commentary from Enduring Word about this scene:
Now Peter and John went up together: Peter and John were both commissioned by Jesus and recognized by the early Christians as apostles – special ambassadors of Jesus. Acts 2:43 told us, many signs and wonders were done through the apostles. Acts 3 tells us of a specific example, one of the many.
We can think of at least three reasons why Luke found it important to share the story of this miracle. First, to give an example of what he mentioned in Acts 2:43. Second, to give an excuse for telling us about another sermon of Peter. Third, to show why these earliest Christians were persecuted, because that is what this beautiful story leads to.
At the hour of prayer: Apparently Peter and John saw no problem in continuing their Jewish custom of prayer at certain hours of the day.
[G. Campbell] Morgan points out that Peter and John were not going to the temple at the hour of sacrifice, but at the hour of prayer that followed the afternoon sacrifice. They realized that the sacrificial system was fulfilled in the perfect sacrifice Jesus offered on the cross.
[John] Calvin saw a missionary intent in what Peter and John did: “Furthermore, if any man ask, whether the apostles went up into the temple that they might pray according to the rite of the law, I do not think that that is a thing so likely to be true, as they might have better opportunity to spread abroad the gospel.”
The ninth hour: “Perhaps this time of day, even then, held special significance for them because it was the hour when Jesus cried from the cross, ‘It is finished’ (John 19:30).” (R. Kent Hughes)
The gate of the temple which is called Beautiful: The Jewish historian Josephus described this gate on the temple mount; made of fine Corinthian brass, seventy-five feet high with huge double doors, so beautiful that it “greatly excelled those that were only covered over with silver and gold.” (Cited in John Stott)
A certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried… asked for alms: The lame man simply wanted to be supported in the condition that he was in. God had something better in mind; Jesus wanted to completely change his condition.
Of course, the lame man felt he had no other option than to be supported in his condition; and it was certainly better for him to be supported than to starve to death.
In addition, the man had good reason to believe that begging at the Beautiful gate could support him. There was (and is) a strong tradition of alms-giving (giving to the poor, especially beggars) in Judaism, and doing it as an act of righteousness.
I love the idea that this man was just looking to survive and be supported in his condition, but God wants to completely change his condition through the signs and wonders of the apostles. It reminds me of the story of the paralytic at the side of the healing pool in Bethesda, who was merely trying to survive (John 5); Jesus wanted to change his condition.
The photo above shows the Southern steps to the temple wall in Jerusalem in the present day. These steps, like other steps leading to doors on all sides of the temple, were probably crowded in those days with pilgrims, beggars and even vendors selling wares for use in temple rites. You can just visualize this man lying on these steps.
The paralyzed man sees Peter and John and begins crying out for alms. According to some of the commentaries I read, it is quite possible that this man was present or within hearing distance when Peter gave his Pentecostal sermon that reached thousands of souls. He may have recognized Peter and knew that this was a man of Jesus. He was begging for a few coins when, in a few moments, he would be transformed. Do you come to the Lord only looking for a few crumbs, when you can be seated at the banquet table?
Peter and John stop and fix their gaze upon the man. They command him to “look at us!”. Here’s some interesting commentary on these actions from Pastor David Thompson in Precept Austin (he is a pastor at Texas Corners Bible Church):
Now keep in mind that Peter and John have just been involved in preaching God’s Word and literally seeing God save thousands of people. They had been involved in big-time ministry with big-time results. They could have easily walked by this one guy without batting an eye. After all, what is one broken-down beggar compared to thousands who had just been saved? But this teaches us something about the early Church. One was just as important as thousands. These apostles took the time to minister to one hurting sinner. We must never forget this. Reaching one is just as significant as reaching thousands. Some churches get all caught up in numbers,[but] not Peter and John.
…
Some have wondered why Peter and John command him to look at them. The answer is because beggars are always looking for their next potential donor. A beggar is not interested in you but your money. His eyes are always on the lookout for someone else he can hit up for money. When Peter gave him this command, with his sharp eyes looking straight at this guy, he got this beggar’s full attention. He focused his eyes on these apostles expecting to receive some money.
Great commentary! Peter and John want to reach every soul, including the nameless paralytic beggar at the temple. They also know how to get his attention!
Peter tells the man that he does not possess silver or gold, but he will give the man what he does have - the healing power of Jesus Christ the Nazarene! He commands the man to walk. I can imagine that disappointment crossed the face of the beggar when Peter said he didn’t have silver or gold. This is surely replaced by astonishment. This commentary from Enduring Word is just superb:
Silver and gold I do not have: Peter didn’t have any money, but he did have authority from Jesus to heal the sick (what I do have I give to you). Peter knew what it was like to have God use him to heal others, because Jesus had trained him in this (Luke 9:1-6).
For some people, to say “silver and gold I do not have” is about the worst thing that can be said. They feel the church is in ruins if it must say “silver and gold I do not have.” But it is much worse if the church never has the spiritual power to say, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk”.
There is a story – perhaps true – about a humble monk walking with a Roman Catholic cardinal at a time in the Middle Ages when the Roman Catholic church was at its zenith of power, prestige and wealth. The cardinal pointed to the opulent surroundings and said to the monk, “We no longer have to say, silver and gold I do not have.” The monk replied, “But neither can you say, In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
When Peter and John gave him no money, we might have heard the lame man complain: “You don’t care about me. You won’t support me. Look at the mess I’m in.” But Peter and John wanted something greater than supporting the man in his condition. They wanted to transform his life by the power of the risen Jesus Christ.
“It is not the Church’s business in this world to simply make the present condition more bearable; the task of the Church is to release here on earth the redemptive work of God in Christ.” (William Sanford LaSor)
What I do have I give you: He gave the lame man power in the name of Jesus, but he could not give it unless he had it in his own life. Many people want to be able to say, “rise up and walk” without having received the power of Jesus to transform their own life.
In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth: “Jesus was from Nazareth – he was a Nazarene, and this had been used to insult Christ during his life on earth. But now Peter waved it like a banner.” (R. Kent Hughes)
I love that anecdote about the monk and the cardinal. We have seen plenty of gilded churches and cathedrals in our travels, but the power of the Lord seems to be long absent in those cavernous and (usually empty) spaces. Even when there are crowds, most of them are there as tourists gawking at the treasures within, taking plenty of selfies and walking away from the eternal treasure. If you have ever waited in the ridiculous lines to enter St. Peter, we can tell you from experience that this is a “cool” thing for most visitors and a place of sanctification for far fewer.
Peter is confident in the authority he has been given. He has also been given power and this miracle will shake the foundations, again, of those who are entrapped in their religious minutiae versus those who can see the True path!
My next devotional examines Acts 3:7-10 - The paralytic takes Peter’s hand, is brought to his feet, then walks - the crowds are full of awe and amazement.
Heaven on Wheels Daily Prayer:
Dear Lord: Today I pray to you the words of this worship song “Come My Lord” by Matt Foreman (as found on Precept Austin):
Come, my soul, thy suit prepare:
Jesus loves to answer prayer;
He Himself has bid thee pray,
Therefore will not say thee nay;
Therefore will not say thee nay.
Thou art coming to a King,
Large petitions with thee bring;
For His grace and power are such,
None can ever ask too much;
None can ever ask too much.
Amen!!
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Commentary from Enduring Word by David Guzik is used with written permission.
Precept Austin was accessed on 8/9/2024 to review commentary for Acts 3:1-6.