ISSL Reflections May 14 2023 Acts 3:1–11 Post 2

IV.
Today, let’s take some time to pay attention to the interaction of Peter and John with the disabled man.

V.
Acts 3:1-11 (NRSVue)

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o’clock in the afternoon. And a man lame from birth was being carried in. People would lay him daily at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate so that he could ask for alms from those entering the temple. When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked them for alms. Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. Jumping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. All the people saw him walking and praising God, and they recognized him as the one who used to sit and ask for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with wonder and astonishment at what had happened to him.

While he clung to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s Portico, utterly astonished.

VI.
So what happens?

Well, they ask for his attention, “… Look at us.”

Apparently the disabled man takes this as a promising sign, “And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.”

But his expectations are short lived, “Peter said, ‘I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you …‘”

This man’s daily routine seems to ask for alms from those who go to the Temple to pray. How often did he receive alms? How often was he ignored by those on the way to pray to God?

This day he receives a “gift” – “‘… but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.’ And he took him by the right hand and raised him up…

On the part of Peter there is no, “I’ll pray for your healing when I am in the Temple.” Or, “Trust God for your healing.” Or, “Have a blessed day, just trust God.”


Peter tells him to “stand up and walk.” Please notice what is next, “And he took him by the right hand and raised him up…

Is it enough to tell someone to pray? Is it enough to tell someone to stand on their own two feet?

Or maybe our call to be disciples of Jesus includes our helping folk to their feet.

How might you enter into such a helping ministry?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}


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