More Than Silver or Gold
[ READ ] Acts 3:1-16
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.
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.
As Peter, through the power of the Holy Spirit, healed this man who had sat begging – paralyzed for his entire life – this man had an amazing and dare I say the one correct response to this healing. After getting up and using the gift given to him by walking and leaping, he praised God. What’s interesting is that we have no idea on his belief or lack thereof in Jesus before this moment, only that the encounter confirmed belief and praise.
But his healing was not just a gift for him, it was a gift to those around him. Verses 9-10 say that “all the people saw him walking and praising God and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple…And they were filled with wonder and amazement…”. This moment was used to show the Lord’s power to believers and nonbelievers alike. Not only His power to heal, but His power to change. His power which makes us go from one way to another.
I’ve often looked back on my own personal testimony and had moments of wishing God had not allowed certain things to happen to me, or even stopped me from doing things that I chose to do. But I can’t blame Him for the sin of myself or others, that’s sin. What I am grateful for is that He allowed each and every one of those moments I face with regret, shame, or hurt. Why? Because I was surrounded by people who didn’t know Him, and when I encountered Him and He changed my life and I responded with praise, everyone who has never known or cared to know Him not only sees the change but hears why. People who recognize me as who they used to know suddenly no longer see her, but (hopefully) see Christ through me.
When people recognize you as the one who sat at the gate called Beautiful, who is it that you show them?
- Danielle Parker
But his healing was not just a gift for him, it was a gift to those around him. Verses 9-10 say that “all the people saw him walking and praising God and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple…And they were filled with wonder and amazement…”. This moment was used to show the Lord’s power to believers and nonbelievers alike. Not only His power to heal, but His power to change. His power which makes us go from one way to another.
I’ve often looked back on my own personal testimony and had moments of wishing God had not allowed certain things to happen to me, or even stopped me from doing things that I chose to do. But I can’t blame Him for the sin of myself or others, that’s sin. What I am grateful for is that He allowed each and every one of those moments I face with regret, shame, or hurt. Why? Because I was surrounded by people who didn’t know Him, and when I encountered Him and He changed my life and I responded with praise, everyone who has never known or cared to know Him not only sees the change but hears why. People who recognize me as who they used to know suddenly no longer see her, but (hopefully) see Christ through me.
When people recognize you as the one who sat at the gate called Beautiful, who is it that you show them?
- Danielle Parker
[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Do you think if the beggar man was offered healing before the miracle, he would have even believed it was possible?
+ If the man had not praised God and followed the disciples after this healing, how might the crowd's response to seeing the miracle have changed? Would it have changed?
+ How does the power of testimony and healing change the lives around us?
+ Do you think if the beggar man was offered healing before the miracle, he would have even believed it was possible?
+ If the man had not praised God and followed the disciples after this healing, how might the crowd's response to seeing the miracle have changed? Would it have changed?
+ How does the power of testimony and healing change the lives around us?
[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Where there is healing, change, or redirection in your life, do you leap with praise? What is your response?
+ How might the Lord be offering you to get up and walk while your hand is outstretched for silver and gold?
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Where there is healing, change, or redirection in your life, do you leap with praise? What is your response?
+ How might the Lord be offering you to get up and walk while your hand is outstretched for silver and gold?
[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Father, thank You for carrying me through every moment in my life. Thank You for being at my side when I have been the beggar at the gate, and thank You for staying with me when You’ve given me more than I could have ever imagined possible. In every season, You have know what’s next. When I am scared and alone and I ask for what I think I need, help me to trust that You know what I need. Help me to be available, and use my life to show those around me who You are. Help me to go from recognized from the gate to recognized by Your grace. It’s in the powerful name of Jesus Christ I pray, amen.
+ Pray with me:
Father, thank You for carrying me through every moment in my life. Thank You for being at my side when I have been the beggar at the gate, and thank You for staying with me when You’ve given me more than I could have ever imagined possible. In every season, You have know what’s next. When I am scared and alone and I ask for what I think I need, help me to trust that You know what I need. Help me to be available, and use my life to show those around me who You are. Help me to go from recognized from the gate to recognized by Your grace. It’s in the powerful name of Jesus Christ I pray, amen.
[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
+ Is there someone who knows who you used to be that should know who God has made you to be?
+ Who can you remind today that they are not what they are recognized for, but they are made new?
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
+ Is there someone who knows who you used to be that should know who God has made you to be?
+ Who can you remind today that they are not what they are recognized for, but they are made new?
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