The Lame Beggar Healed

Acts 3:1–10 KJV 1900

1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 2 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; 3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. 4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6 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. 7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ancle bones received strength. 8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God: 10 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.

The lame beggar healed

I believe that there is revelation even in the title that is given to the segment of scripture.

the expression describing the condition and the character of the man are what make him a candidate for healing.

First he was lame…Only the lame need healing. Had this man been whole, he would not have needed healing.

Mark 2:17 KJV 1900

17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

- It was his condition that qualified him as a candidate for the first notable miracle following the experience of Pentecost.

I can recall on many occasions, my father saying…everybody wants a miracle…not many want to be in the condition where they need a miracle.

Just being lame, in and of itself, was not what qualified this man for the miracle of healing. It was his character being that of a beggar.

He was not to proud to admit that he was lame. He was placed in a public place where his lame condition would be on display for all that passed by.

He was not just lame…but he was humble. He was willing to admit that he had a need.

Spiritually, there are many that are lame, but don’t want to admit it. They try to hide it, disguise it, cover it up. They are too proud to beg and so, they remain lame.

the fact is that we are all lame in some way. We are all imperfect, sinners…the difference is that some will humble themselves and position themselves for the miracle, while others will miss the miracle due to their pride.

Psalm 51:17 KJV 1900

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

James 4:6 NASB95

6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

James 4:10 KJV 1900

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

…whom they laid daily at the gate

i want to reach back into the previous chapter. and a couple of points that I want to bring out.

the miracle of Acts 3:1-10 is Luke expounding on the statement of Acts 2:43

Last week we talked about the Acts 2:43 atmosphere that was created by the acts 2:42.

the acts 2:43 atmosphere was one of many signs and wonders done by the Apostles.

The acts 2:42 commitment was a togetherness in the Apostles doctrine, fellowship, communion and prayers.

And the Acts 2:43 atmosphere is not being expanded here in Acts 3:1. This is one of the many signs and wonders that were done by the Apostles.

As we commit ourselves to a togetherness in teaching and receiving doctrine, fellowship, communion and prayers…the miracles that the Apostles worked will become less of a rare occasion and more of a common occurence!

Many sigs and Wonders

2. Another Daily

Last week we looked at the connection between Acts 2:46 and Acts 2:47.

Acts 2:46 They continued daily in fellowship and communion

And in Acts 2:47 The Lord added to the church daily!

The measure of their investment in fellowship determined God’s addition to the church

In Acts 3 vs. 2 we find mention of the frequency daily mentioned again.

They laid the lame man at the gate daily!

Here is the correlation:

They were investing daily in their corporate coming together....Fellowship, worship, communion.

The church was growing daily...

And if we aren’t careful, the church can become this hermetic sealed chamber.

- We are consuming biblical teaching, enjoying fellowship, communion and prayer.

- The church is growing.

- Great things are happening within the church

And we forget that the great commission was a call to reach outside of the church.

While we are devoting ourselves to doctrine, fellowship, communion and prayer daily...

there is a lame man being laid at the gate daily!

Here is the challenge…We can become out of balance either way…where all of our focus is on the lame man at the gate daily…or all of our focus is on the corporate commitment daily.

When the fact is that we can’t have one without the other.

It was the daily fellowship and communion that created the environment for the Apostles to do many signs and wonders.

But it was their attention on the lame man that was laid at the gate daily that allowed what was happening within the church to expand beyond the church.

Look back at Acts 2:43

Acts 2:43 NASB95

43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.

That is within the church

At the conclusion of the miracle of the lame man being healed, look at Acts 3:9-10

Acts 3:9–10 NASB95

9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God; 10 and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

all the people saw him…and they were filled with wonder and amazement.

the man asks them for Alms

Simon fastens his eyes upon the man, Along with John (awareness of the need)…their purpose was to go to the temple to pray…That was one of the elements the early church was devoted to.

but the fixed their eyes upon the man with the need

And said…Look on us!

That is a bold statement to make.

you can only direct someone to look to you, if you know you have something to give.

Play clip from Taylor Fish

Here is the deal, if we tell the world we have something to give, we had better have something to give. They are going to look on us expecting to receive.

And when he looked on them expecting to receive, they knew what they did have and they didn’t have.

They weren’t equipped to simply be a social activist group that met physic and felt needs.

They were equipped with the Holy Ghost to lay hands on the sick and see them recover!

Final POINTS

They saw him walking and praising God.

Saw as opposed to just heard. The praise of someone that has truly been touched by Jesus is a praise that can’t just be head.

2. Vs. 8 After he was healed and strength came into his legs:

The first place he went was into the temple

And he went wherever Peter and John went

Vs. 11 says he held to Peter and John (ESV says he clung to them)

You hold on to what heals you.

The gate was beautiful…but when he was touched and healed…he wanted more than a beautiful gate…he wanted to be in the temple!

A true touch of Jesus will change your desires!

3. The bible says the people recognized him as the man that had been laid at the gate beautiful. It was the transformation of this life that was a witness and a testimony.

So often, we try to hid our testimony. We want people to think we’ve always been in the temple.

but it was when the people saw him and recognized that he had been the lame man

it isn’t just that he wasn’t what he used to be. it was when the saw what he used to be and NOW he was walking AND Praising God...

And that is what brought them to a place of wonder and amazement!