Empowered Witness: Healing at the Gate Beautiful (Acts 3:1-10
Empowered Witness: Healing at the Gate Beautiful (Acts 3:1-10 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Memorial Day
VBS- Student and Children
Forged in Fire
Church in the Park, bring a chair
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.
1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
Something to think about in this first verse is the two people mentioned. First is Peter, he is the one that denied Jesus three times and then John. We know that John stayed with Jesus during the execution, he was at the foot of the cross when Jesus commended the care of His mother Mary into his hands.
So you have Peter who fled and John who stayed, one was disloyal, the other completely devoted. One who denied even knowing Jesus and one who would never leave Jesus.
The second thing to note is it says that they went to the temple at the hour of prayer””
You have two communities of people represented. The Jewish community and the Christian Community. The Jewish community, like Peter the Jewish community denied Jesus. Then there is the Christian community who embraced Jesus.
The separation of the two community took many years. It wasn’t until AD 70 when the temple was destroyed that would finalize it.
We know later in the book of Acts that the Apostle Paul went to the Synagogues first to engage in relationships during his missionary journeys. In the early church the Apostles regularly would go to the Synagogues to pray and to establish relationships.
The hour of prayer: this would be the evening hour of prayer the ninth hour, 3:00 pm.
So Luke is being very detailed here, telling us exactly what they were doing and at what time.
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.
Luke is giving us a description of the area, the particular gate. There are several gates at the Temple Mount
The Golden Gate (Gate of Mercy): Sha'ar Harahamim, the “Gate of Mercy.”
Located on the eastern wall, this gate was shut with 16’ of concrete in 1541 AD by Suleiman the Magnificent of the Ottoman Empire to Keep the Jewish Messiah out. What they don’t know is that the bible says in the book of Ezikiel that the Glory of the Lord will bust through that gate one day and no amount of concrete can hold Him back.
The Dung Gate (Sha'ar HaAshpot):
Located near the Western Wall, it is the primary gate for visitors to the Western Wall.
The Lion's Gate (Sha'ar HaArayot):
Also known as St. Stephen's Gate, it is on the eastern wall and leads to the Via Dolorosa.
The Herod's Gate (Sha'ar HaPrakhim):
Located on the northern wall, it is a small gate leading into the Muslim Quarter.
The Damascus Gate (Sha'ar Shechem):
A major gate on the northern wall, it is a key entrance to the Old City.
The New Gate (Sha'ar Hadash):
The newest gate, located on the northwestern side, providing access to the Christian Quarter.
The Jaffa Gate (Sha'ar Yafo):
Located on the western wall, it is a main entrance for visitors and leads to the Christian and Armenian Quarters.
The Zion Gate (Sha'ar Tzion):
Located on the southern wall, it leads into the Jewish and Armenian Quarters.
Now the gate that is missing is Gate Beautiful. This gate is traditionally believed to be the Nicanor Gate, which was one of the gates leading from the Court of the Gentiles into the Court of the Women. It was a prominent and richly adorned gate, hence the name "Beautiful."
Gate beautiful was used in the second temple period which was destroyed in 70 AD by the Romans. Historians believe that today you can find Gate Beautiful on the eastern side of the temple.
Something important to note is that the man described in the text is at Gate beautiful and Gate beautiful was the Gentile gate. So this man likely a Gentile but Luke gives more detail about him.
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.
“lame” there are many ways that someone can become lame. It could by by accident, and many of the lame can remember what it was like to walk. But this man, Luke a physician clearly describes him as “lame from birth”
So, this man in his entire life had never experienced, walking, jumping for joy, running or any of the wonderful things that people that can walk experience.
So here you have a man that was apparently taken by someone to the Gentile Gate. Look at the text...
English Standard Version Chapter 3
whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple
This man reminds us of the power of perseverance and faith. The lame man, carried daily to the temple gate, symbolizes the importance of seeking help and remaining hopeful, even in challenging circumstances."
This man was laid daily at this gate so he may ask for alms. Alms simply meaning charitable donations. People would see him and feel compelled to give to him for his pitiable condition.
People were expected to give “alms” one of the surviving documents from the second century, the short book called the Didache gives a summary of our obligation to give to the needy.
Didache 4:5-8:
"Do not be one who stretches out his hands to receive, but withdraws them when it comes to giving. If you have anything, through your hands you shall give ransom for your sins. Do not hesitate to give nor complain when you give, for you know who is the good Paymaster of the reward."
This teaches us to be cheerful givers.
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.”
Now think about this, put yourself in this beggars position for a moment. You have been coming to the temple every day, begging for your needs, you have never walked a day in your life and two strangers make eye contact with you.
Most people will not look at a beggar on the street in the eyes, they turn their head. This is the typical reaction, if one turns their head it is as if the person doesn’t exist. Now you know that this man must have experienced this thousands of times in his life.
But when Peter and John came they didn’t look away, they looked directly at him saying...”look at us”
5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.
The man looked at them expecting for them to be like the others ad hand over some money.
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!”
“I have no silver and gold” this must have been a disappointment for the beggar. You don’t have any money, then why are you engaging with me?
Peter had something to give alright, and I assure you the man never expected that he would receive what Peter had.
“In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”
Notice that there was no examination, no physical therapy, no surgeries. Peter’s instruction was “rise up and walk”
Now lets look closely at exactly what happened here.
The instructions: “rise up and walk”
This must have been confusing to the lame man, he had never walked before. What he didn’t know was that standing in front of him was a man who was sold out to Jesus, committed to his ministry, a man empowered by the Holy Spirit to totally heal him.
7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.
Two parts to verse 7.
a. “And he took him by the right hand”
this shows us that as we are reaching up to God, He is reaching down. This is important: it is symbolizing God's initiative to help and heal. The man, in turn, reaches up, accepting the help offered to him. This interaction illustrates the dynamic relationship between divine grace and human faith. God's grace reaches down to us, offering help, healing, and salvation, and we, in our faith, reach up to accept it.
b. …”and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.”
Strengthening and Empowerment:
Just as the man's feet and ankles were made strong, God's help empowers and strengthens us. When we reach up in faith, God's intervention in our lives provides the strength and support we need to overcome our weaknesses and challenges.
Transformation and New Life:
The healing of the lame man led to a dramatic transformation in his life, enabling him to walk, leap, and praise God. Similarly, when God reaches down to us and we respond, our lives can be transformed, leading us to new ways of living and experiencing His presence.
Symbol of Salvation:
This miracle can also be seen as a symbol of salvation. Just as Peter's touch brought physical healing, God's reach brings spiritual healing and salvation. Our reaching up signifies our faith and acceptance of this salvation.
This one verse , Acts 3:7 can be understood as a vivid illustration of the way God reaches down to help us. When we, in faith, reach up to Him, we experience His transformative power, strength, and salvation, leading to profound changes in our lives.This
The results of faith
8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
Immediate Response and Joy:
The healed man’s immediate reaction of jumping to his feet and walking signifies an enthusiastic response to God's help. This illustrates that when God reaches down and we respond, there is often an immediate, joyous transformation in our lives. The man’s joy and praise reflect the gratitude and worship that arise when we recognize and accept God's intervention.
Public Witness:
By entering the temple courts, walking, jumping, and praising God, the healed man becomes a public witness to God's power and grace. This indicates that our personal experiences of God’s help and healing are not just for our benefit but also serve as a testimony to others. When we reach up and accept God's help, our transformed lives can inspire and encourage others to seek and recognize God's presence.
Full Participation in Community and Worship:
The man’s entry into the temple courts represents his full reintegration into the community and the worship of God. Previously marginalized due to his condition, he can now fully participate in communal worship. This symbolizes how God’s reach transforms us, allowing us to engage more deeply with our faith community and with God.
Complete Restoration:
The act of walking, jumping, and praising God signifies complete restoration, not just physically but also spiritually and socially. When God reaches down to us, and we reach up in faith, the restoration we experience encompasses all aspects of our lives—physical, emotional, spiritual, and social.
Jesus rightly validated and glorified
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.
Public Recognition and Testimony:
The people witnessing the miracle recognize the man as the same one who had been begging at the temple gate. This public recognition validates the miracle, showing that it is indeed the same person who was previously lame. This reinforces the authenticity of the healing and the power of God at work through the apostles.
Validation of Jesus' Ministry:
The miraculous healing performed by Peter in Jesus' name validates Jesus' ministry and His divine authority. The people’s wonder and amazement reflect the acknowledgment that the same power Jesus demonstrated during His ministry is now at work through His apostles. This serves as evidence that Jesus is alive and continuing His work through His followers.
Apostolic Empowerment by the Holy Spirit:
The miracle underscores the empowerment of the apostles by the Holy Spirit. After Pentecost, the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit, enabling them to perform signs and wonders in Jesus' name. This healing is a direct demonstration of that empowerment, showing that the apostles are continuing Christ’s work on earth through the Holy Spirit.
Increased Faith and Evangelism:
The people's reaction of wonder and amazement opens the door for evangelism and increased faith. Witnessing such a profound miracle likely leads many to believe in Jesus and seek more understanding of the gospel. The apostles' ability to perform miracles serves as a powerful tool for spreading the message of Christ.
Transformation as a Witness:
The healed man’s transformation from a beggar to a walking, praising individual becomes a living testimony to the power of Jesus and the truth of the gospel. His presence and actions validate the reality of the miracle and the authenticity of the apostles' message.
