The Lame will Leap

Introduction 

Section outline 

Temple Restoration & Conflict: Peter heals a lame man (3:1-4:31) 

The People of the Restored Temple (4:32-5:11) - Deuteronomy 6 – resources. 

Temple Restoration & Conflict: The apostles doing many signs and wonders (5:12-42) 

The People of the Restored Temple (6:1-7) - James 1:27, Deuteronomy 14:29 – care for widows. 

Temple Restoration & Conflict: Stephen doing great wonders and signs (6:8-7:53) 

Temple Death and Resurrection (7:54-8:4) – John 12:20-33 – the scattered and dying seed. 

Passage outline 

We are in the beginning section of the Jerusalem witness. Everything has happened to establish the church up to this point: 

Christ has ascended as the Davidic King. 

The 12th witness has been chosen. 

The re-creating Spirit has been poured out and dwells with His people. 

The exiles have returned and now understand.  

Now, the witness to Jerusalem will continue with our text today. 

Peter heals a lame man (3:1-10) 

At the Temple Gate Beautiful (v. 1-3) 

True alms (v. 4-8) - Woman at the Well? 

Wonder and amazement (v. 9-10) 

Peter’s Sermon (3:11-26) 

Setting and Question (v. 11-12) 

The Name of the Lord (v.13-16) 

These days (v. 17-26) 

Peter Heals a lame man (3:1-10) 

At the Temple Gate Beautiful (v. 1-3) 

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, whom they used to set down daily 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. 

Everything in these first three verses is in relation to the temple:  

“...going up to the temple...” (v.1) 

“...at the gate of the temple...” (v. 2) 

“...were entering the temple.” (v. 2) 

“...about to go into the temple...” (v.3) 

Then, notice how many other details Luke gives us: 

Peter and John are “...going up to...” - a high place (v.1) 

The time – 3pm (the 9th hour, the hour of prayer) (v.1) 

The duration of the lame man’s illness – from the womb (v.2) 

The gate of the temple – Beautiful (v.2)  

Luke gives us a lot of information and he orients us toward the temple. This man would sit outside of the temple because of his problem, and he depended upon the goodwill of the those who were blessed enough to go into the temple.   

The vocation of the lame man – begging for alms (v.2) 

The temple community could not bring this man into the temple with them. They lacked the life-giving and restoring power of the Holy Spirit of God. 

Schreiner points out: 

“Irony pervades this scene as a lame man sits at the Beautiful temple gate at the hour of prayer while the pious pray inside. Truly the temple has become a den of robbers and lacks the life-giving reality it was meant to embody. The use of “Beautiful” also suggests the work of the Spirit is to restore, refresh, i.e., make beautiful (words used later in the sermon 3:20–21). What was twisted at the fall is refreshed and restored at the arrival of the Spirit.”1  

You can see the picture that Luke is painting: this community was unable to help this man with his true problem. They are just walking by. And yes, they are giving of their goodwill to him. He had made it this far, so presumably, those walking into the temple were giving him alms. But they could not give him what he truly needed: a way to enter the presence of God. He is outside, unable to enter, cut off from the covenant of God. Schreiner alludes to this passage in his commentary, but I would like to draw the connection more sharply: 

“Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron, saying, ‘No man of your seed throughout their generations who has a defect shall come near to offer the food of his God. ‘For no one who has a defect shall come near: a blind man or a lame man or he who has a disfigured face or any deformed limb, or a man who has a broken foot or broken hand, or a hunchback or a dwarf, or one who has a defect in his eye or eczema or scabs or crushed testicles. ‘No man among the seed of Aaron the priest who has a defect shall approach to bring near the offerings to Yahweh by fire; since he has a defect, he shall not approach to bring near the food of his God. ‘He may eat the food of his God, both of the most holy and of the holy, only he shall not go in to the veil or approach the altar because he has a defect, so that he will not profane My sanctuaries. For I am Yahweh who makes them holy.’” So Moses spoke to Aaron and to his sons and to all the sons of Israel.” (Leviticus 21:16-24) 

 This man needed something which men could not give him: access to God. 

True alms (v. 4-8) 

“But when Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him, he 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!” And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. And leaping up, he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.” 

The construction of this sentence is designed to put emphasis on what Peter did have to give the lame man. And this passage reminds me of the woman at the well. Similarly, she was surprised that Jesus offered her water since he did not have anything to draw the water with. It was not physical water that she needed just like in this case, it was not money that the lame man needed. Now, do not misunderstand me, we do need those things. Do not neglect to drink water because you think that spiritual water is all that you need. No! That is silly. In the same way, do not neglect wealth and income because spiritual health and wellness is all that you need. Stop thinking about it in those terms.  

These passages are about our heart and soul: our being. Our being does not persist on physical water and other resources. No. Man does not live by bread alone (Deut. 8:3, Mat. 4:4): 

“For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.” (Luke 12:23) 

This is why the first goal of this church is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Our being needs fellowship with God: We need the manna from heaven, the living water of God, the restoring power of the Holy Spirit. This is not in place of the physical things that we need. But God provides those when we honor Him. That is what Deuteronomy 6 is all about.  

The danger here for us is in being like the Old Temple community: Who care more about following rules or making sure they are doing everything exactly right (as they should) yet with no real power to bring the healing power of the Spirit to the blind, deaf, dumb, and lame. Are we bringing sinners to Jesus? This is all a picture:  

The lame man is unable to heal himself – God must heal him. 

The Temple community cannot bring this man into God’s presence.  

The Spirit of God, bringing this lame man into God’s presence, signals the recreating and restoring power of the promised Day to come.   

The same Greek word for “leaping” is used in the Septuagint translation of Isaiah 35:6 - ἅλλομαι (hallomai). And the context of what Isaiah is prophesying is one of salvation from the coming vengeance of God: 

“Say to those with an anxious heart, “Be strong, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance; The recompense of God will come, But He will save you. Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. Then the lame will leap like a deer, And the tongue of the mute will shout for joy. For waters will break forth in the wilderness And streams in the Arabah.” (Isaiah 35:4-6) 

 This context is important for what Peter will say later in his sermon. This sign of Peter is indicating New Creation restoration, a new temple, a new people of God. And this new temple is empowered with the life-giving and restoring power of the Spirit of the living God. The same God who created all things. And this God will be coming in vengeance.   

The statement that this passage is driving towards, in my opinion, is in verse 8: “..and he entered the temple with them...” (Acts 3:8). The veil was torn in two, the final sacrifice had been offered, the outcasts are invited in. In the first three verses, Luke is orienting us to this lame man being set outside the temple in relation to all of those going or walking to the temple: “...going up to the temple...” (v.1), “...were entering the temple.” (v. 2), “...about to go into the temple...” (v.3). 

Now this man is leaping and walking into the temple to praise God. And that is the point: Christ has made a way for us who are lame, blind, deaf, and dumb to come near to the Holy of Holies. It was in the name of Christ that this man was healed. And the response of the people ought to be our response every time we remember what Christ has done for us: wonder and amazement. And again, we need to focus on bringing people into the holy of holies in the name of Christ. Truly that is life-giving.  

Wonder and amazement (v. 9-10) 

“And all the people saw him walking and praising God; and they were recognizing him, that he was 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.” (Acts 3:9-10) 

 The restoring power of God had made him whole! He could now walk and leap into the temple. This was an undeniable sign. He was a well-known staple of the community. Sproul points out in his commentary that in one of the European cities in which he studied, there was a man who was always begging in the same spot. So often, in fact, that even postcards and pictures of the city taken in that area showed the man sitting in that spot. He was a well-known fixture.  

So, when that man is healed and no longer taking up his position, but walking with the people into the temple, you can understand their wonder and amazement. And this could be why Luke was giving us those details in the beginning: He was sitting in front of the temple because he was lame from his mother’s womb. Therefore, his healing was quite public and known. 

Summary 

Peter heals a lame man (3:1-10) 

At the Temple Gate Beautiful (v. 1-3) 

True alms (v. 4-8) - Woman at the Well? 

Wonder and amazement (v. 9-10) 

And we see the contrast with the Old Temple community who was unable to bring this man truly before the presence of the Living God. And why could Peter and John bring him? Because they knew Jesus Christ! Christ brings us into the presence of God. The Church is made up of lame, blind, deaf, dumb people whom Christ has brought into God’s presence. And the Old Temple community rejected Him. We need to remember our calling to bring people into God’s presence in the name of Jesus Christ.  

Peter’s Sermon (3:11-26) 

Setting and Question (v. 11-12) 

The Name of the Lord (v.13-16) 

These days (v. 17-26) 

Peter’s Sermon (v. 11-26) 

Peter observes their wonder and amazement. He sees their false assumption that there must be something powerful or special about Peter and John, so he asks them a question to point them in the right direction. 

Setting and question (v. 11-12) 

“And while he was clinging to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the portico called Solomon’s, full of wonder. But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk?” 

What was the lame man doing? Clinging to Peter and John. Wouldn’t you? You have just been given the ability to walk! What an amazing thing. This is exactly what we should be doing with Christ: clinging to Him. He healed us on the cross. He took us out of the mirey clay and set our feet on the rock. He is our refuge, our shepherd, our father, our king. Cling to Him. He will lead us home. 

Peter then asks the question, “...why do you gaze at us?” It is as if he is saying that it should be clear to these Jews that God is fulfilling prophecy. But also, our tendency is to look at the means rather than the source. Do not put more stock in the means of grace than in the source of that grace. We must always seek the Lord. Through the means He has instituted. But it is not the means that saves.  

And Peter continues, 

The name of the Lord (v. 13-16) 

“The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. “But you denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, but put to death the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses. “And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which is through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.” 

Peter points them to the name of Jesus and I think he is referencing Joel specifically. He is giving them the way of salvation. If we look at the passage in Joel that Peter also quotes during his Pentecost sermon, deliverance is through “the name of Yahweh.” 

“And I will put wonders in the sky and on the earth, Blood, fire, and columns of smoke. “The sun will be turned into darkness And the moon into blood Before the great and awesome day of Yahweh comes. “And it will be that everyone who calls on the name of Yahweh Will be delivered; For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem There will be those who escape, As Yahweh has said, Even among the survivors whom Yahweh calls.” Joel 2:30-32 

So, you can see the connection here: Peter is telling these Jews of the “great and awesome day of Yahweh,” and is telling them that salvation is through the name of Yahweh, specifically, the name of Jesus Christ, the one raised from the dead.  

Peter’s message of the imminent judgment would have been clear just because of these statements; however, Peter removes all doubt about this in the next few verses. By stating that salvation is through the name of Jesus, I think these people would have recognized the allusion to Joel 2, and they would have seen that Peter was saying that the Day of Yahweh was upon them. Paul says in Philippians, 

“Therefore, God also highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that EVERY TONGUE WILL CONFESS that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11) 

Paul is quoting Isaiah 45, which is also in the context of calling Israel to repent of her sins. Paul quotes verse 23, and verse 22, of Isaiah 45 says, 

“Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other.” 

So, all of this seems to be pointing to the imminence of God’s judgment in the arrival of the “great and awesome day of Yahweh.” And the way of salvation through faith in the name of Yahweh, who Peter is revealing to be Jesus Christ of Nazareth. 

And this connection is furthered when Peter says, “you denied the Holy and Righteous One.” Isaiah 45:11 says, “Thus says Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel..." Peter continues, and really makes clear where his sermon is heading: the coming judgment of Yahweh. And that these Jews are guilty and deserving of that coming judgment. 

These days (v. 17-26)  

“And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also. “But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. “Moses said, ‘THE LORD GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BROTHERS; TO HIM YOU SHALL LISTEN to everything He says to you. ‘AND IT WILL BE THAT EVERY SOUL THAT DOES NOT HEED THAT PROPHET SHALL BE UTTERLY DESTROYED FROM AMONG THE PEOPLE.’ “And likewise, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and his successors onward, also proclaimed these days. “It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘AND IN YOUR SEED ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED.’ “For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.” 

You can see the emphasis of this passage on the coming judgment, their need for repentance, and the promise of restoration. 

Peter quotes Deuteronomy 15:15-19, and notice that whoever does not listen to this prophet will be utterly destroyed. This sounds very similar to what the Israelites promised Joshua in Joshua 1:18, 

“Anyone who rebels against your command and does not listen to your words, in all that you command him, shall be put to death; only be strong and courageous.” 

And this is true even today:  will you listen to Jesus, our Lord? Or will you be utterly destroyed?  

 Genesis 22:18 is the offer of the Gospel: Jesus Christ is the promised seed of Abraham through whom all the nations of the earth would be blessed. Peter says to the Jews, “For you first, God raised up his Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.” (v. 26) 

Conclusion 

Peter heals a lame man (3:1-10) 

At the Temple Gate Beautiful (v. 1-3) 

True alms (v. 4-8) - Woman at the Well? 

Wonder and amazement (v. 9-10) 

Peter’s Sermon (3:11-26) 

Setting and Question (v. 11-12) 

The Name of the Lord (v.13-16) 

These days (v. 17-26) 

The two practical applications that I would like us to remember from this passage: 

Let us never be a people who are so concerned about our external obedience that we forget the life-giving and restoring power of Jesus Christ. Our primary purpose here is to proclaim the new life that sinners can have in Christ. Our entire community is based upon this new life. Let’s not forget. Christ is the center of our community because He brings us to God. We do not want to be like the Old Temple Community who simply walk by the lame man and only give him physical things like silver and gold. No, our community gives people true alms: the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Whoever receives these alms will never beg again. 

The call of Peter to the Jews to repent of their sins is still available to us today. Peter was telling them about a specific event that was going to happen: the Temple was going to be destroyed, the judgment of Yahweh was about to fall, but salvation was offered through the name of Jesus.  

This is true for us. Our judgment is coming. We are all going to die and stand before God one day. Are you ready? Christ is offered to you. He will lead you into the presence of the Almighty God. And this is what we celebrate here every Sunday. The glorious absolution we have from sin.  

And in response to this reality, we offer ourselves up into God’s service and then we commune with Him at His table. We then go out into all the world and preach the Gospel.  

Let’s pray and then sing our doxology.