Empowered Disciples wk 5

Healing the Beggar

As we continue our series on Empowered Disciples, this morning we are beginning chapter 3 which starts a new section that goes from chapter 3 through chapter 5.

The apostles and the early church stayed true to the mandate of Acts 1:8, as they witnessed vigorously of the resurrected Messiah in the holy city of Jerusalem.

The events in next three chapters from 3 through 5 are set entirely within the city of Jerusalem.

At this point the Christian community, the early church was made of all Jewish people.

The early church was committed to the task of winning their fellow Jews to Jesus.

The church met in each others homes which was a place for renewal; the temple was the place for witnessing; and the Sanhedrin was the place for defense.

This section of Acts begins with Peter healing a lame beggar in the temple precincts, which we will see this morning.

Next week we will then look at Peter’s second sermon as a crowd gathers because of the miracle of healing the beggar.

The miracle that we are going to be looking at this morning resembles the miracles that Jesus performed.

Acts 3 records the first recorded miracle performed through the apostles after Pentecost.

The healing of the lame man demonstrates that the power of the risen Christ was still at work through His disciples.

There is one major difference - Jesus healed by His own authority; Peter in our story today heals by the name of Jesus, which was indeed by Jesus’ authority at work through the agency of the apostles.

This miracle reveals not only Christ's power to heal physically but also His desire to transform lives completely.

There are four things that we will see from our text this morning: we will see the Setting and the Beggar, the Question. Peter’s response, and the Miracle.

Let’s look at the entirety of our text, and then we will dig into it.

Acts 3:1–10 NASB95

1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer. 2 And a man who had been lame from his mother’s womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms. 4 But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, “Look at us!” 5 And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 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!” 7 And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. 8 With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 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.

Pray

The Setting and Beggar

The setting is the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer.

The ninth hour would be three in the afternoon, it was also the time of the evening Tamid, one of the two sacrifices held daily in the temple.

The largest crowds would thus have been found at the times of sacrifice, as Peter and John went to the temple for prayer and to witness.

Peter and John were often together in the early portions of Acts, Peter did all the speaking, with John merely standing in the background.

John’s presence is sometimes explained as based on the Jewish law that at least two witnesses were necessary to confirm any testimony.

Jesus also when sending out the disciples on mission, sent them out in pairs.

Peter and John went up to the temple, and there were various accesses to the temple.

Verse 2 then introduces the beggar.

Acts 3:2 NASB95

2 And a man who had been lame from his mother’s womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple.

The beggar was born lame, this fact makes the healing all the more remarkable.

As Peter and John are arriving at one of the temple gates, the lame man was in the process of being carried and placed at the gate to beg for alms from those entering the temple.

The rabbis taught that there were three pillars for the Jewish faith in the Torah (the first five books of the Bible), worship, and the showing of kindness, or charity.

Almsgiving was one of the main ways to show kindness and was thus considered a major expression of one’s devotion to God.

Almsgiving is the practice of giving money or food to the poor.

As people entered the temple for the evening sacrifice and prayer it would be particularly disposed to practice their piety by generously giving alms to a lame beggar.

All this took place at the gate called Beautiful.

It is believed that this gate was on the eastern wall of the temple precincts and was the main access for those approaching the temple from the Kidron Valley.

Illustration: The Forgotten Person

Many people walk or drive past the same homeless person every day.

They become part of the scenery.

Thousands may pass by without ever learning their name or hearing their story.

The lame man had likely been sitting at the Beautiful Gate for years.

Worshipers saw him daily, yet few truly saw him.

Peter and John noticed the person everyone else had learned to ignore.

Application

We nee to ask God to help us see people as He sees them.

The people most in need are often right in front of us.

Empowered disciples are attentive to those others overlook.

We need to look for opportunities to serve the hurting, lonely, and forgotten in our community.

Challenge: Who is someone in your life that has become "invisible" to you?

How can you intentionally engage them this week?

The Question

So Peter and John are walking up to the Beautiful gate, one of multiple entrances to the temple complex.

As they approach the entrance the beggar is being laid in a spot that he frequented to beg.

He is doing something he did on a regular basis.

Acts 3:3–5 NASB95

3 When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms. 4 But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, “Look at us!” 5 And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.

The beggar is not necessarily speaking to anyone specific, he is just saying alms, alms, like a cd that is skipping.

The word alms as we seen earlier was the beggar’s way of asking for money or food, he would repeat the word alms hundreds of times a day.

Generally people would flip a coin in the direction of the beggar, and hurry to the inner courts of the temple for pray, barely even giving the beggar a glance.

This time the response was different.

As Peter and John approached the beggar, the beggar is asking for alms.

Peter and John stop, and focus on the beggar.

Peter then instructs the beggar to look at him.

Surely the beggar could tell this was not a usual encounter, so he responded by giving his total attention to Peter and John.

The beggar probably was not sure what was about to happen, but he probably was hoping for an unusual generosity.

Illustration: Expecting Too Little

A child may ask his father for a dollar to buy candy, unaware that the father has already planned a much greater gift for his birthday.

The lame man asked for coins.

He expected a small, temporary blessing.

He had no idea God was preparing a life-changing miracle.

Many times we ask God for survival when He desires transformation.

Application

We need to bring our needs to God, but not limit Him on what He can do.

Sometimes God answers differently—and better—than we expect.

Faith looks beyond immediate circumstances to God's greater purpose.

Challenge: Are you asking God merely to help you get through life, or are you asking Him to transform your life?

Peter’s Response

After Peter tells the Beggar to look at him, Peter then gives a response to the beggars begging.

Look with me at the first part of verse 6.

Acts 3:6 NASB95

6 But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you

This verse is the heart of the message.

Peter’s response surely caught the beggar of guard.

The beggar is wanting money or food, and Peter tells the beggar I do not have silver and gold.

Peter is saying I do not have money to give you.

The beggar may be thinking then why did you stop and tell me to look at you.

The beggar was about to learn that some things are more precious than silver and gold.

Acts 3:6 NASB95

6 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!”

Peter does not have money to give, but Peter gives the man something more valuable.

Peter heals the man in the name of Jesus Christ.

Peter commands the beggar in the name of Jesus to walk.

To invoke the name of Jesus is to call upon His authority and power.

In a real sense Jesus through Peter continued His healing ministry.

Illustration: Giving What You Possess

Imagine a person stranded with a dead car battery.

One passerby wishes them well but cannot help.

Another has jumper cables and knows how to use them.

You can only give what you possess.

Peter had no money, but he possessed something greater—the power and authority of Jesus Christ.

Application

The greatest thing we can offer people is Jesus.

Churches may not have unlimited resources, but they possess the gospel.

God often uses ordinary believers who are willing to share what they have.

Challenge: What do you have that God can use?

Your testimony?

Your encouragement?

Your time?

Your spiritual gifts?

The Miracle

Peter has told that man that in the name of Jesus to walk.

Acts 3:7–10 NASB95

7 And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. 8 With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 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.

Peter then grasps the man’s right hand and helps the beggar up.

It is almost as if at this point the man needed all the encouragement He could get.

As Peter grabbed the beggar’s hand the man felt the new strength surging through his feet and ankles.

We need to remember this beggar had been lame from birth, therefore the man has never walked before in His life.

The beggar leaped to his feet and began to walk.

The beggar did not just walk away, but rather he went into the sanctuary with Peter and John.

The beggar not only received physical healing, but he had found spiritual acceptance as well.

The beggar began walking, jumping, and praising God.

For the first time he could really praise God in the place of praise, in God’s house.

The people who were present at the temple witnessed the transformation of the beggar.

The crowd knew the man for the lame beggar he had been and saw what he had become as he leapt about in the temple praising God.

The people in the crowd were filled with awe and amazement at what they saw, and that miracle prepared them for Peter’s second sermon.

Illustration: A New Beginning

After years in a wheelchair, a person receives a successful treatment and takes their first steps.

Family members rejoice, tears flow, and life changes forever.

For the lame man, this was more than healing—it was a completely new future.

Application

Jesus specializes in changing lives that seem beyond hope.

But No situation is too broken for God's power.

The same Christ who healed physically still heals spiritually.

Transformed lives become powerful testimonies to the world.

Challenge: Where do you need God's restoring power today?

What area have you considered beyond repair?

The lame man thought he needed money.

What he truly needed was an encounter with Jesus Christ.

Many people today are asking for temporary solutions while carrying a deeper spiritual need.

Empowered disciples recognize that while practical help matters, the greatest gift we can offer is the life-changing power of Jesus.

Final Applications

We need to See the people others overlook.

We need to Expect God to do more than we can imagine.

We need to be Offering people Jesus, not merely human solutions.

We should Trust God's power to transform lives completely.

We need to Live as an empowered disciple who points others to Christ.