Power in the Name of Jesus

This morning we are getting back to our series in Acts as we learn from the early Church and how God used them.

This morning we are going to be looking in chapter 3 of Acts at the healing of a lame man, and how the Power in the Name of Jesus changes things.

But we will also see over the next couple of weeks as Jesus told us multiple times in the Gospels that we would be hated and persecuted for his name sake.

In our text this morning we will see the healing of a lame man from birth, one of the many wonders and signs mentioned in chapter 2 verse 43 that we seen a couple of weeks ago.

This astounding miracle gathers a curious crowd and prepares them to hear Peter’s sermon.

It also confirms that Peter and John represent God. The record of the lame man unfolds in three events: the scene, the sign, and the sequel.

If you are able will you stand with me in honor of the reading of the Word of God.

Acts 3:1–11 CSB

1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple for the time of prayer at three in the afternoon. 2 A man who was lame from birth was being carried there. He was placed each day at the temple gate called Beautiful, so that he could beg from those entering the temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter the temple, he asked for money. 4 Peter, along with John, looked straight at him and said, “Look at us.” 5 So he turned to them, expecting to get something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I don’t have silver or gold, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!” 7 Then, taking him by the right hand he raised him up, and at once his feet and ankles became strong. 8 So he jumped up and started to walk, and he entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 All the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and they recognized that he was the one who used to sit and beg at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. So they were filled with awe and astonishment at what had happened to him. 11 While he was holding on to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astonished, ran toward them in what is called Solomon’s Colonnade.

Pray

I. The Scene. Vs. 1-3

The gospels and Acts reveal that Peter and John were very close friends and even business partners, according to Luke 5:10

Luke 5:10 CSB

10 and so were James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were Simon’s partners. “Don’t be afraid,” Jesus told Simon. “From now on you will be catching people.”

They were business partners as fishermen, but then became disciples of Jesus, Peter and John along with John’s brother James, the other partner in the fishing business became Jesus inner circle of disciples.

The three men were Jesus closest disciples, they were the three he turned to the most, the ones he took further with him on different occasions.

Peter and John were also the first two disciples to visit the tomb after Jesus had risen from the dead, after Mary came and reported it.

Let’s look at the scene of this healing now that we know who we are talking about.

Acts 3:1–3 CSB

1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple for the time of prayer at three in the afternoon. 2 A man who was lame from birth was being carried there. He was placed each day at the temple gate called Beautiful, so that he could beg from those entering the temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter the temple, he asked for money.

Peter and John were going up, this suggest as we seen in chapter 2:46 that they had been following the custom of praying at the three set hours of the Jewish times.

We are told there that it was three in the afternoon, which was the ninth hour and the third customary time of prayer for the Jews to go to the Temple to pray.

The ninth hour or three in the afternoon was also the time of the evening sacrifice, and was also when the daily temple crowds would be at their peak, there would be a large crowd there at this time.

As they are about to enter the temple they encounter the lame man, this was not a man that just broke his leg a week ago or just became lame a year ago, this man has been lame since birth.

Being that he was lame from birth meant that whatever was wrong with him, there was nothing the doctors could do for him, and his life would be that of a beggar until the day he died.

The way that he would eat and get his needs meet would be to beg for anything he would ever receive.

And to top that off, the only way for him to get to a place to beg, and then back to a place of shelter was for someone to carry him, as he could not walk.

He had his friends, family members lay him just outside of the temple gate called Beautiful, which was a perfect place to beg.

The reason this was such a great place to beg is that people were coming to give of their offerings to God, to impress God, and one way they could impress God was to give to the poor.

Also there was a lot of people that would go in and out of the temple every day, not just to pray, but to offer sacrifices, to pay their tithes and offerings.

Therefore, he chose to be laid at the Temple Gate called Beautiful, as there were multiple gates, or entrances into the temple.

As the lame man spotted Peter and John coming he began to beg, asking for money.

He was expecting to receive money from the two men.

Many times we call out to God asking for something but God knows what I call the big picture, He knows everything, and He knows what we truly need.

II. The Sign. Vs. 4-8

There are four aspects of this miracle that are noteworthy: it was unexpected, it was done in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, it was instantaneous, and it was complete.

A. It was Unexpected.

Acts 3:4–6 (CSB)

4 Peter, along with John, looked straight at him and said, “Look at us.” 5 So he turned to them, expecting to get something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I don’t have silver or gold, but what I do have, I give you:

The lame man is begging, he is asking for money, the man is asking all these people as the walk by not really focusing on any one specifically.

As Peter and John get to the man, Peter and John look at the man and said, Look at us.

The lame man looks up at Peter and John, expecting that they are about to make his day, most people would just drop some change in his cup as they walked by, but here Peter and John says look at us.

Now the man thinks oh, these guys are going to give me some real money, maybe they are going to give me like a 100 dollar bill or a couple of 100 dollars.

But then Peter says to the man, I don’t have silver or gold, another words, I don’t have any money, I don’t even have any change to give you.

But what I do have, I will give it to you:

The beggar is now like okay, you stopped told me to look at you, to tell me you do not have any money, but that you got something even better for me, but I can see that you do not have anything really with you.

So this lame man is like what can these two men have that is better than money, because I need money to purchase food, and to pay my bills, to give to my friends so that they will keep bringing me down here.

B. It was done in the Name of Jesus Christ.

Acts 3:6 CSB

6 But Peter said, “I don’t have silver or gold, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!”

In the name of means by virtue of Christ’s character, authority, and power.

Jesus Christ of Nazareth was the common designation of our Lord during His earthly ministry.

It described Him as Jesus, the Messiah from Nazareth.

To do something in the name of Jesus Christ is to act consistently with His will; to do what He would do if He were here, to act in His authority and with His delegated power.

Matthew 10:1 CSB

1 Summoning his twelve disciples, he gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out and to heal every disease and sickness.

Peter had seen the Lord heal countless times. Now acting on behalf of His Lord with the power delegated to him, he commands the beggar to walk.

C. It was Instantaneous.

Acts 3:7 CSB

7 Then, taking him by the right hand he raised him up, and at once his feet and ankles became strong.

This healing, this miracle did not take days or even hours, but it was instantaneous.

Peter reached out and took the lame man by the right hand and assisted him in standing up as the lame man began to stand, showing that he had faith that he was healed, His feet and ankles began to gain strength and became strong.

Just as when Jesus performed healings, they did not take weeks, days or hours, but they happened immediately.

There was something like with the lame man that required the person to show their faith.

The lame man had to take Peter’s hand and he had to try to stand, in order to be healed, but having the faith, he was healed and was able to stand and walk.

D. It was Complete.

Acts 3:8 CSB

8 So he jumped up and started to walk, and he entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.

Peter did not have to get behind the man and lift him up by grabbing him from behind his shoulders to get him up on his feet, but just reached out his hand and pulled him up assisting him up off the ground.

As soon as the lame man felt the strength surge into his feet and ankles, he leaped for joy and stood upright and began to walk.

Now remember this man has been lame from birth, he has never walked before in his life, but yet as soon as he gains strength in his feet and ankles, he begins to walk.

His lameness was completely gone, he did not need crutches, or a cane, or assistance from someone, he did not need to be taught how to walk, but was completely healed.

He immediately began to walk and entered the temple with Peter and John, walking and leaping for joy, praising God for the healing.

III. The Sequel. Vs. 9-11

Acts 3:9–11 CSB

9 All the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and they recognized that he was the one who used to sit and beg at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. So they were filled with awe and astonishment at what had happened to him. 11 While he was holding on to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astonished, ran toward them in what is called Solomon’s Colonnade.

There are three results of the miraculous healing of the lame man.

First, was joy to the lame man himself, which he expressed by praising God.

The serene, stately ritual of the evening sacrifice was suddenly shattered by the lame man’s loud cries of joy and praise.

It is God’s desire that all His children experience joy.

John 15:11 CSB

11 “I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.

A second result was praise and worship toward God.

Mere participation in a religious service does not in itself guarantee true worship.

The most genuine worship of God likely to have taken place that day in the temple was the praise of the lame man.

Third, the miracle was a testimony to the people.

The lame man’s outburst of praise caused shock and amazement on the part of the crowd.

All the people around there saw him walking and praising God.

He was a very public testimony. Recognizing that he was the lame man that had begged at the gate to the temple for all these years, the people were now filled with wonder and amazement at how he is now walking and leaping in joy and praising God.

They people have gathered to see what has happened, how did this miracle take place, even the religious leaders have taken notice of the miracle.

God designed miracles to act as signs to attract attention and point people to the divine truth.

This healing did both. It certainly drew the attention of the crowd, who ran to the area called Solomon’s Colonnade, or some translations call it the portico of Solomon.

Solomon’s Colonnade is the porch area that surrounds the Court of the Gentiles.

This crowd has gathered in this porch area called Solomon’s Colonnade and the lame man that has been healed is clinging to Peter and John, that is he is staying with them.

This man is living proof that the miracle has actually taken place, no one could deny it. The stage is now set for Peter to preach Christ to the people.

When the name of Jesus is proclaimed there is power, there is power to heal the lame, there is power to over come storms, there is power to overcome darkness, and there is power to bring salvation to the lost.

The name of Jesus is the name that is above all names, and is the only name by which we can be saved.

Philippians 2:9–11 CSB

9 For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth— 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Acts 4:11–12 CSB

11 This Jesus is the stone rejected by you builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”

The power in the name of Jesus cannot be found any where else or in anything else, it is only found in the name of Jesus, and if we want to make it to Heaven, if we want to have eternal life with God in heaven, we must call upon the name of Jesus as Lord and Savior.

And we do not know what tomorrow brings, and really we do not know what the next hour or minute brings, as God is the one that supplies the breath in our lungs, therefore, if you have never called on the name of Jesus as Lord and Savior today is the day of Salvation.

We are going to have a time of invitation, as we sing a song, I will be down front here, if you need prayer for anything I am here, if you need to talk about Jesus, salvation, baptism, church membership, or anything else that is weighing heavy on your heart, I am here to listen and pray with you, to help you.

Please come, don’t leave this morning without talking to me and getting that heavy burden off your heart.