Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 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. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 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!” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, 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.
Comment: In their time system the ninth hour is 3pm. Peter and John were still Jews and continued on in their Jewish faith but had realized that following Jesus meant that they had taken the next step to that which all the Old Testament books had pointed forward! The promised Messiah had come. I don’t know if this lame man knew anything about Jesus, but I presume that he did, the crucifixion and all the events around it must have been talked about widely. I don’t know if he knew who Peter and John were. I assume that he was about his business of collecting enough to live on, so he asked two passers by for a gift. And what a gift he got! Not a cent, but a cure! He accepted the gift with leaps of joy and praise given to the right person – God. He, now as a healthy man entered the temple to begin a new life! It got the attention of the watching crowd.
Prayer: Thank You that You enter our lives every day sending many gifts. Thank You that You miraculously healed this man.
As I read it! 