Acts 3 relates the event surrounding a crippled man who would beg each day at the temple gate called the ‘Beautiful’. Peter and John were on their way to say prayers at the temple when the encountered this man. He asked them for money. Acts 3:4-8 “ 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.” The man did not get what he asked for but got something of far greater value- the ability to walk again. The man realized that the power for his healing came from God as he immediately praised God.

As he was interacting with people in the temple, sharing his amazing story, they turned their attentions to Peter and John. Acts 3:11-13 “While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. ¹² And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? ¹³ The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.  Peter and John were quick to point the people to the true source of the man’s miraculous healing = Jesus. Peter then began to explain who Jesus was and what had been done to him at the hand of the Jews. Acting in ignorance of who Jesus was they had killed him. But, hope is not lost as Jesus has been raised from the dead and is alive and present among them through the Holy Spirit.

Peter and John refused to take credit for the work and power of Jesus in this man’s life. They wanted to point people to the source of true power which was the resurrected Christ. How quick are you to point others to Christ? Do you want to wait and take some of the credit for His work yourself? The people didn not know where the power came from and wanted to deified Peter and John. However, Peter and John knew all the power they had to heal was directly from Jesus. What about the man who received the healing? He also needed to know it was not Peter and John, but Jesus in who’s name he had been healed. He was quick to praise and give glory to God but the Apostles did not want him to attempt to worship them for what they had done in Jesus’ name. A good lesson for us today is to be quick to praise God when he works among us and be quick to praise His name as the source of the power and healing. God deserves all the glory. Seek to Glorify Him!

Linda