Acts 3-4

Wow!  Consider the impact of one miracle.  Having read through the Gospels we are used to miracles.  We’ve seen all kinds of great ones.  We’ve even seen resurrections from the dead, the greatest of which was Jesus’ own.  What is so special about one lame man being healed here in Acts 3?

One circumstance that made it so special was the effect this miracle had on the lame man.  He was lame from birth.  Acts 4:22 tells us he was more than 40 years old.  Every day he was carried to the Beautiful Gate of the Temple.  He must have been severely lame to have to be carried.   

In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth he was told to rise up and walk.  He did better than that.  Peter took him by the right hand and raised him up.  Immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.  Then he leaped up, stood, and began to walk.  He went into the temple leaping and praising God.  Did you catch the fact that he not only was instantly healed, but that he was also instantly rehabilitated?  He had been lame for more than 40 years.  He had never walked before.  What happened to physical therapy? What happened to baby steps?  He immediately went from being more than 40 years prostrate to jumping all around the place. What doctor, medicine, or treatment could do that?  Only faith in Jesus name could have given this man “perfect health” (3:16).   

There was also something special going on.  It was the crowds’ reaction to this miracle.  Acts 3:9 tells us all the people saw him walking and praising God.  The next verse informs us that they recognized him and were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.  V. 11 says they were utterly astounded.  They were ready to hear what Peter had to say to them.  He gave all glory to Jesus and boldly challenged those present with the murder of the Author of Life.  In 4:4 we learn that many of these who heard the word believed – about 5000 men. 

There is something else special that is going on here – the reaction of Jesus’ enemies – described as the rulers of the people, elders, scribes, and the high priestly family.  Chapter 4 includes details of their investigation of the healing.  They were greatly annoyed at the teaching; arrested Peter and John; interrogated the formerly lame man;  astonished at what being with Jesus turned people into; baffled at how to oppose the teaching they heard; powerless to deny what had happened; and impotent to punish because the people were all praising God for what had happened.

The ripples of this one miracle were immense.  That’s how God works.  Let’s also ask for boldness, like Peter and John did – boldness to speak God’s Word.  The ripples will continue.

~Paul Thompson