Acts Bible Study: Day 5
Today’s passage: Acts 3:1 to Acts 4:4
Focus verse: Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” (Acts 3:6)
One afternoon, Peter and John head to the temple to pray. As they approach the gate of the temple courtyard, they meet a man who can’t walk—he never could.
Every day friends carry him to the temple entrance so he can beg from the people as they head in to worship. He does this every day.
As the two disciples are about to enter, the lame man asks for money. Peter and John can ignore him and walk past. Or, if they feel generous, they can toss a couple coins his way. But they don’t do either of these things.
Instead Peter says to the man, “Look at us!” The man does, expecting a nice handout. “We’re broke, but what I do have, I give to you. In the name of Jesus get up and walk.”
Peter takes the man by his hand and helps him stand—for the first time in his life. Instantly the man’s feet and ankles grow strong. He jumps. He walks. Leaping and praising God, he enters the temple courtyard to worship.
How amazing.
God’s Holy Spirit power is at work, allowing a man who has never walked to do so for the first time.
This creates a stir among the people and gets their attention. Performing a miracle opens them to hear what Peter has to say. He tells them about Jesus.
As he speaks, the religious leaders (who don’t like what happened), along with the captain of the temple guard come up to Peter and John. They arrest the two disciples and throw them in jail.
But because of Peter’s bold message, many more people believe in Jesus—up to two thousand more—swelling their number to about five thousand.
This miracle gathered an audience who was open to hear about Jesus. Holy Spirit power at work proceeds people’s decisions to follow Jesus.
But let’s not rush past the miracle.
The man didn’t ask to walk. He asked for money.
In his focus to reach the temple for prayer—a most spiritual activity—Peter could have thrown a couple bucks at the man and gone into the temple to worship God with a clear conscience, knowing that he helped a poor man.
Giving the man money would’ve helped him for a day or two. But healing him will help him for the rest of his life.
Peter ignored giving the man what he wanted and instead gave him what he needed. This is a lesson for us when it comes to helping people in need.
Questions:
- What is our response when people ask us for money?
- Do we ignore them, give them what they want, or supply what they truly need?
[Discover more about helping others in Luke 6:27–36.]
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Read more about the book of Acts in Acts Bible Study: Discover How the Early Church Can Inform What We Do Today, available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover.
Revitalize your faith with Acts Bible Study by Peter DeHaan. This 40-day journey through the early church reveals timeless lessons on community, perseverance, and Holy Spirit power.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront a status quo faith and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
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