Let’s do a little Bible study here. Answer the questions.

Why were Peter and John going to the temple?

Why were they going at that time?

How often do you think they would have done that?

How did the lame man get there?

How often did they do that?

Why do they lay the lame man at the gate daily?

Peter and John didn’t just decide that day they were going to prayer. That was likely a habit, just as it was daily their habit to bring the lame man there.

Peter and John would have seen this guy many times. This guy would have been there when Jesus was going to the temple. This guy was never healed before this day. He doesn’t look to Peter for healing. He’s looking for money.

Maybe he’s expectant of money because Peter and John have given him money before. We certainly know the disciples had a habit of giving to the poor.

Peter tells the man that he doesn’t have silver or gold, but tells him that instead, he’ll give the man what he does have. What did Peter have?

What I’m convinced Peter didn’t have was the power to heal. We don’t heal. Don’t ever try to heal. You can’t and never will. God heals people. God healed the man.

I also don’t think Peter had the magic words to make the man healed. I don’t think God gives us Power so that we can then wield power. And I certainly don’t think saying the word “Jesus” has any special power. The power is in the Person of Jesus Christ, not the sounds that make up His name.

What did Peter have? He had a life submitted to God. He bore the name of Christ.

That day the Holy Spirit moved on Peter to offer healing. That day was God’s appointed time for the healing. The man recognizes that it was God that healed him. He leaps and praises God.

Peter points out it was not their power or their own righteousness that made the man well. Peter preaches, again giving the history of Christ and Him crucified. Peter says that it was faith in the name of Jesus, faith in who Christ is, His nature, His power, and authority, that made the man well.

Peter finishes his sermon, telling them to repent to have their sins removed and that the blessing God offers is turning them from wickedness. Jesus saves us from our sins.