And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
The lame man from birth gave Peter and John his close attention because he had begged charity from them and expected alms or money to meet his immediate need. He did not yet know they would offer him healing in the name of Jesus, though he had long hoped to be healed by Jesus, and when he learned they had no silver or gold his hope for material help at first fell in disappointment. As Peter spoke of what he could give in Jesus' name his hope shifted from money to healing, and he listened with hope and faith that he could be healed. Within a few hours he was restored to perfect soundness of body in the name of Jesus, then entered the temple with them walking and leaping and praising God in sight of all the people, freed from pain and rejoicing in belief in Jesus. Done in the full light of day before a crowd, his restored health stood as convincing evidence that the apostles' ministry continued in Jesus' name and proved Christ's resurrection and power in heaven to work miracles on earth, filling Jerusalem with excitement and leaving priests, rulers, and people unable to refute it.
The Beggar's Expectation
The crippled man gave Peter and John his close, attentive heed because he had asked them for charity and expected them to give him alms, money, or something material to meet his immediate needs. His attention was fixed on receiving material help as a beggar asking for alms. He did not yet know that Peter would offer him healing in the name of Jesus. He had long hoped to be healed by Jesus, but he was not yet expecting that healing from them and did not know what Peter would give him.
When Peter declared he had no silver or gold to give, the man's hope at first fell and he was disappointed in his expectation of material help. His hope then shifted from money to healing, and as Peter spoke of what he could give in Jesus' name he listened with hope and faith that he could be healed.
Healing and Public Witness
Acts 3:5 belongs to the account in Acts 3-5 of the disciples witnessing after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as humble men without wealth, regarded as ignorant fishermen without earthly honor or recognition, transformed in character and united in Christian love. They went forth with no weapons but the Word and Spirit of God to triumph over opposition with words and works that represented their Teacher in divine eloquence and power, so that hearers said they had learned of Jesus and those who had rejected the Saviour heard their bold testimony with amazement.
The man had always been lame from birth, and by Peter and John at the temple in front of the people he was restored within a few hours to perfect soundness of body in the name of Jesus. He then entered the temple with them walking and leaping and praising God in the sight of all the people. Through the encounter he was freed from pain, rejoiced, and believed in Jesus.
The cure was wrought as the disciples preached a crucified and risen Saviour with mighty power with signs and wonders and healing of the sick, showing that miraculous works continued through Jesus' disciples after his death by the power Jesus gave his followers. It was part of Christlike medical missionary work carried out through human effort strengthened by divine power and energized by Christ. His restored health stood as convincing evidence that the apostles' ministry in Jesus' name continued, and as he stood close beside Peter it added weight to Peter's words. It proved the resurrection of Christ and his power in heaven to perform miracles on earth through his apostles in the name of the crucified Jesus. Done in the full light of day before a crowd, it became known to thousands, filled Jerusalem with excitement, drew the people pressing around greatly astonished, left priests, rulers, and people silent and unable to refute it, caused all men to glorify God, and proved that crucifying Jesus did not stop miracles in his name nor the proclamation of his truths.
The remarkable cure caused Annas and Caiaphas with the other dignitaries of the temple to bring Peter and John before them for trial on the following day and to demand by what power or by what name the cure had been done.
The lame man from birth gave Peter and John his close attention because he had begged charity from them and expected alms or money to meet his immediate need. He did not yet know they would offer him healing in the name of Jesus, though he had long hoped to be healed by Jesus, and when he learned they had no silver or gold his hope for material help at first fell in disappointment. As Peter spoke of what he could give in Jesus' name his hope shifted from money to healing, and he listened with hope and faith that he could be healed. Within a few hours he was restored to perfect soundness of body in the name of Jesus, then entered the temple with them walking and leaping and praising God in sight of all the people, freed from pain and rejoicing in belief in Jesus. Done in the full light of day before a crowd, his restored health stood as convincing evidence that the apostles' ministry continued in Jesus' name and proved Christ's resurrection and power in heaven to work miracles on earth, filling Jerusalem with excitement and leaving priests, rulers, and people unable to refute it.
The Beggar's Expectation
The crippled man gave Peter and John his close, attentive heed because he had asked them for charity and expected them to give him alms, money, or something material to meet his immediate needs. His attention was fixed on receiving material help as a beggar asking for alms. He did not yet know that Peter would offer him healing in the name of Jesus. He had long hoped to be healed by Jesus, but he was not yet expecting that healing from them and did not know what Peter would give him.
When Peter declared he had no silver or gold to give, the man's hope at first fell and he was disappointed in his expectation of material help. His hope then shifted from money to healing, and as Peter spoke of what he could give in Jesus' name he listened with hope and faith that he could be healed.
Healing and Public Witness
Acts 3:5 belongs to the account in Acts 3-5 of the disciples witnessing after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as humble men without wealth, regarded as ignorant fishermen without earthly honor or recognition, transformed in character and united in Christian love. They went forth with no weapons but the Word and Spirit of God to triumph over opposition with words and works that represented their Teacher in divine eloquence and power, so that hearers said they had learned of Jesus and those who had rejected the Saviour heard their bold testimony with amazement.
The man had always been lame from birth, and by Peter and John at the temple in front of the people he was restored within a few hours to perfect soundness of body in the name of Jesus. He then entered the temple with them walking and leaping and praising God in the sight of all the people. Through the encounter he was freed from pain, rejoiced, and believed in Jesus.
The cure was wrought as the disciples preached a crucified and risen Saviour with mighty power with signs and wonders and healing of the sick, showing that miraculous works continued through Jesus' disciples after his death by the power Jesus gave his followers. It was part of Christlike medical missionary work carried out through human effort strengthened by divine power and energized by Christ. His restored health stood as convincing evidence that the apostles' ministry in Jesus' name continued, and as he stood close beside Peter it added weight to Peter's words. It proved the resurrection of Christ and his power in heaven to perform miracles on earth through his apostles in the name of the crucified Jesus. Done in the full light of day before a crowd, it became known to thousands, filled Jerusalem with excitement, drew the people pressing around greatly astonished, left priests, rulers, and people silent and unable to refute it, caused all men to glorify God, and proved that crucifying Jesus did not stop miracles in his name nor the proclamation of his truths.
The remarkable cure caused Annas and Caiaphas with the other dignitaries of the temple to bring Peter and John before them for trial on the following day and to demand by what power or by what name the cure had been done.