In this article, we reflect on Acts 3. I won’t discuss all the verses, but just a few, and primarily verses 11 through 16. 

You may also have to review our previous reflections on the Book of Acts (chapter 1, chapter 2 – Part One, and chapter 2 – Part Two), which will be very helpful as you continue on with the rest of the book. 

Let me first give you some background to help you get a better sense of what I discuss later in this article. 

The Church is established, to some extent, mainly in Jerusalem (review my blog post, The Church). As I discussed in my earlier reflections, the book of Acts has two major parts, which primarily focus on two key players: Peter and Paul. 

The first 12 chapters focus on the Apostle Peter, and the rest on the Apostle Paul.

Also, keep in mind that the book wasn’t originally written to the Church, but Theophilus, a Roman official. Review my previous three reflections on the Book of Acts to learn more if you have not done so. 

In Acts 3, the text we’re using for our reflection today, we hear a story of Peter healing a lame (crippled) beggar. 

Clearly, Peter and the other disciples are known in Jerusalem by now. Even though we don’t know how much time elapsed between the birth of the Church (as described in Acts 2), and what’s happening based on Acts 3.

It’s evident the Church has grown by thousands since the Day of Pentecost (see Acts 2:42). 

Also, with Peter and John going to the temple at the time of prayer (see Acts 3:1), it shows that the Christian movement is becoming a part of the Jewish way of life at this point. 

The healing of the lame beggar happens at the entrance of the temple. This is a man who was lame (or crippled) since birth (verse 2). He had never walked before, and there was no way, he would in the future. 

His family or friends would carry him to the temple gate (called Beautiful). They daily brought him there to help him beg for money. 

The temple, in Jerusalem, represented the highest and most visited place in Israel. So, it was a good place for the Lame beggar to get some money for himself. 

When Peter and John arrived at the temple’s entrance, they did not give this man money. However, they said to him: 

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. 

Then, Peter takes him by this right hand and helps him up. Just right there and then, the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 

He was able to stand on his feet for the first time since birth and could walk. He followed Peter and John into the temple and praised God for this miracle. 

Since this man used to sit by the temple’s gate, and begged for money, everyone, who regularly went to the temple, knew him. 

His healing amazed the people in Jerusalem, especially those who were right at the temple on that day for prayer. 

Now, read verses 11 through 16, 

While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.

The above Scripture and the rest of Acts 3 is Peter’s speech to those who were wondering about what had just happened. 

There are three things we can, therefore, learn from this piece of Scripture. 

 

 

God is the Author of Life

 

 

Peter, first of all, makes it clear that the healing of the lame beggar wasn’t out of their power or godliness. 

The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the one who healed him. And, right away, Peter brings Jesus Christ into the picture. 

He reminds the people of the choice they made not long ago when Jesus was brought into the trial before Pilate. He tells them that they chose to spare the life of a murderer over that of Jesus. 

Peter makes it clear to all that Jesus is: 

• The Holy and Righteous One. 
• The Author of Life. (See verses 13-15). 

He also affirms what John would later write, 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. John 1:1-4. 

What the above Scripture is saying is that none of what exists came to be if not created through Jesus. 

 

 

Jesus is the Only Way to God, the Father

 

 

Peter connected the healing of this Lame man to the power that comes with the name of Jesus. He says: 

By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.” Acts 3:16. 

Jesus, in His own words, said: 

I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. John 14:6. 

[bctt tweet=”We only get to experience abundant life, healing, restoration, and renewal through Jesus Christ. ” username=”emmanuelnaweji”]

The name of Jesus, therefore, carries so much power. And, there are a lot of Scriptures that affirm it. Here is a couple for us today: 

• And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12. 

• For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13.

[bctt tweet=”Jesus ushers into this realm of possibilities. He leads us into the place where we can tangibly experience God’s power to heal, restore, renew, and transform. ” username=”emmanuelnaweji”]

 

 

The Power of Prayer

 

 

The power of prayer lies in what the name of Jesus can do. Using the name of Jesus made the Lame Man heal. In other words, Jesus, being the Way, Life, and Truth (John 14:6), allows access to God, the Author of life.

Remember that it’s not just about saying the name of Jesus. What makes it even more powerful is choosing to have faith in the name of Jesus. 

That’s exactly what Peter told the people in verse 16 (Acts 3), 

By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.

[bctt tweet=”The power of prayer comes out of combining faith in Jesus Christ and God’s plan for us. The product of that combination sets us up for God’s miracles and wonders. ” username=”emmanuelnaweji”]

 

 

In Conclusion 

There is so much power that comes out of combining faith, prayer, and the name of Jesus. Acts 3 reminds us of that. Through faith in Jesus, and in His name, God can do exceedingly above and beyond what we ask for through prayer.