in Acts of the Apostles Chapter 3 Verses 3-5 it says,
“When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money. Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money.
What does the word lame mean?
The word lame means that a person or animal is unable to walk without difficulty as the result of an injury or illness affecting the leg or foot.
So this beggar was a cripple he wasn’t able to walk he was born crippled so he had never walked before in his life it tells us that he was carried to the gate each day so that he could beg for money.
In Verse 6 it says,
“But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!””
Acts of the Apostles 3:6 NLT
Now Peter didn’t have money but he gave the man what he had . Okay but what did he have? Peter had FAITH in Jesus and that is what made it possible for him to heal this man. Peter doesn’t use the words “Jesus Christ of Nazareth” as a magical spell. He has faith in the name and the person who is Jesus . He also has the power of the Holy Spirit mentioned in Acts 1:8 and Acts 2:1-4.
He has authority from Jesus to heal if it is for Jesus’ purposes mentioned in John Chapter 16 Verse 23 which says “At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name.”
John 16:23 NLT
Peter also has the confidence that Jesus will heal and honor his words because in John Chapter 14 Verses 13-14 it says ,
“You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!”
John 14:13-14 NLT
Now in verses 7 and 8 it tells us Peter heals this man so let’s take a look at that.
“Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.”
Acts of the Apostles 3:7-8 NLT
Now this man did not ask to be healed. He asked for money , he was a beggar. This man didn’t wake up that day and say I want to be healed. No, he had a plan he was gonna do what he does every day get carried to the beautiful gate and beg for money. But something greater happened Peter healed him. Now when this man sees that his ankles were healed and strengthen,, he doesn’t complain that he didn’t get money from Peter , instead he gets up , and what did he do next? It says, in verse 8 what he did
“He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.”
Acts of the Apostles 3:8 NLT
We need to be more like this man, we should be happy and praise God even though he didn’t give us what we wanted he gave us what we needed even though it’s not what we asked for. God created us he formed us in the womb. He knows what’s best for us. So instead of complaining because he didn’t give us what we wanted we should be thankful because he gave us what we needed. He gave us what we needed before we even knew we needed it.