Acts 3:1-5 - A man lame from birth

3:1

Remember that chapter divisions were not there in the original text. In the previous section Luke has talked about the apostles doing signs and wonders, and we now get an example of one of those miracles. Peter and John were going to the temple at the time of prayer. The early church was not rebelling against the Jewish religion in any way.

3:2

There was a man lame from birth who was taken to the temple gate each day to beg for money. This was the only way that he could get any money, and hopefully those going into the temple would feel some duty to support the man.

3:3-5

The purpose of the beggar being there was to ask for money, so he asked Peter and John. The giving of money to the poor (alms giving) was a virtuous action, so people going to the temple would be more inclined to give in order to “keep on the right side of God”. Peter looked the man right in the eye. The man expected Peter to give him money, was in fact going to receive something much greater. Peter’s bold and affirmative action is interesting. I guess that most of us, most of the time, tend to avoid looking at beggars straight in the face.