Healing the Lame Man at the Gate

Illustration of Healing the Lame Man at the Gate

In the early days of the church following Pentecost, as recorded in Acts 3, the apostles Peter and John encountered a man who had been lame from birth and was daily carried to beg at the Beautiful Gate of the Jerusalem temple. Peter invoked the name of Jesus Christ, commanding the man to rise and walk; taking him by the hand, he immediately enabled the beggar to stand, enter the temple courts, and leap with praise, astonishing onlookers who recognized him as the former invalid. This miracle, the first public healing performed by the apostles after Jesus' ascension, demonstrated the continuing power of the Holy Spirit through the church and prompted Peter to preach repentance, resulting in about two thousand additional converts. Its significance lies in validating the apostles' authority, fulfilling Old Testament expectations of messianic restoration, and illustrating how faith in Christ's name extends the ministry of Jesus into the new covenant community.

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Details

Category
Healing
Testament
New Testament
Performed by
God through Peter

Key Passages

Rise and Walk

Acts 3:1-8

N1ow Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

2 And a certain man lame from his motherโ€™s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; 3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. 4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. 7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

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Did You Know?

1

The man had been lame for over 40 years. longer than most people in that era even lived.

2

Peter and John had no silver or gold, but they gave what they did have: the name and power of Jesus.

3

The healing happened at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. the man was now able to enter the very place he had been excluded from.

4

This miracle led to Peter's second major sermon and the growth of the early church to about 5,000 men.