Acts 3:1-10
Peter and John together seems to me a strange pairing. We’ll see them together for the next week or so. We know Peter as the leader of the Apostles, and we always picture John as one of the younger Apostles. Yet here they are going to the temple together. They had run to the tomb together on Easter morning. And later they will be sent to Samaria to pray for new believers there that …they might receive the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:14-15) They were two of the three (Peter, James, and John) who witnessed the Transfiguration (Matthew 17), who were with Jesus at the raising of Jairus’ daughter (Matthew 5:37), and who went forth with Him when He prayed at Gethsemane (Matthew 26:37). So these two, a strange pairing. And where’s James?
And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. (v. 8) What’s strange to me here is that the man leaps up and is immediately walking and leaping. In today’s world when someone has a stroke or has a body part replacement, there is a period of physical therapy and rehabilitation, often re-learning basic life functions. But this man, lame from birth, is immediately “up and at ‘em”!! Glory!
Slava Bohu!
Thanks for that point, Fred. No extra rehab – what an additional blessing!
I was looking at the detail that they were going to the temple at the regular time of prayer, 3 pm. My study Bible says that devout Jews prayed at 9 am, 3 pm, and sundown, three times a day. I am still trying to get my daily rhythm of prayer, from the Emotionally Healthy Spirituality class. But seeing it in the early church inspires me.
I am also struck by how often we ask God for what we need, as He tells us. But then, He has much bigger and better plans, and gives us what we really need. For the beggar, not money, but physical and spiritual healing. Wow!
Amen to that, Debbie and Fred—when God steps in, miracles are complete!
And yes, Fred, it is interesting that James seems to be absent in these examples. Never noticed that before!