Joseph Patty, Associate Director of Student Ministries 

Acts 3:1-10
One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Reflection:
In Acts 2, the Spirit was poured out on the followers of Jesus. The description intentionally sounds like the founding of the tabernacle and temple in the Old Testament (Exodus 40 & 1 Kings 8). This scene sets up a contrasting portrait between the Church, the new Temple, and the old Temple. The portrait of the Church is captured in a few places, but most notably in 2:42-47, where we see the church dedicating themselves to extravagant generosity, love, prayer, worship, and faithfulness to Jesus’ teaching through the apostles. On the other hand, the portrait of the old Temple is found in the established, massive and ornate building, religion, and political clout. One temple has power from humankind and from the world; the other temple is made up of fishermen and the poor, but it has been empowered by the Holy Spirit. One is defined by wealth, the other generosity, one by elitism and religious control, the other by a living faith walking in obedience to the Spirit, one grasping at power and the other giving it away.

This dichotomy comes up again and again in the next few chapters. The first example stands out in Acts 3. Peter and John are walking to the temple to pray. This is what they do; they seek God together. On their way, they see a man who has been at the temple gate, called Beautiful, his whole life, begging for alms. The contrast is palpable if you let yourself imagine it. These two young men (one probably 20 and the other a teenager, maybe younger) are standing in the shadow of a larger than life structure. The man has been there for longer than either of them have been alive, but suddenly, Peter and John, full of the Spirit, fix their eyes on the man and tell him, “Listen, we don’t have a penny to our name, but here’s what we do have. In the name of Jesus, get up.” Immediately, the man gets up and begins running around in his newfound healing in the old Temple. People are amazed and begin to gather. What power healed this man? Peter steps up and announces the Good News. It is by Jesus, who was crucified and raised from the dead that we do these things. Many people believe, but those with human, religious, and political power are threatened. 

The question is raised for us as we read. What power are we trusting in? Are we going to sit at the beautiful gate, trusting wealth and human clout and talking about the old days when God used to move among us, or are we going to follow the Spirit of God in what God’s doing now? Trusting the Spirit requires obedience and courage. The Spirit often leads us to places we’d rather not go, and it has the tendency to challenge every culture in which we find ourselves, even our own churches and families. Yet I would rather follow the Spirit into discomfort and danger, being connected to the true King and witnessing his power, than hold on to a form of godliness and religion but denying its power (2 Tim 3:5). As Peter and John say to the temple leaders, “Which is right in God’s eyes, to listen to Him or you?” (Acts 4:19).

Prayer:
God, we thank you for the physical blessings we have received, but open our eyes to any ways we may have let material things or the illusion of power replace obedience to you and your Spirit. Give us the courage to follow your Spirit, so that we may move beyond a form of religion and walk with you in your power. In the name of Jesus, I come before your throne and pray. Amen.