Peter heals the lame man1/13/2024 People would give these things out of mercy for the poor. The word “alms” comes from the Greek word for “mercy” and refers to acts of kindness shown to the poor including gifts of food, clothing and money. During ancient times, the only way a disabled or crippled person could survive was to depend on the mercy of others. Large numbers of people passed through it every day, and the same beggar had become a familiar sight. He was over forty years old (see Acts 4:9, 14, 22) and had to be “carried” to “the temple gate called Beautiful” everyday so he could “ask alms” or beg for money from everyone who “entered into the temple.” The “gate of the temple which is called Beautiful” was probably the “gate” on the east side of “the temple” that led from the Court of the Gentiles to the Court of Women. This verse says “And a certain man lame from his mother’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.” As Peter and John approached the temple, Luke, the writer of Acts tells us that “a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful.” This “man” had been “lame” from “his mother’s womb” or from birth. The Jewish day was divided into twelve equal parts with the first hour beginning at 6:00 am (6:00-7:00 was the first hour).ġ. The “ninth hour” was the evening prayer time or 3:00 pm. Probably on this day, as on others, “Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.” The Jews had two primary “hours” of prayer each day: 9:00 am for the morning prayers and 3:00 pm for the evening prayers. This verse says “Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.” It was the regular practice of “Peter and John” and other Jewish believers to attend the Jewish temple while meeting in homes for fellowship, the breaking of bread and praising God (see Acts 2:46-47). Probably within days of this, as was their custom, Peter and John went to the temple to pray. At that time, Jesus’ followers received the Holy Spirit and led by Peter they witnessed to many of the Jews returning to Jerusalem for the celebration (see Acts 2:1-47). Sometime later, probably within a few weeks many Jews returned to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost. After Jesus had been crucified, buried, resurrected and ascended into heaven (see Acts 1:1-11), His disciples soon gathered in the upper room where they voted to replace Judas Iscariot with Matthias as the twelfth apostle (see Acts 1:15-26). The third point Peter made was that the man was healed by the name of Jesus and by the faith that comes from belief in Him. It was important that those who saw the miracle understood that neither he nor John were responsible for the healing. First, that God was the one who had healed the man. In this week’s lesson, Peter used the miraculous healing of a lame man to point out three things. Golden Text: “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” (Acts 3:6). Lesson Text: Acts 3:1-16 Time of Action: 30 A.D.
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