The catalyzing event for all of Chapters 3 and 4 of Acts occurred while Peter and John were going to the temple in Jerusalem for the mid-afternoon time of prayer. Before entering the gate of the temple, they passed by a man lame from birth who was brought there every day to beg for alms. Although they were from Galilee, Peter and John had doubtless gone to the temple numerous times in recent years with Jesus. But whether or not they had seen the lame man before, this time was different. Lame beggars are common on the streets of many parts of the Middle East to this day, and a key is for the beggar to catch the eye of a passerby. This happened according to Acts 3:3-4, and as a result, verse 5 notes that the man was hopeful of receiving something from Peter and John. Verses 6-8 are the climax of the encounter:
But Peter said, ” I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you; In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene – walk!”
And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened.
And with a leap, he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
Perhaps we faithfully attend the house of prayer on a regular basis. There’s something positive about such a practice becoming ordinary or a habit for us. But do we ever go with the anticipation that the Lord is going to do something extraordinary on a given day – perhaps in me, or through me, or through the witness of the entire body worshiping the Lord together? Certainly He is capable of doing so. This one extraordinary act of the Lord Jesus, through two men otherwise known to be ordinary (see 4:13), set off a chain of events that brought much glory to God and strengthened the nascent church. Are we prepared to believe Him, and be one of those ordinary people through whom He will do the extraordinary?