1Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. 3Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. 4And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9And all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Acts 2:42 says that the early Christians devoted themselves to ”the prayers”, which implies set prayers, liturgical prayers in the temple. The opening of this story shows Peter and John observing a regular habit of public devotion. Are you committed to the prayer life of your church?

‘Peter and John were not so caught up with large crowds that they had no time for individuals. Nor were they so busy in ministry that they could not pray. They had learned their lesson well from the Lord Jesus (Mark 1:35; Luke 8:40ff.)’ Warren Wiersbe

This is a story of total transformation. The words in bold, in the above text, emphasise the desperate plight this man was in before the healing took place. He was a congenital cripple. In a sense, it can serve as a picture of salvation. We are crippled by sin, but when we look to Jesus, He frees us to be able to ‘walk’. He puts a new song of praise in our mouths. Someone said the beggar ‘asked for alms, but he got legs!’

With regard to verse 4, Jilly made the excellent point that people tend to avoid eye-contact with beggars – for a whole variety of reasons. But Peter and John really saw the man and his needs. They gave him their attention, and, in turn, they got his full attention. Seeing him led to being able to serve him…and to a host of other wonderful occurrences. But it started with giving attention to one precious human-being.

In our lives we are called to give what we have. What do you have? ‘What is that in your hand?’ Use that ‘talent’. Don’t bury it!

‘… we must see that we have something to give to a paralyzed and perishing world. Let us so move among men as to lead them to expect that we have something to give, and then give them Jesus. The lame man needed strength, and this is the divine gift of the gospel. “It is the power of God unto salvation.” The Savior makes us able to walk and leap in God’s ways.’ F.B.Meyer