Acts 3 - Peter Heals A Lame Beggar in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth!

Click Here to Read or Listen to Acts 3

Peter Heals a Lame Beggar

Jesus had told the disciples they would do even greater things than he had done, because he was going to the Father and would send to them the Holy Spirit. As John and Peter gazed upon the lame beggar, he looked into their eyes thinking they might give him some money. But instead they said, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth get up and walk." When they took him by the hand, he got up and walked. He was so elated he jumped up and all around the temple. It must have been quite a sight seeing the once lame man jumping up and down and praising God with great joy in the temple courts!

The disciples were now doing the things Jesus promised them they would do in the power of Jesus Christ. Notice they prayed, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth". The power and authority came from Jesus' name. Reminding people that he came from Nazareth, recalled his human birth. Calling him Jesus Christ, affirmed that he was indeed the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God. 

Peter Speaks to the Onlookers

Peter then took the opportunity to tell them why the man had gotten up and walked. The power that made this man get up and walk was clearly not from them but revealed that a power greater than them was flowing through them to the man. Peter makes it abundantly clear that it was faith in Jesus, the man they killed, that made this man well. 

By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.

Faith in Jesus and in His name is where our power and authority come from. This is why we end every prayer by saying, "In the name of Jesus". Our prayer is offered in Jesus' name and in His power. Though the healing of the lame beggar was important (especially to him!), its real purpose was showing that the power came in Jesus' name and faith in it. The verse above also makes it clear the man had faith in Jesus' name. It was a faith given to him, but he also exercised it by getting up! There is no other power outside the name of Jesus. 

When the people ran up to Peter astonished, he used the opportunity to point out that they had rejected and killed Jesus, the One prophets had foretold them about. They acted in ignorance by not recognizing him, and instead disowned him and asked for a known murderer to be released. But then Peter offers them the same gift of faith in Jesus when he says, 

19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. 

I love it when Peter says in wiping out their sins, "times of refreshing would come upon their souls." Not only would their souls be refreshed now through the cleansing and wiping away of their sin, but one day they would be totally refreshed when Jesus returned. 

"We should pray for and believe God for seasons of revival and refreshing." Guzik

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