Miracle At The Temple Gate

Open your Bibles to the book of Acts, chapter 3, verses 1 through 11. Today’s message, entitled "A Miracle at the Temple Gate," marks the beginning of a series on miracles throughout the book of Acts. This series will span several months, exploring the wondrous acts of God recorded in Scripture, with reflections that may extend into passages like Acts 4:5-12 in future messages. Miracles are not just stories of the past—I’ve seen them in my own life, and I believe many of us need them on a regular basis. So, let’s dive into this powerful account and see what it teaches us.

In Acts 3, we read that Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. There, they encountered a man lame from his mother’s womb, carried daily to the gate of the temple called Beautiful to ask alms from those entering. Seeing Peter and John about to go in, he asked them for money. Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, “Look on us.” The man gave heed, expecting to receive something. Then Peter declared, “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.” Taking him by the right hand, Peter lifted him up, and immediately the man’s feet and ankle bones received strength. Leaping up, he stood, walked, and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. All the people saw him and recognized him as the one who sat begging at the Beautiful Gate, and they were filled with wonder and amazement. As the healed man clung to Peter and John, the crowd ran together in Solomon’s porch, greatly wondering.

Let’s pray: Father, thank You for Your blessings, for this great host assembled in Your house, and for those listening online. Many are sick, battling flu and viruses, and we pray for healing among Your family. We’re grateful to be here today and ask that this message challenges our hearts and equips us to serve You. For those who haven’t trusted Christ, who can’t pinpoint the moment they turned to You, help them make this the day they are born again. We thank You for Emily’s baptism, Angela’s recommitment, and pray others follow their example. Help me preach in Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Context of the Miracle

The New Testament church had just begun with a powerful start—thousands were saved and baptized, becoming practicing Christians. As we come to this text, many more continued to believe and join the church. It was during this time that Peter and John went to the temple for prayer and encountered this lame man. He’d been crippled since birth, laid daily at the gate by family and friends to beg for financial assistance—the only way this poor soul could get by. As Peter and John approached, he asked them for money. They may not have had any to give—or perhaps they did—but instead of offering silver or gold, they gave him something far greater.

Sometimes, people think their temporal needs are the greatest, but this miracle reveals a deeper need—an eternal one. Peter said, “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee.” Taking him by the hand, he commanded, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” God supernaturally strengthened the man’s ankles and feet. He jumped up, praising God, and entered the temple with the apostles. What a miracle! From this event, we glean four guiding thoughts: a lifelong malady, a look of obedience, a lift of love, and a leap of praise.

A Lifelong Malady

This man suffered a lifelong malady—he was lame from birth, carried every day to the Beautiful Gate. It’s heartbreaking to imagine. I recently visited our church nursery, where I saw Mark’s twins, not even a year old, already walking around. But this man never had that privilege—not as a child, not as a toddler. He couldn’t run, jump, or play with other boys and girls. My heart goes out to those with such conditions. Our church supports organizations like St. Jude Hospital, Shriners, and children’s hospitals, helping kids with lifelong maladies—physical troubles, deformities, and trials that break parents’ hearts.

Some maladies come later in life, like my son, who, six years ago on October 16th, was struck with a condition leaving him unable to do anything for himself. Or a beautiful girl I knew, who, in her teens, suffered a sudden brain issue and lay hospitalized for over 30 years. These stories touch us deeply. But Scripture uses this man’s condition as a picture of humanity’s spiritual state. We all have a lifelong malady called sin. Romans 5:12 tells us, “By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” We’re all spiritually lame from birth, unable to walk into God’s presence on our own. Jeremiah 10:23 says, “It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” Adam’s fall put spiritual limits on the human race—all have sinned and come short of God’s glory.

In Romans 10, Paul laments that his people Israel, despite their zeal for God, tried to establish their own righteousness instead of submitting to God’s. No matter what this lame man did, he couldn’t walk. No matter what we do, we can’t earn our way to God. But here’s the good news: Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. When you trust Jesus as Lord and Savior, His righteousness is imputed to you, healing your lifelong malady of separation from God, and you’ll be forever with the Lord.

A Look of Obedience

When the man asked for alms, Peter and John said, “Look on us.” He gave heed, expecting something. They had no money, but offered, “Such as I have give I thee: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” The miracle followed, but notice the look of obedience. If you’re unsaved, lacking peace about eternity, you can’t earn salvation by your own efforts. It’s about looking up in obedience to someone greater—Jesus. In Numbers 21, when the Israelites sinned and God sent poisonous snakes, many died. But God told Moses to make a brazen serpent, set it on a pole, and lift it up. Those bitten could look at it and be healed. When they obeyed and looked, they lived.

So it is with us. If you don’t look to Jesus, who died on the cross for your sins, the poison of sin will kill you eternally. But God says, “Look!” Isaiah 45:22 declares, “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth.” The whole world’s been bitten by sin, but when this man looked to Peter and John, he received his miracle. Look to Jesus, and you’ll be saved.

A Lift of Love

When the man looked in obedience, Peter took him by the hand and lifted him up—a lift of love. Immediately, his feet and ankles gained strength. Every human needs this lift of love, and every human can have it. Romans 5:6-8 tells us, “When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly… while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Peter used his flesh-and-blood arm to lift this man, but God performed the miracle. Have you extended a hand to help someone lately? Said, “I can show you how to be saved”? We must reach out with love and acceptance. Peter and John saw a providential opportunity and addressed the man’s true need. Everyone needs a human touch, a voice saying, “I care, and God cares.”

A Leap of Praise

Finally, there’s a leap of praise. This man, once lame, leapt up, walked, and praised God. Imagine never walking, running, or playing—then suddenly receiving that ability! He had reason to leap. Believers, you too have something to jump about—you’ve been saved from sin’s malady and will enter God’s temple in glory. This man leapt in faith, unhesitant to receive God’s gift. When God offers eternal life, why turn it down? Everything temporal fades, but two things go to eternity: rewards for serving Christ and souls won to Him.

This man stood by faith (2 Corinthians 1:24), walked by faith, and entered the temple with the disciples, illustrating our call to worship with God’s family. His transformation amazed onlookers, showing how our decisions—to trust Christ, serve God, praise Him—impact others. What you do influences someone else. Let’s stand in faith, reach out in love, and leap in praise for what God has done.