To refresh our memories of the context of what we will read tonight, let me remind you again that Luke wrote his gospel to tell of “all that Jesus began to do and teach” (Acts 1:1). And by using the word “began,” I believe Luke is saying that he is writing acts to show Jesus’ continuing work in pouring out the Holy Spirit on His people—which happens initially on the day of Pentecost, and again and again throughout the book.
The second thing I’ve mentioned concerning the book as a whole is that it is about the kingdom of God. Let me point out once more that Luke 1:3 says of Christ, “To these He also presented Himself alive, after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days, and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God”.
In Jesus’ last days on earth with His disciples, what was He teaching them? The things concerning the kingdom of God.
And at the other end of the book, look at Acts 28:30-31. “And he [Paul] stayed two full years in his own rented quarters, and was welcoming all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered”.
Therefore, I’ve said that what Luke writes in between these two passages is written to show us the continuing work of Jesus and to tell us something about the kingdom of God.
And so, tonight we arrive at the third chapter of Luke’s second work. What happens in this third chapter is that Peter and John were going up to the temple to pray when they pass by a man who had been unable to walk from his birth. Luke adds that everyday men used to set him there to beg alms from people. For such people in this time, this was the only way they could get income and make a living. And, therefore, we can assume that Peter and John had passed by him often.
On this day, however, something different happens. As Peter and John walk by and the man is asking for alms, Peter stops and, verse 4 says, “fixed his gaze upon him, and said, ‘Look at us.’” The man looks up and Peter says (verse 6), “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 the Scripture says the man took Peter’s hand, stood up, and walked and leapt through the temple praising God. Verse 11 says that he was clinging to Peter and John, so I take it that they were leaping throughout the temple with him. These men were surely as excited as we would be.
But in the midst of this, Peter perceives by the way men are looking at them that they think Peter and John healed this man from their own power, so he corrects them. He tells them that God did this to glorify Christ, the very Christ who they had crucified (consistent with his sermon on Pentecost), and then he calls them to repent and believe that their sins might be wiped away and times of refreshing and restoration might come.
Therefore, what started out as a trip to the temple to pray turns into a man being healed and a proclamation of the gospel in which about 5000 believe. (That detail is found in 4:4).
Now, before I get to my thesis as to what this passage teaches us, let’s test my earlier theses that the content of the book is about Christ’s continuing work and this should explain to us, a little more, what the kingdom of God looks like.
First, we find verification for the first in verse 16 as Peter says, “And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him perfect health in the presence of you all.” Here, Peter says that the healing, and the faith for the healing, was given by Jesus. It was the work of Christ.
Secondly, if this is to teach us what the kingdom of God looks like, then we should probably conclude that at least periodic healing is a manifestation of the kingdom. Would we be correct to make such a conclusion, however? Let’s turn to Luke chapter 10.
In this chapter, Jesus sends out seventy to preach and heal and cast out demons. Listen to His commands in verse 9, “And heal those in it [in whatever city you enter] who are sick, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’” In other words, show them what the kingdom looks like [through healing] and tell them about the kingdom [through preaching]. So, I think we would be correct to conclude that Luke is showing us, by including this story in his writing, that healing [periodically and temporarily—because the kingdom is not fully here] is a part of the kingdom.
And now to what I want to point out tonight—yes, that was my introduction. I believe this passage shows us a trend for how ministry can occur.
Therefore, let me show you this cycle for how we may be able to minister in this world. First, we see a person in need. Though sounding simple, this takes preparation of your mind and concentration on the leading of the Spirit. Verse 4 says that Peter stopped and “fixed his gaze” upon the lame man.
I say this involves preparation of one’s mind because I think as Peter looked upon him, Christ gave Peter faith that he would be healed. First of all, Peter does say that faith in the name of Jesus which comes “through” Christ gave the man health. So Christ gave this faith for healing, and he gave it to Peter, not the lame man. The lame man was simply expecting to receive some money. The faith Peter had, I believe, was a gift of the Spirit (i.e. 1 Corinthians 12:9, “… to another faith …") and is what James describes in James 5:13-18 as he notes that the “prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick.” And I think that’s why Peter stops and fixes his gaze upon him.
So, when Peter saw this man, he also knew Christ dad given him faith for this man’s healing. I think that’s why he says in verse 6, “… but what I do have I give to you,” because Christ had given him faith for healing.
So, first, we need to see people in need. God might give you faith, or a word, or something else, and then again, He might not. However, regardless of what God chooses to do, we need to be looking for people in need.
Second, aid people in the name of Christ, even as Peter did.
What do I mean by “in the name of Christ?” I mean do things allowing people to know that you represent the authority of Christ. Let me give you an example.
When I was a little boy, I would sometimes get in an argument with my sister because she would not do something I thought she should do. And sometimes when this happened, I would go to Dad and plead for him to side with me. On the rare occasion that he would, I would go back to my sister and say, “Dad said do this” And it would get done.
In other words, I was saying, “You’re not just talking to me anymore, I come representing Dad. I come in the name of Dad, (if you will).”
In the same way, we come to people’s aid representing Christ. If they marvel at our love, mercy, or whatever, they are marveling at Christ. Therefore, realize that you live and minister each day in the name of Christ. I’ll say more about this in a second.
Third, (almost hand in hand with the second) draw attention to Christ.
Peter does this in verses 12-13: “But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, ‘Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this or why do you gaze at us as if by our own power of piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified Jesus, the one whom you delivered up, and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him.”
When men look at you for works performed through you, preach Christ. I am facing a similar opportunity with Chuck, who is now in prison. We helped him, he stole, and now he is in jail. He called me the other day to bring him clothes. And for a second I thought, “Man, it never ends.” However, I’ve realized that I can go to him in Jesus’ name.
I want to tell him that I am not ignorant and my tendency is selfishness and retribution, but as I give him his clothes, I have settled what I am going to say to him. I will say, “Jesus Christ, who sustains your life; he is the one who has provided this. I am like a man released from prison and forgiven a debt I could not pay, and only because of receiving such grace can I give it. But what I have, I give to you in the name of Jesus who suffered the wrath of God that you might have life.”
Draw attention to Christ as you minister.
Finally, preach faith and repentance. Having already spoken of faith, Peter says in verse 19, “Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” To do good to a man without eventually proclaiming the necessity of faith and repentance is like giving pain killers to a man who is deathly ill. It is good and nice, but unless you get to the root of his problem, it will just aid him on his way to death.
So, here it is: see the person in need, meet his or her need in Christ’s name, draw attention to Jesus, and preach faith and repentance. You are sent out in Jesus name into the world to do this. Do you realize that? You play the same role Peter and John did.
Peter ends saying, “For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.” And Jesus has sent us with the message to do that very thing. We represent Him in that very action as we “fill up the afflictions of Christ.” That is why we come “in His name.”
May we go in His name, showing His kingdom and His work in this world. Amen.