CHAP. III.
In this chapter, we have a miracle and a sermon: the miracle wrought to make way for the sermon, to confirm the doctrine that was to be preached, and to make way for it into the minds of the people; and then the sermon to explain the miracle, and to sow the ground which by it was broken up. I. The miracle was the healing of a man that was lame from his birth, with a word speaking, (v. 1..8.) and the impression which this made upon the: people, v. 9..11. II. The scope of the sermon which, was preached hereupon, was, to bring people to Christ, to repent of their sin in crucifying him; (v. 12..19.) to believe in him now that he was glorified, and to comply with the Father's design in glorifying him, v. 20..26. The former part of the discourse opens the wound, the latter applies the remedy.
1.NOW Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 2. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; 3. Who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked an alms. 4. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him, with John, said, Look on us. 5. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6. Then Peter said, 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. 7. And he took him by the right hand, and . lifted him up: and immediately his feet and. ankle-bones received strength. 8. And he, leaping up, stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple. walking, and leaping, and praising God. 9. And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10. And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him. 11. And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.
We were told in general, (ch. 2. 43.) that many signs and wonders were done by the apostles, which are not written in this book; but here we have one given us for an instance. As they wrought miracles, not upon every body, as every body had occasion for them, but as the Holy Spirit gave direction, so as to answer the end of their commission; so all the miracles they did work, are not written in this book, but such only are recorded as the Holy Ghost thought fit to answer the end of this sacred history.
I. The persons by whose ministry this miracle was wrought, were, Peter and John, two principal men among the apostles; they were so in Christ's time, one speaker of the house for the most part, the other favourite of the Master; and they continue so. When, upon the conversion of thousands, the church was divided into several societies, perhaps Peter and John presided in that which Luke associated with, and therefore he is more particular in recording what they said and did, as afterward what Paul said and did, when he attended him: both the one and the other being designed for a specimen of what the other apostles did.
Peter and John had each of them a brother among the twelve, with which they were coupled when they were sent out; yet now they seem to be knit together more closely than either of them to his brother; for the bond of friendship is sometimes stronger than that of relation; there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. Peter and John seem to have had a peculiar intimacy after Christ's resurrection more than before, John 20. 2. The reason of which, (if I may have liberty to conjecture,) might be this; that John, a disciple made up of love, was more compassionate to Peter upon his fall and repentance, and more tender of him in his bitter weeping for his sin, than any other of the apostles were, and more solicitous to restore him in the spirit of meekness; which made him very dear to Peter ever after: and it was a good evidence of Peter's acceptance with God, upon his repentance, that Christ's favourite was made his bosom-friend. David prayed, after his fall, Let them that fear thee, turn unto me, Ps. 119.79.
II. The time and place are here set down:
1. It was in the temple, whither Peter and John went up together, because it was the place of concourse; there were the shoals of fish, among whom the net of the gospel was to be cast, especially during the days of pentecost, within the compass of which we may suppose this to have happened. Note, It is good to go up to the temple, to attend on public ordinances; and it is comfortable to go up together to the temple; I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go. The best society is society in worshipping of God.
2. It was at the hour of prayer, one of the hours of public worship, commonly appointed and observed among the Jews : time and place are two necessary circumstances of every action, which must be determined by consent, as is most convenient for edification. With reference to public worship, there must be a house of prayer, and an hour of prayer: the ninth hour, that is, three o'clock in the afternoon, was one of the hours of prayer among the Jews; nine in the morning, and twelve at noon, were the other two. See Ps. 55. 17. Dan. 6. 10. It is of use for private christians so far to have their hours of prayer as may serve, though not to bind, yet to remind, conscience; every thing is beautiful in its season.
III. The patient is here described, on whom this miraculous cure was wrought, v. 2. He was a poor lame beggar at the temple-gate.
1. He was a cripple, not by accident so, but born so; he was lame from his mother's womb, as it should seem, by a paralytic distemper, which weakened his limbs; for it is said in the description of his cure, (v. 7.) His feet and ankle-bones received strength. Some such piteous cases now and then there are, which we ought to be affected with, and look upon with compassion, and which are designed to shew us what we all are by nature spiritually; without strength, lame from our birth, unable to work or walk in God's service.
2. He was a beggar; being unable to work for his living, he must live upon alms; such are God's poor. He was laid daily by his friends at one of the gates of the temple, a miserable spectacle, unable to do any thing else for himself but to ask alms of them that entered into the temple or came out. There was a concourse, and a concourse of devout good people, from whom charity might be expected, and a concourse of such people, when it might be hoped they were in the best frame; and there he was laid. Those that need, and cannot work, must not be ashamed to beg. He would not have been laid there, and laid daily there, if he had not been used to meet
