20160603 Friday, June 3 2016
Acts 03: Rise Up And Walk

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"Now Peter and John went up together into the Temple at the hour of prayer ... 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 ... And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us ... 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"

The Beautiful Gate was the name given to one of the gates of the Temple in Jerusalem (see also What Temple Did Ezekiel See? and When Will There Be No More Temples Built In Jerusalem?). Although Biblical scholars disagree about its location, it is usually identified as the passage from the "court of the Gentiles" to the "court of the women," which, despite its name, permitted both Israelite (which, by that time, meant the only the remnant of the people of Judah, Benjamin and Levi; see Jews - Three Tribes and Three Meanings and Israel Never Knew Purim, Hanukkah Or Judaism) men and women.

The applied meaning of the term was actually that it was the courtyard of the Temple where women could also enter. The Temple complex became more restrictive as one got closer to the Most Holy Place - from almost everyone permitted in the court of the Gentiles, then successively to Israelite (Judah, as explained) men and women, then men, then Levites, then priests (see also What Did John The Baptist's Father Do At The Temple?), then only the High Priest (see Why Do Christians Observe The Messiah's Day Of Atonement?).

Adjacent to the women's court were chests where people could make offerings to support the operation of the Temple. Perhaps the most well-known reference to that is when the Messiah was there and witnessed the offering made by a poor, but very faithful, widow (see also The Widows Of The Messiah):

"12:41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. 12:42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. 12:43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: 12:44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living." (Mark 12:41-44 KJV)

With the Beautiful Gate being the place where many people with the means and intent to make offerings passed by, it naturally attracted people who sought charity for themselves. It was there however that a lame man received something more valuable than money from Peter and John.

"3:1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

3:2 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; 3:3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. 3:4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 3:5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

3:6 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. 3:7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

3:8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. 3:9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God: 3:10 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." (Acts 3:1-10 KJV)

The apostles never taught that "Christianity" was a "new religion" or a rebel religion (many revolutions of history were instigated by unsuccessful business people who needed an excuse for their inabilities or laziness; many "great" rebel leaders were actually second-rate officers who were passed over for promotion and so resentfully and spitefully became traitors to their oath of allegiance and ruthless war criminals).

Everything that the Messiah did was lawful and prophesied: "Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days."

"3:11 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.

3:12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? 3:13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. 3:14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; 3:15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. 3:16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

3:17 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. 3:18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; 3:20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: 3:21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. 3:22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. 3:23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.

3:24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. 3:25 Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. 3:26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities." (Acts 3:11-26 KJV)

Fact Finder: Why are rebels and criminals often successful in the world as has become? When will Justice reign?
See Who Lights Your Walk?