Early Acts
The church is young and not suffering severe persecution; yet. The early acts of Jesus’ followers are AMAZING and bring in more believers.
One thing that struck me as I read this passage in scripture is the age of the man who is healed. He has been being laid at the Beautiful Gate for YEARS. Even the years when Jesus was ministering to the people. Not until THIS day is he healed. These same men walked past him every day. But today is different for all of them.
This reminds me of the man who was born blind from birth. Jesus healed him at just the right time also. God’s timing is not ours. We have to trust that HE knows what is needed, and when it is needed.
Holy Spirit, help me understand this story in the way You want it heard. Let me see it through Your eyes and take from it what You want to touch in my life.
♥ ♦ ♥
It has been weeks since the message at Pentecost. The body of believers grew exponentially on that day, but it continues to grow even now. Jesus’ disciples are now called apostles. They readily share their firsthand accounts of Jesus’ ministry, His resurrection, and His plan for the church.
Peter is one of the most outspoken of all. He speaks to anyone who will listen and holds house meetings to share even more. He can also be found in the Temple, teaching crowds. The Pharisees are not pleased with it, but he isn’t drawing huge crowds, so they leave him alone.
“He will tire of it soon. The more attention we give him, the longer he will persist” the Pharisees tell one another.
Peter doesn’t tire of it though, and neither do the other apostles. The believers who have joined in the church share their faith and their fortunes. God had granted them grace at this time. His Spirit oozes from their very pores and makes an unshakable bond of family. Those who have money help those in need. Everyone contributing to the community, through the apostles.
The new church worships together as well. Daily going to the Temple in groups or meeting in member’s homes. All for the purpose of honoring the Lord.
Today, Peter and James are in the lead as a group of believers go together to the Temple. As they approach, they notice a man being laid at the Beautiful Gate. He is an older man who is brought here daily to ask for alms. His legs are shriveled and his feet turn back onto his legs. They have seen this man MANY times. They have passed him almost daily and even dropped alms onto his blanket. His name is Jonathan. And this is the only life he has ever known.
Jonathan was born lame. His parents loved him with all their hearts. They protected him as he grew up. NO ONE was allowed to pick on him; not even his own brothers and sisters. Jonathan is truly a gift from God.
As Jonathan grew, he learned how to use his arms to get around in the house. But he was unable to help in the family’s tasks or learn a trade. At the age of thirteen, his parents had a conversation regarding his future.
“We cannot shelter him from the world forever. And we won’t be around to care for him forever either. He has to find a way to support himself.”
“I know. But what can he do?”
“He can ask for alms.”
“BEG! Not MY son!”
“Think about it realistically. And the sooner he takes his place in life the easier it will be for him to accept it.”
Jonathan’s ima is heartbroken, but she cannot argue with his abba’s logic. The next week, Jonathan is brought on a blanket to the head of the street. Here he sits or lies, several hours each day, asking those who pass by for alms.
The people’s hearts are stirred and Jonathan begins contributing to the family. By the time he is twenty, he spends all day at the head of the street. But he has lost his childish draw.
“We need to find a better place for Jonathan to ask for alms” his abba says one evening.
Jonathan overhears his parents talking and offers his own ideas.
“Those who ask for alms at the Temple fare a lot better. Maybe you could put me there.”
“That’s a good idea” his ima agrees.
The next morning, Jonathan is carried to the Temple but before he can be settled into place, others begin to protest.
“We were here first!” “You can’t just show up. You have to have permission.”
Jonathan learns a hard lesson that day. Even the act of asking for alms has requirements and rules. Jonathan is deposited on the outskirts of Jerusalem by a heavily traveled road that day, but he makes his way ‘up the ladder’ until he occupies a prime spot. After fifteen years, he is brought to the Beautiful Gate and laid at its entrance. Here he daily asks for alms from those visiting the Temple.
As Jonathan is laid at the gate today, he sees a group of people approaching. He calls out to them. “Have you any alms for a poor beggar?”
When Peter hears Jonathan, something stirs in his spirit. Peter turns and walks straight to the man, with John walking right beside him. They know nothing more about him than that he is crippled and asking for alms.
As Peter approaches, Jonathan’s hope soars. He looks up at both men, expectantly.
“Look at us” (Acts 3:4) Peter says.
Jonathan focuses solely on Peter and John. Everything else is irrelevant. He can see a gift in his future.
Peter squares his shoulders and speaks boldly to the Jonathan. “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” (Acts 3:6).
Peter doesn’t wait for Jonathan to try getting up on his own. He doesn’t wait for Jonathan to profess belief in the words he spoke. He KNOWS that God directed him to this man, for this purpose, on this day. Peter reaches out and grasps Jonathan’s hand and pulls him to his feet.
From the MOMENT Peter speaks Jesus’ name, Jonathan’s feet and legs begin changing. His shriveled legs gain muscle mass and strength. His feet straighten out and come into place at the end of his legs. And Jonathan is INSTANTLY given all the practice he will ever require for walking; balance, ability, and understanding. No toddling steps or hand holding required.
Peter and Jonathan’s palms connect and Jonathan nearly springs from his place on the blanket. The place that was his life for close to thirty years. Having never taken a step in his life, Jonathan begins walking and leaping in the air. And PRAISING GOD!
Jonathan joins Peter and John as the enter the Temple to praise the Lord. Jonathan’s praises are so loud, they rise above every other sound in the Temple. People begin searching out the source and see the man they passed EVERY DAY at the gate, UP and WALKING!
“This is AMAZING!” “Is this a trick?” “How did this happen?” And many other questions fly as a crowd gathers around Jonathan to witness his miracle. As the people pour over Jonathan’s miracle, Peter leads the group to Solomon’s Portico. From here he begins to witness to the people.
“Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all” (Acts 3:12-16).
The people begin to bristle at Peter saying that killed Jesus. He quickly moves on with his message of love from the Lord; with Jesus’ offer to each of them.
“And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness” (Acts 3:17-26).
The people hang on Peter’s words like a lifeline. There is NO denying the power these men have wielded.
As Peter is witnessing and teaching the people, the religious leaders hear him. Small crowds were acceptable. Crowds THIS size are NOT.
“We need to get over there and break this up before they beguile the people with their fairytales.”
Temple guards are led through the group surrounding Peter, John and Jonathan.
“Break it up! Night is falling and you all need to be going to your homes.”
“Walk away! There is nothing more to see here.”
As the people are dispersed, the guards grab hold of Peter and John. They are dragged to the guardhouse. The two men are shoved into a holding pen and the lock is thrown. It will not open until the high priest says to open it.
The people who made up the crowd were several thousand in number. As they were driven from the Temple, they shared the miracle and the message with others. That night, more than five THOUSAND became believers in Jesus. And the story spreads like wildfire in the city.
Peter and John don’t lament while in the guardhouse all night. They praise the Lord for all that has taken place today.
“God is SO merciful! What prompted you to reach out to Jonathan” asks John.
“My spirit was compelled to speak to him. To offer him healing.”
“Did you know that he has been paralyzed since birth?”
“I didn’t, but that doesn’t surprise me. The way the people responded, you would think Jesus’ name raised him from the dead instead of healed his legs.”
“Did you notice that he didn’t have to ‘learn’ to walk? God provided that to him as well” points out Peter.
“Only You, Lord” John says as he looks up toward heaven.
The religious leaders are busy this night as well. They have called an emergency session.
“We have to do something to stop this sect. These are the same men who were with Jesus, the Nazarene.”
“So much for ending His influence by crucifying Him. They keep proclaiming He rose from the dead. And the people BELIEVE them!”
Caiaphas speaks up. “When morning comes, we will bring these rabbles into our midst. We will question them, warn them against continuing to spread these lies, and arrest them if need be.”
The plan in place, everyone waits for morning. When dawn breaks, Peter and John are roughly pulled from the guardhouse. They are brought to the ruling chamber of the Sanhedrin. As they pass through the Temple courtyard, thousands of people are there to support them. They cry out in support as Peter and John are led away.
“Stay strong, brothers” Peter calls back before a guard shoves him from the back.
Jonathan rushes over and joins Peter and John. Nothing the guards do can dissuade him from sticking by their sides.
Once inside the ruling chamber, Peter, John, and Jonathan are brought to the very center of the room. They are surrounded on all sides by angry faces.
Annas leads the inquisition.
“By what power or by what name did you do this?” (Acts 4:7).
Boldness bubbles up withing Peter’s spirit as the Holy Spirit fills his mouth with words to answer this call.
“Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:8-12).
Teeth grind, jaws drop, fists form, and anger simmers throughout the chamber. Just as they expected. Jesus of Nazareth, proclaimed the Christ again. And given credit for the healing of the lame man. But NO ONE can refute Peter’s claim as Jonathan stands right beside them.
“Guards. Remove these men for now. But do NOT release them.”
Once the three men are out of the chamber, voices erupt in chaos! Everyone talking at once, offering their opinion. Finally Caiaphas calls for silence. When the room calms down, Caiaphas lays out his plan.
“What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name” (Acts 4:16-17).
With the decision made, the guards are summoned to bring the prisoners back in. All three men stand before the counsel as one.
“You are forbidden to speak in this name any more in the Temple or in the streets. This is a dangerous name and it incites the people to violence. We will not tolerate you to teach such utter lies.”
Peter locks eyes with Caiaphas before speaking. “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19-20).
Caiaphas would give anything to be able to arrest and beat Peter and John, but the people would rebel if he did. They are currently calling out for their release.
“Escort them out of the Temple. Make certain they don’t speak to anyone in that Man’s name” Caiaphas orders the guards.
Peter and John are escorted bodily from the Temple and deposited on the streets of the city.
While Peter and John are in custody, the believers are all praying for them. A cheer goes up when the two men walk through the door.
“Praise God!” echoes throughout the room.
Peter begins retelling their story. “We were locked in the guardhouse for the night, but they didn’t beat us. This morning, we stood before the Sanhedrin and were warned to speak no further in Jesus’ name.”
Smiles abound. No one entertains the though of remaining quiet for even a second. All of them count it an honor to be treated this way by the religious leaders. The same men who crucified their Lord. John leads the group in prayer.
“Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’— for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus” (Acts 4:24-30).
Before the last of this prayer quits ringing in the ears of those present, the Holy Spirit falls again on all in the room. The room shakes and the people’s boldness becomes as strong as steel. They will NOT be silent! They will speak even bolder of the name of Jesus.
The new believers were folded into the community. Everyone continues to care for one another, just as Jesus commanded during His final days. “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35).
(to be continued)
The church of today could take a lesson from this group. There were no needs, for everyone who had anything, gladly gave to meet the needs of the others. This generosity doesn’t last forever, and it is abused later on, but it is how Jesus told His disciples to be. To love one another as He loved them.
Father God, help me maintain the balance You intend for my life. To show love to those in need. To know the difference between those only looking to take advantage. And to love even those who do make that attempt. Even within my own family.
