Acts 3:1-10
Chapter 3
Healing of a Paralytic
Once, when Peter and John were going up to the temple at three in the afternoon, the hour of prayer,a man crippled from birth was being carried in. Every day, they would bring him and set him at the temple gate called ‘Beautiful’; there, he begged from those entering the temple.
When he saw Peter and John on their way into the temple, he asked for alms.
Then Peter, with John beside him, looked straight at him and said:
“Look at us.”
So he looked at them, expecting to get something from them.
But Peter said:
“I have neither silver nor gold, but what I have I give you: In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah, walk!”
Then, he took the beggar by his right hand and helped him up. Immediately, his feet and ankles became strong,
and jumping up, he stood on his feet and began to walk. He went with them into the temple, walking, leaping, and praising God.
All the people saw him walking and praising God;
they recognized him as the one who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. They were all astonished and amazed at what had happened to him.
Commentaries
Healing of a Paralytic.
Peter and John go to the temple to pray, but the dejected paralytic at the entrance changes their plans. The paralytic asks Peter for alms. Peter has no gold or silver, but he possesses a gift of immeasurable value: the power to invoke the name of Jesus of Nazareth. A comforting touch accompanies the invocation. The effect is immediate. The healing of the paralytic symbolizes Jesus’ life-giving power. Another effect is the amazement of the people, which is a sense of wonder or bewilderment that prompts them to seek understanding. This attitude leads Peter to bear witness and proclaim, once again, the death and resurrection of Jesus.