“And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him” (Acts 3:10 ESV)

 Does it not stir the soul to read of the power and presence of Jesus being invoked by his name with such stupendous results?

Little did the beggar know how his day would turn out when he was carried to and left at the gate to the Temple. One might say the same about Peter and John when they set out for the Temple to pray.

Yet, God brought these two parties together at that time and that place and the ripples spread out from there – and have they actually stopped as we read and are inspired by the Word of God today?

1. The beggar was healed, physically and symbolically – spiritually-, as he stood up from the baggage and the bondage in which he had been held since birth.
2. The crowd were filled with wonder and amazement and were thus attracted to see Peter and John at the portico called Solomon’s, ready to hear Peter speak (vv. 11-26).
3. Peter and John were arrested, put into custody and later they witnessed to their faith before the rulers, elders and scribes (Acts 4:8-22), who ultimately found themselves powerless to stop the spread of the Gospel by word and deed.

Do accounts like these of power of God through the Holy Spirit make your heart burn within you?

Do they encourage you to:

1. Want to be better mindful of the presence and leading of the Holy Spirit?
2. Be better able to trust in God in the moments he puts before us … who knows where they will lead?
3. Be more willing to be amazed in the ways things unfold from one simple act of obedience?

“In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth”

(Acts 3:6)

“Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. ² And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. ³ Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. ⁴ And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” ⁵ And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. ⁶ But Peter said, “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!” ⁷ And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. ⁸ And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. ⁹ And all the people saw him walking and praising God, ¹⁰ and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him”. (Acts 3:1-10 ESV)

 “So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, ²⁹ but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. ³⁰ When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. ³¹ And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. ³² They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” Luke 24:28-32 ESV)

 “Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written”. (John 21:25 ESV)

 ^“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. ²⁷ And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God”. (Romans 8:26-27 ESV)