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Chapter 33
The Healing of the Cripple
A SHORT time after the descent of the Holy Spirit, and immediately after a season of
fervent prayer, Peter and John, going up to the temple to worship, saw a distressed and
poverty-stricken cripple, forty years of age, who had known no other life than one of pain
and infirmity. This unfortunate man had long desired to go to Jesus and be healed, but he
was almost helpless, and was removed far from the scene of the Great Physician's labors.
Finally his earnest pleadings induced some kind persons to bear him to the gate of the
temple. But upon arriving there he discovered that the Healer, upon whom his hopes were
centered, had been put to a cruel death.
His disappointment excited the pity of those who knew how long he had eagerly hoped and
expected to be healed by Jesus, and they daily brought him to the temple, that the
passers-by might be moved to give him a trifle to relieve his present wants. As Peter and
John passed, he begged charity from them. The disciples regarded him with compassion.
"And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us."
"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 poor man's countenance had fallen when Peter declared his own poverty, but grew bright
with hope and faith as the disciple continued. "And he took him by the right hand,
and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he
leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping,
and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God: 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."
The Jews were astonished that the disciples could perform miracles similar to those of
Jesus. He, they supposed, was dead, and they had expected all such wonderful
manifestations to cease with Him. Yet here was this man who had been a helpless cripple
for forty years, now rejoicing in the full use of his limbs, free from pain, and happy in
believing on Jesus.
The apostles saw the amazement of the people, and questioned them why they should be
astonished at the miracle which they had witnessed, and regard them with awe as though it
were through their own power they had done this thing. Peter assured them it was done
through the merits of Jesus of Nazareth, whom they had rejected and crucified, but whom
God had raised from the dead the third day. "And His name through faith 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. And now, brethren, I wot that through
ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. But those things, which God before had
shewed by the mouth of all His prophets that Christ should suffer He hath so
fulfilled."
After the performance of this miracle the people flocked together in the temple, and Peter
addressed them in one part of the temple, while John spoke to them in another part. The
apostles, having spoken plainly of the great crime of the Jews, in rejecting and putting
to death the Prince of life, were careful not to drive them to madness or despair. Peter
was willing to lessen the atrocity of their guilt as much as possible, by presuming that
they did the deed ignorantly. He declared to them that the Holy Ghost was calling for them
to repent of their sins and to be converted; that there was no hope for them except
through the mercy of that Christ whom they had crucified; through faith in Him only could
their sins be cancelled by His blood.
Arrest and Trial of the Apostles
This preaching the resurrection of Christ, and that through His death and resurrection He
would finally bring up all the dead from their graves, deeply stirred the Sadducees. They
felt that their favorite doctrine was in danger and their reputation at stake. Some of the
officials of the temple, and the captain of the temple, were Sadducees. The captain, with
the help of a number of Sadducees, arrested the two apostles and put them in prison, as it
was too late for their cases to be examined that night.
The following day Annas and Caiaphas, with the other dignitaries of the temple, met
together for the trial of the prisoners, who were then brought before them. In that very
room, and before those very men, Peter had shamefully denied his Lord. All this came
distinctly before the mind of the disciple as he now appeared for his own trial. He had
now an opportunity of redeeming his former wicked cowardice.
The company present remembered the part Peter had acted at the trial of his Master, and
they flattered themselves that he could be intimidated by the threat of imprisonment and
death. But the Peter who denied Christ in the hour of His greatest need was the impulsive,
self-confident disciple, differing widely from the Peter who was before the Sanhedrin for
examination that day. He had been converted; he was distrustful of self, and no longer a
proud boaster. He was filled with the Holy Spirit, and through its power he had become
firm as a rock, courageous, yet modest, in magnifying Christ. He was ready to remove the
stain of his apostasy by honoring the name he had once disowned.
Peter's Bold Defense
Hitherto the priests had avoided having the crucifixion or resurrection of Jesus
mentioned; but now, in fulfillment of their purpose, they were forced to inquire of the
accused by what power they had accomplished the remarkable cure of the impotent man. Then
Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, addressed the priests and elders respectfully, and
declared: "Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the
name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even
by Him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at
nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation
in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must
be saved."
The seal of Christ was on the words of Peter, and his countenance was illuminated by the
Holy Spirit. Close beside him, as a convincing witness, stood the man who had been so
miraculously cured. The appearance of this man, who but a few hours before was a helpless
cripple, now restored to soundness of body, and being enlightened concerning Jesus of
Nazareth, added a weight of testimony to the words of Peter. Priests, rulers, and people
were silent. The rulers had no power to refute his statement. They had been obliged to
hear that which they most desired not to hear: the fact of the resurrection of Jesus
Christ, and His power in heaven to perform miracles through the medium of His apostles on
earth.
The defense of Peter, in which he boldly avowed from whence his strength was obtained,
appalled them. He had referred to the stone set at nought by the builders--meaning the
authorities of the church, who should have perceived the value of Him whom they
rejected--but which had nevertheless become the head of the corner. In those words he
directly referred to Christ, who was the foundation stone of the church.
The people were amazed at the boldness of the disciples. They supposed, because they were
ignorant fishermen, they would be overcome with embarrassment when confronted by the
priests, scribes, and elders. But they took knowledge that they had been with Jesus. The
apostles spoke as He had spoken, with a convincing power that silenced their adversaries.
In order to conceal their perplexity, the priests and rulers ordered the apostles to be
taken away, that they might counsel among themselves.
They all agreed that it would be useless to deny that the man had been healed through
power given the apostles in the name of the crucified Jesus. They would gladly have
covered up the miracle by falsehoods; but the work was done in the full light of day and
before a crowd of people, and had already come to the knowledge of thousands. They felt
that the work must be immediately stopped, or Jesus would gain many believers, their own
disgrace would follow, and they would be held guilty of the murder of the Son of God.
But notwithstanding their disposition to destroy the disciples, they dared not do worse
than threaten them with the severest punishment if they continued to teach or work in the
name of Jesus. Thereupon Peter and John boldly declared that their work had been given
them of God, and they could not but speak the things which they had seen and heard. The
priests would gladly have punished these noble men for their unswerving fidelity to their
sacred calling, but they feared the people, "for all men glorified God for that which
was done." So, with repeated threats and injunctions, the apostles were set at
liberty.
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