THE KING ’S BUSINESS
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at which Jesus hung upon the cross and opened up a place for us in the holiest o f all (cf. Luke 23:44, 46; Heb. 10:19, 20). v. 2. “And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the door of the Temple which is called Beautful, to ask alms o f (rather, from ) them that entered into the Temple.’’ This man had been brought to that place often before and was expecting nothing unusual that day. But something very unus ual was to occur simply because two men who really knew God were to pass that way. There is no telling what may happen when one meets one who really knows God. v. 3. "Who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the Temple, asked an alms.” All this man expected' from Peter and John was some small coin, but he was to get vastly more than he expected. At the door o f the Temple was a most likely place for one to sit who was seeking alms. Even to this day we see the blind and lame, wherever they are permitted, sitting at the door o f the temple or church, feeling that those who are about to enter there will be in an especially favorable mood to notice a beggar. V. 4. “And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him, with John, said, Look on us.” Peter first took a good look at the man, then he demanded the man to look at him. Here are .two good points for any one who would bring Christ’s power into the life o f another: we should first look steadfastly at the one we seek to help, until we under stand his case, and then we should demand that the man give us his attention. vs. S, 6 . “And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but what I have, that give I thee. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Peter easily got the man’s atten tion; he gave very-earnest heed to Peter and John, not from any ^ense o f spiritual need, but because he intensely desired to get a small coin and expected to receive some thing from them. Peter did not give the man what he asked for, for he did not
Nevertheless, he was full o f power. The men whose pockets are empty are often times the men who have the most o f a have it to give; his pockets were empty, power that is worth more than gold. What Peter did have was far more needful for the man than the silver and gold that he did not have; he had power in the name o f Christ to give the man what money could not buy, to give him power to walk. Peter’s words, “ Silver and gold have I none” are full o f suggestion, and indicative o f Peter’s own character and method o f life. He had an excellent opportunity to get silver and gold (ch. 2:45 ; 4:37), but none o f the larger sums o f money handed to him had remained with him. He lived in utmost simplicity, and gave away from day tcT day what he got. As ai-ule it has been the men without silver and gold who have done the most for the world’s good (cf. 1 Cor. 4:11). A rich and proud Bishop once said to another Bishop, that they no longer needed to say as Peter said, “ Silver and gold have I none.” The other replied, Yes, and we can no longer say, ‘In the name o f Jesus Christ o f Nazareth rise up and walk.’ ” The utterance that fell from Peter-’s lips, “what I have give I thee,” is full o f deepest meaning; it suggests to us what every Christian ought to be able to say, “ what I have I give” (cf. 1 Peter 4:10, 11 ). Too many o f us if we told the truth, would be forced to say, “What I have I keep.” Peter told the man who had been bom lame to “ walk,” but that was the very thing which the man could not do. It was naturally impossible for him to do this, but Peter not merely told him torwalk, he added, “ in the name o f Jesus Christ o f Nazareth;” that changed it all. What is naturally impossible is possible in the name o f Jesus Christ. The power that there was in that mighty name came into that man’s impotent feet the moment he believed and sought to obey. v. 7. “And he took him by the right hand,-and raised him up: and immediately his feet and his ankle-bones received strength.” Peter not only bade the man to walk, and not only bade him to do it in
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