Bible Study on Acts:
The Extended Hand
by: David Andrianoff
(Acts 3:1-10)
Acts 3:1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at
the time of prayer--at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man
crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called
Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going
into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to
enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him,
as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" 5 So the man gave
them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
6 Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have
I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." 7
Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the
man's feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and
began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts,
walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw
him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same
man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful,
and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had
happened to him.
• The Encounter (vs. 1-5)
Peter and John were together going to the temple.
The early Christians worked in pairs. Jesus sent out His twelve
apostles and later the seventy disciples, two by two. When the
first missionary team for Gentile evangelization was
commissioned, two people were set apart (Acts 13:2). Only in
exceptional cases, such as Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch, do we
see ministry performed alone in the New Testament.
This occurred at the temple.
Almsgiving was a responsibility for devout Jews. Therefore, a
seat just outside the temple gate was a good location for a lame
beggar. We can be sure that this man was not the only beggar
outside the temple. Most mosques I've visited in south and
central Asia have many beggars around them. The same is true for
Orthodox churches in the former Soviet Union . The Lutheran
Church of the Redeemer, however, is not surrounded by people in
need. Should it be?
This man had likely been brought to the temple for years. That
means that Jesus must have seen this man as He visited the
temple. But He never healed him. Why do you think that Jesus did
not heal this man?
Peter makes time for this individual.
We would not identify this beggar as a "key" choice for Peter to
disciple. As busy religious leaders, Peter and John might have
brushed off the lame beggar who accosted them at the temple gate.
Like Peter and John, we should not get so preoccupied with doing
God's work that we miss opportunities before our eyes.
Peter and John had just been involved in an exercise that brought
thousands to Christ. Now they preach to this one lost sheep.
According to Steve, Sjogren, speaking about the church, "If you
go after the people nobody wants, you'll end up with the people
everybody wants." Peter and John offered an example of meeting
needs. God is not interested in the number of people we teach or
influence; He sees how faithfully we take advantage of
opportunities we have.
This man asked Peter and John for money.
In my work in Third World countries I am constantly asked for
money. Yes, I am much wealthier than they are. But I want to
share Christ, not my wealth. I am afraid that sometimes (often?)
my wealth get in the way of my sharing Christ. My desire is for
people to see Christ in me-not dollars.
Notice Peter's response to the man.
The expected behavior is not to make contact with beggars. If you
see a beggar, you try not to notice him. That is what most people
had been doing with this man. The beggar would have instantly
understood that Peter was establishing a social relationship. By
engaging the crippled man through treating him with respect and
dignity, they acknowledged his worth.
• The Touch (vs. 6-7)
• What was the significance of Peter taking the man by the hand?
Nothing else should have been required than Peter telling the man
to get up and walk. However the man was not healed until Peter
took him by the hand and helped him to his feet. A compassionate
response to physical needs is a fundamental element of ministry.
• What would have happened if Peter had not extended his hand to
this man?
The experience of this man told him that he could not possibly
have stood on his feet. What was the use of trying? He knew what
the result would be. If it were possible for him to get up and
walk, he surely would not have been begging for money at the
temple gate. Perhaps realizing what was going through this man's
mind, Peter extended his hand to him and pulled him to his feet.
If Peter had not taken him by the hand and started to pull him to
his feet, how long do you think he would have sat on his mat?
• With Peter's help, the man began to use his muscles.
To the man's surprise, he felt strength coming to his legs and
ankles. He stood up. He was healed. This was nothing short of a
miracle.
• There are many people in this world like this crippled man.
Some are in need of salvation. For years they have heard the
truth but have never responded. Like this disabled man, they need
someone to extend a hand to them. Your hand may be all it takes to
set a lost person free. To whom can you reach out your hand, to
bring someone to Jesus?
• We all know that Jesus has the power to heal; but there are
times when that healing will not take place until we extend our
hands to the person in need.
People will not respond to the love of Christ until they see our
extended hands. God has chosen to work in partnership with us in
the task of reaching this world with the message of the gospel.
What are you doing to reach out your hand to the lost around you?
• By extending his hand, Peter showed that he sincerely believed
what he claimed.
Do we fail to extend a hand because we are afraid that it will do
no good? What use would it have been for Peter to have extended
his hand if he did not believe that in doing so Christ would
bring healing to this man? Like Peter, we must also believe that
God can do a work in the lives of the people to whom we extend
our hands.
• The Results (v. 8)
• What were the results of Peter's extended hand?
Even as he was being helped to his feet, the man who had been
lame from birth experienced the power of God at work in his life.
This lame man jumped to his feet! He walked on his own. Right in
the temple court he jumped for joy and shouted praise to God. He
was not concerned about what others would think. His eyes were on
the God who had healed him. He went with the disciples into the
temple to worship God; possibly for the first time in his life.
According to Jewish law, a person with a defect was not allowed
to enter the temple.
• What did the man get from Peter and John?
What he received was of immeasurably greater value than a few
dollars in a cup. The crippled man asked for money, but Peter
gave him something much better-the use of his legs. We often ask
God to solve a small problem, but He wants to give us a whole new
life and help for all our problems. Ask God for what you want, but
don't be surprised when He gives you what you really need.
Donating money to solve a problem may not always be the complete
solution. The poor and suffering need the dignity that comes from
being treated as people-not as objects of need. Engaging directly
with those who suffer might be uncomfortable at first, but it is
the only way to restore wholeness. Through it both givers and
receivers discover their real value to God. Peter and John
offered the man a reason to lift his head, the ability to stretch
his legs-and jump, a permanent solution to begging, and a
relationship with Christ.
• The Wonder (vs. 9-10)
• The believers who had gathered for worship had much for which
to praise God.
God Himself had met with them that day in the person of the
crippled beggar. It had all happened because Peter had reached
out his hand in faith.
• This scene is a good reminder of the importance of recognizing
the true source of our blessings.
The power was Christ's, but the hand was Peter's. God uses people
as the vessels through whom He works. We should thank those who
help us. But we should reserve our praise for the God who is
behind every "good and perfect" gift (James 1:17).
CONCLUSION:
• What is the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer (what is your
church) presently doing to "extend a hand" to those in need in
our community?
I would very much like to see the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer
gain a reputation as the church of the extended hand.
• What are you doing personally to extend a hand to someone in
need?
Ask God to give you someone to whom you can extend a hand. Ask
Him what you can do for that person to lead them closer to the
Savior.
Steve Sjogren, quoted by Rick Rusaw and Eric Swanson, The
Externally Focused Church. Loveland , CO : Group Publishing.
2004. p. 29.