- Peter Heals the Crippled Beggar
- 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.
- Peter Speaks to the Onlookers
- 11
- While the beggar held on to Peter and John,
- all the people were astonished and came running to them
- in the place called Solomon's Colonnade.
- 12
- When Peter saw this, he said to them:
- "Men of Israel, why does this surprise you?
- Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness
- we had made this man walk?
- 13
- The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers,
- has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed,
- and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go.
- 14
- You disowned the Holy and Righteous One
- and asked that a murderer be released to you.
- 15
- You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead.
- We are witnesses of this.
- 16
- By faith in the name of Jesus,
- this man whom you see and know was made strong.
- It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him
- that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.
- 17
- "Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders.
- 18
- But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets,
- saying that his Christ would suffer.
- 19
- Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out,
- that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,
- 20
- and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you--even Jesus.
- 21
- He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything,
- as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.
- 22
- For Moses said, `The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me
- from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you.
- 23
- Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off
- from among his people.'
- 24
- "Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on,
- as many as have spoken, have foretold these days.
- 25
- And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers.
- He said to Abraham, `Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.'
- 26
- When God raised up his servant,
- he sent him first to you to bless you
- by turning each of you from your wicked ways."