A REAL MIRACLE
1. Illnesses come in many different forms.
2. Some sicknesses are short term and are not associated with pain.
3. Other medical problems require surgery.
4. Some medical conditions are problems that cannot be corrected.
IN ACTS 3 WE READ ABOUT A MAN WHO WAS
SICK. ACTS 3:2 SAYS THIS
PERSON WAS “LAME.”
THE WORD “LAME” IS AN ADJECTIVE THAT OCCURS 14 TIMES IN THE NEW
TESTAMENT. WITH THE
EXCEPTION OF HEB. 12:13, THIS WORD IS ALWAYS FOUND IN THE GOSPELS OR
ACTS. THIS TERM DESCRIBED
“LAMENESS OF FEET.”
1. This word tells us that this man could not walk.
2. In fact, this man had never walked.
3. Acts 3:2 says he had been plagued with this condition from his mother's womb.
4. His condition was such that people carried him to the temple area so he could beg (2b).
5. The text says he asked alms of them that entered into the temple.
6. Two of the people who were in the same area as this man were Peter and John (verse 3).
7. The lame man asked these preachers for some money.
8. He wanted to see if they were willing to make a donation.
9. The apostles were willing to help this man, but they did not give him any cash.
10. They gave him a gift that money could not buy.
11. Verse 6 – READ.
12. Before saying too much about this verse let’s pause for a brief observation.
A. We live in a time when those involved with Pentecostalism talk about miracles healings.
B. Some who want to be healed ask for a miracle but are disappointed.
C. The people who are disappointed are often told that they lack faith.
D. If the only believed they could be healed.
E. People are told that they did not receive a miracle because they do not have enough faith.
F. What does this chapter tell us about the lame man’s faith?
G. Luke informs us that the miracle was not based upon his faith.
H. In 4b we learn that Peter told the man to look upon him and John.
I. This “looking” was not related to faith in a miracle.
J. Verse 5 says that this man looked because he thought he would “get something” – READ.
K. What did he expect to get? The answer is in 6a – READ.
L. This man was a beggar and he thought he was going to get a donation.
13. He did not have any faith regarding a miraculous cure for his medical problem.
14. In spite of the fact that he did not have faith he was healed.
15. At the end of verse 6 Peter said “walk.”
A. Peter did not say that this man needed to believe.
B. The lame man, contrary to what we see today, was not asked if he had faith.
C. Neither did Peter condition the miracle on some type of confession.
D. The apostle Peter simply said “walk.”
E. When we deal with modern day Pentecostalism we must make a choice.
F. We must accept the claims of Pentecostalism or the miracles in the Bible.
G. Modern day Pentecostalism cannot be reconciled with Bible Christianity.
H. This miracle shows some of the distinctions between Bible Christianity and modern claims.
16. Notice if you will the word “walk” at the end of verse 6.
17. This is a present imperative verb.
18. The imperative mood means that this was a command (an order).
19. Peter didn’t say “I think it would be a good idea to walk.”
20. Neither did he say, “Let’s try walking.”
21. The word “walk” was not some type of suggestion or kind proposal.
22. This was an order. This was both a demand and a command.
23. One translation renders the thought this way: “Get up and walk!”
24. This man was very ill.
A. Thus, let’s imagine for a moment that he had been lying in a hospital bid.
B. Had he been in a medical facility a nurse might have said, “Let’s try to move you.”
C. Another worker might say, “Let’s see if you can talk a few steps.”
D. This is not the picture in Acts 3.
E. Imagine someone coming into the rooming and saying,
F. “There is nothing wrong with you; you are completely cured.
G. “Get out of bed right now and walk.”
25. Peter insisted that this man get up and walk.
26. Luke’s usage of the present tense is also instructive.
27. This tense tells us that this man was told to walk and keep on walking.
28. In other words, this man had been cured and he would stay cured.
29. He needed to get up and get on with life just like everybody else.
30. With modern day Pentecostalism people are “cured” but the so-called miracles do not last.
31. People throw away their prescription bottles but after a few days/a week need to refill them.
32. Those in crutches throw away their crutches for a day or two and then realize they still need them.
33.
THE
INFORMATION IN ACTS 3 TELLS US ABOUT THE LAME MAN’S PROBLEM AND
HIS CURE. WE MAY NOW TURN
ATTENTION TO WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS MAN AFTER HE WAS HEALED.
A. This information begins in Acts 3:8 – READ.
B. This man “leaped, stood, and began to walk.”
C. According to verse 7 his cure was “immediate.”
D. His feet functioned so well that he walked into the temple (verse 8).
E. Think about what Luke describes.
F. This man was more than 40 years old (4:22).
G. The people in Jerusalem knew who he was.
H. This man was someone who was laid at the temple gate each day (Acts 3:2).
I. His condition had existed for more than 40 years.
J. He had never walked.
K. The apostles meet up with him and he was immediately healed.
34. He then entered into the temple (without assistance), verse 8.
35. Others saw him (verse 9) – READ.
36. The people who realized that this man was cured were amazed – Verse 10 – READ.
37. The word “wonder” meant “awe.”
38. One well respected source says that in this passage the word means “reverential enthusiasm.”
39. When people learned about this miracle they were enthused.
40. This miracle was an event that created excitement.
A. A man who had been plagued with health problems from birth was cured.
B. The man that these people had walked by for years was now running, walking, and leaping.
C. Perhaps some of these people had made donations to this man over the years.
D. This man was no longer asking for handouts.
E. He feet worked as well as anyone else’s.
F. His deformed feet were not better; they were completely normal.
G. The people who were aware of this miracle were in a state of awe.
41. Luke used a second word.
42. This second word is translated “amazement” in the ASV and the KJV.
43. This word is especially fascinating.
44. It described people who were in a state of shock and bewildered.
45. We can compare it to the person who says, “This can’t be happening.”
46. Some events are so unusual people say, “I can’t believe that this is really occurring.”
47. This word is a suitable term to describe this healing.
A. Think about what this chapter describes.
B. This man was not someone who was ill.
C. He had never walked. He didn’t know how to walk.
D. If the man’s feet had been strengthened and he walked after months of therapy, a miracle.
E. If this man’s feet were healed and then he received a few day’s training on walking, a miracle.
F. What Peter and John did is actually a double miracle.
G. They took care of the medical problem and also gave this man the knowledge of how to walk.
H. Walking is a learned activity.
I. If we knew how to walk but lost that ability for 5 years we would need some help.
J. This man had never walked but was able to instantly do it after being cured.
48. When the people realized what was done it shocked them.
49. The force of this miracle is expressed very clearly in the next chapter.
50. Acts 4:4 – READ.
51. The miracle in Acts 3 must have helped draw more people to the apostles.
52. Several others became Christians.
53. This sign was one that seems to have pushed people over the edge concerning the gospel.
54. We know that the religious leaders were well informed about this miracle.
55. The Jewish authorities assembled together on the next day – Acts 4:5-6 – READ.
56. Let’s skip down to Acts 4:14-18 – READ.
57. Another important verse is 21 – READ.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS ACCOUNT WHAT DO WE LEARN?
A. We learn that the modern claims of Pentecostalism are not supported by the Bible.
B. This miracle shows that the sign was so fantastic people were beside themselves.
C. The cure of the lame man was so fantastic it was almost too hard to believe.
D. This cure is mentioned in the same context as thousands of people being converted.
E. The healing was so magnificent that even the religious professionals had to respond to it.
F. Those who wanted to deny this claim but they said that this could not be done.
G. The miracle was so stunning that the religious leaders could only resort to threats.
H. The cure described by Dr. Luke was immediate and permanent.
I. After this man was healed he didn’t hobble and limp.
J. He was completely healed and he was able to leap and continue walking.
K. In Acts 3:9 it is said that “all the people saw him.”
L. This man was known to people in the area.
M. We noted that this man did not have faith but was healed anyway.
58. This miracle was so great that people ran to see it – 3:11 – READ.
59. When I hear the people in the Pentecostal movement talk about healing they talk about money.
60. When we read the New Testament what message was associated with healing?
61. Let’s look – Acts 3:19 – READ.
62. In the religious world people say, “Send us a check.”
63. In the Bible preachers said, “Repent and be saved.”
64. I do not get any joy from showing people that Pentecostalism is in conflict with the Bible.
65. The book of Acts repeatedly denies that modern day Pentecostalism is from God.
66. When we compare the miracles in scripture to the so-called signs of today they do not match.
67. Miracles were to confirm God’s word.
68. This word has been confirmed (proven to be true).
69. Our job is to understand God’s word and obey it.
70. Is this what we are trying to do?