The Strand Study Bible

ACTS 2:45

ACTS 3:13

1785

6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of 4 Nazareth rise up and walk. 7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ancle bones received strength. 8 And he 5 leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God: 10 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 hap- pened unto him. 11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering. 12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so ear- nestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? 13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath

45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, 1 as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the 2 Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. Acts 3 The second sign gift to the Jews (Peter and John heal a lame man in Jerusalem - Mk 16:18) Date - AD 32 1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the 3 ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; 3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. 4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5 And he gave heed unto them, expect- ing to receive something of them.

1. Jms 2:14-16 2. I Cor 3:6-8 & Acts 5:14 & 16:5 3. or, “3 PM” 4. Mt 2:23 5. Note - Faith is often called a “leap.” How fitting! How else could you possibly move from one point to another when there is no direct link? It would take a “leap of faith.” Faith is leaping across chasms where no bridge exists; it’s jumping across gaps that exist between where you’re at and where you’re going; its crossing over crevices that exist between the proven and the unproven. Faith is reaching out in order to connect the known with the unknown.

3:6a Peter said, “ Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee .” Peter believed that the greatest wealth was in knowing Christ. He therefore offered this man what money couldn’t buy, which was a relationship with God. According to the Bible, there are twelve items that money can’t buy: 1. Money may buy religion, but not salvation (Salvation, according to John 10:27-30, comes from the Lord) 2. Money may buy medicine, but not health (Health, according to Proverbs 3:7-8, comes from the Lord) 3. Money may buy blood, but not life (Long life, according to Proverbs 3:1-3, comes from the Lord) 4. Money may buy insurance, but not safety (Safety, according to Proverbs 3:23-34, comes from the Lord) 5. Money may buy a clock, but not time (Time, according to James 4:14-15, is provided by the Lord) 6. Money may buy a bed, but not sleep (Beloved sleep, according to Psalm 127:2, comes from the Lord) 7. Money may buy a house, but not a home (A home, according to Psalm 127:1, is built by the Lord) 8. Money may buy a position, but not respect (Respect is earned, not bought, and comes from the Lord) 9. Money may buy an education, but not wisdom (Wisdom, according to Proverbs 2:1-6, comes from the Lord) 10. Money may buy food, but not an appetite (Sin, according to II Samuel 12:15-21, often robs a person of appetite) 11. Money may buy sex, but not love (Love, according to I John 4:10-11, comes from the Lord) 12. Money may buy amusement, but not joy (Joy, according to Nehemiah 8:10, comes from the Lord) NOTE – In the eyes of the world, if you have enough money, you can buy a solution to any problem. However, this is simply not true. There is no relationship between being prosperous and being pleased; being rich and being richly happy; being wealthy and being well content. None. In fact, the acquirement of riches brings with it a greater realization that there are others who have more, and can therefore become a source of comparison and discontent. Those people who place their security in material possessions are, of all people, the least secure. For that which they value can be so easily lost (Eccl 2:18-21 and Lk 12:16-21). 3:6b This man was thinking: “Yea, right. I’ve been lame since birth, and you want me to exercise faith ( rise up and walk ).” Note, if you will, that this man was not about to offer Peter his hand. Peter had to take the man’s hand (vs 7). 3:7 This man never offered Peter his hand. Peter just took it. What if Peter would have never reached out to this man? Do you think this man would have tried faith on his own? Probably not. Sometimes a little faith on our part ( And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up ) moves people with little or no faith to attempt faith on their own. One thing we do know is that without Peter’s faith this man could have never made the “leap” (vs 8). 3:8 What happens when you’ve never attempted faith before and you’re unsure as to how it works? This lame man was such a person. It says that he was “ lame from his mother’s womb ” (vs 2), which means he would have had absolutely no logical reason for listening to Peter and John. Yet here is an example of a man with absolutely no faith, but because of Peter’s faith ( And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up ) was able to experience faith on his own. Sometimes it takes faith on our part to produce faith in others.