Acts 3:1-10 – Healing of the Spiritually Wounded

Reverend Leo H. McCrary II

Let’s explore the powerful lesson of healing in this study of Acts 3:1-10, to understand the power we have in Jesus’ name.

Introduction

In this week’s Bible Study, we’re going to be studying Acts 3:1-10.  Who or what can help to heal the wounded and broken spirit?  Earthly treasures and riches or the Lord?  

In this week’s study, we are going to see the first miracle done by the apostles, and though it’s a miracle that none of us can physically perform today, it does help to show the help that believers can and should provide.  Whether you realize this or not, believers do have the power to heal wounded spirits, and I want to share with you how we can go about doing just that.

Crippled from Birth

Acts 3:1 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 

• The ninth hour is about 3 pm; also the same hour that Christ died on the cross (Matt. 27:46; Mark 15:34; Luke 23:44-46).
• The only people who could enter into the main temple building were the priests.  When others “entered the temple”, that means they entered into the temple courtyard where people gathered and where offerings were made.

Acts 3:2-3 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 from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 

• Alms are money or gifts for the relief of the poor.
• In both ancient and modern times, some believe that a physical disability, such as being lame, is brought on because of one’s sins.  
• In John 9:1-2, the disciples asked Jesus about the blindness of a blind man, “Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”  Jesus answered that no one had sinned, but that his blindness was so that the works of God would be revealed through him.  
• Trials, tribulations, afflictions, and infirmities help one to grow in faith and are often used as a living testimony of God’s work, as we endure and overcome such.
• Never let us be ashamed of what we go through in life, believing it is because of some sin we have done.  Frankly, all of us are born sinners; we are all wounded in our soul because of sin, and therefore, all of us are in need of healing as well.

The Art of Giving

Acts 3:4-5 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.”  So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 

• Note the expectation of the lame man expecting to receive something from the apostles; he expected to receive goods sitting out in front of the temple.  
• Should the local church be expected to help those who are in need?  There are many conditions that could affect whether a local church even has the ability to give.
  • In 2 Corinthians 8:1-4, Paul boasted to the Corinthians about the giving of the Macedonian church.  Though the Macedonian church was in deep poverty, they liberally (or generously) gave according to and beyond their ability – they were freely willing.
  • The Corinthian church had a wealthy minority who were stingy, and so Paul encouraged them to give if they had the ability.
  • If a local church can help, it ought to help and not be stingy.
• “Look at us” – The apostles were materially poor, lowly men; they were once just fishermen who then traveled with Jesus for three years.  
• Those who are in need may have the expectation to receive, but believers should never feel guilted to give; you should only give when you have the ability to give.
  • “For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality.” (2 Cor. 8:13-14)
  • “Let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7).

Power in the Name of Jesus

Acts 3:6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 

• Giving is not simply material giving. You can always minister in the name of Christ, whether that is teaching or prayer, sharing a testimony, or teaching about Christ.  
• A local church that can’t help in material giving should certainly be able to help in ministering the name of Jesus to all people.

Acts 3:7-8 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.  So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 

• This miracle was done through the Holy Spirit, not through the power of man nor through the power of silver and gold.  
• Silver and gold do have their power, but there is a limit to what silver and gold can do.  The limits of silver and gold’s power:
  • Silver and gold can satisfy the flesh, but they cannot satisfy or heal the soul, which Solomon, a man of great wealth, testified of.  Ecclesiastes 5:10, “He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; Nor he who loves abundance, with increase.”
  • Silver and gold cannot satisfy the soul because such riches are of a sinful world, whereas the soul is of the Lord; it was breathed into mankind’s nostrils and made us a living soul (Gen. 2:7).
• I will liken the lame man immediately receiving strength in his feet and ankle bones, and leaping to his feet, to what happens when the soul is healed.
  • Sin weighs down the soul, crippling it, making it so that it can’t move.
  • Christ gives rest to the soul to those who come to Him.
    • Stated in Matthew 11:29-30.  Jesus said, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” 
• Healing of the crippled (or wounded) soul is immediate.
  • Romans 10:9 – “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
  • Romans 10:13 – “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
  • Faith in Christ brings life to the soul which was once dead (crippled) in sin.  

Testimony to the World

Acts 3:9-10  And all the people saw him walking and praising God. Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. 

• The healing the Holy Spirit does within will speak out loud for the world to see, and it will glorify the Lord.

How Can We Best Help to Heal the Wounded?

Something that we who are of faith should know very well is that all things are possible, especially the healing of the broken and wounded spirit.  Moreover, we should understand that those who are wounded cannot heal themselves by themselves.  

If there is a verse I want to highlight as the key verse of this week’s study, it will be Acts 3:7.  Again, the scripture states, “[And Peter] took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.”

We may not be able to lay hands on the lame and miraculously heal them, yet we ought to be stretching out our right hand to those in need.  The outstretched hand is the universal symbol of offering help.  Because we have received great help from the Lord, we believers ought to be first in line to help lift others when they are in need!

Personally, I’ve had a lifetime of benefiting from outstretched hands on this journey. I literally wouldn’t be here today without the help of my family, doctors, and nurses.  Yes, we who are of faith have received great help from the Lord, but the Lord also surrounds us with helping hands that will help us in our times of struggle.

Let us remember this:  Jesus commanded that we love our neighbor as He loved us (John 13:34).  Proverbs 27:17 tells us that as iron sharpens iron, so does a friend sharpen the countenance of a friend.  Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 teaches that two is better than one because one can help to lift the other when they fall, whereas one who is alone has no one to help them up. 

James wrote, “If anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins (Jas. 5:20).”

Believers have the power to help heal the broken and the wounded soul by simply stretching out their hands.  If we are able to give in charity through material things, do it.  However, we should always give love to all of those who are around us, as the love of God can certainly heal the wounded spirit.

So, as Paul said to the Galatians, “Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith (Gal. 6:9-10).”