Atos 3:6-8

DISCOURSE: 1742
THE CRIPPLE HEALED

Atos 3:6. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ancle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

IT is justly said, that “we know not what a day or an hour may bring forth.” Nothing under heaven was further from the expectations of this poor cripple, or of the friends who brought him to “the beautiful gate of the temple,” than that he should obtain such a mercy as that which was now vouchsafed unto him. Possibly he might hope to receive some larger donation than any he had ever yet been favoured with; but, to obtain a perfect cure of his malady, with all the attendant benefits of it to his body and his soul, he had not the slightest hope. Nor indeed had Peter and John any thoughts of conferring such a benefit, till God, by his Spirit, put it into their hearts to impart it. But the miracle here wrought is of standing use to the Church in all ages. We see in it,

I. A divine attestation to the Messiahship of Jesus—

For this end it was wrought by the Apostles—
[When they were first sent forth by our Lord, soon after the commencement of their call to his service, he gave them this command: “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give [Note: Mateus 10:8.].” The same command was in force during the whole of their ministry; because it was by working miracles that they were to convince men that they were messengers from the Most High [Note: João 14:12.Marcos 16:17.], who alone could so confirm their word, or give such testimony to the truths they proclaimed. In the miracle now wrought, they did not merely think of conferring a boon, as if they had given to the man a piece of silver or of gold. Of such gifts they had none to bestow: but an infinitely higher gift, which not all the silver and gold in the universe could purchase, they were empowered to bestow, for the purpose of leading his mind, and the minds of the nation at large, to the Lord Jesus. The very words, by which they conveyed the blessing, shewed this: “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And when the spectators of the miracle were struck with admiration of them, as the authors of it, they utterly disclaimed all honour arising from it, as though they had either wrought it by their own power, or merited it at the hands of God by their own holiness: they declare that God himself had wrought it, for the purpose of “glorifying his Son Jesus,” whom the Jews had so lately crucified, but whom he had raised from the dead, and whom all the prophets had referred to as the Prophet like unto Moses, that was to be received by them at the peril of their souls [Note: ver. 12–15.]. Thus the Apostles themselves appeal to the miracle, as demonstrative of Christ’s Messiahship: “His name, through faith in his name, hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know; yea, the faith that is in him hath given him this perfect soundness, in the presence of you all [Note: ver. 16.].” In the miracle there were two things which must carry conviction to every dispassionate mind; namely, the suddenness, and the perfection of it. No natural means could have effected the cure so instantaneously; nor, considering that he had been a cripple from his birth, and was now forty years of age, could the cure have been so effected as to leave no measure of weakness and languor in the person healed. But here he, in the first instance, shewed himself as strong and vigorous as it he had never been diseased at all: from whence it was evident that God had wrought it in the name of Jesus Christ, and had by this act set his seal to the truth of Christ’s Messiahship.]

2. In this light it was regarded by the enemies of our Lord—

[They had long known the man; and seeing him now, a totally altered man, present in the midst of them, they knew what conviction the miracle must carry to the minds of all. Reduced to great difficulties, they thus argued amongst themselves: “What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them, is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. But, that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name [Note: Atos 4:14.].” Here it is clear that they thought the evidence arising from this miracle fully conclusive; and that, if those who had wrought it were suffered to testify of Jesus, they must carry all before them. At the raising of Lazarus by our blessed Lord, the chief priests and elders argued, “If we let the man (Jesus) alone, all men will believe on him:” so did the elders at this time, in reference to the Apostles; “If we do not silence them, they will soon fill the whole land with their doctrine, and establish on an immoveable basis the faith they profess.”]

Thus clear was it, as an attestation to Christ’s Messiahship. But it was also,

II.

A characteristic emblem of his salvation—

All the miracles shadowed forth some part of the Gospel salvation. But this gave a peculiarly instructive view of it. It shewed,

1. Its operation on the soul—

[In this view it was explained by the Apostles themselves: “Be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name given under heaven whereby we can be saved.” The import of which is simply this: ‘You have seen how this man’s body has been healed, even by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; and it is in this way that your souls must be saved: for there is no other power that can effect such a change within you; a change from weakness to strength, from death to life [Note: Atos 4:10; Atos 4:12. with Atos 3:26.].

Hence it appears that the state of this poor cripple exhibits a just view of every man that is born into the world. He from the very womb was incapable of those exertions for which the limbs were originally designed. And so it is with fallen man, in reference to the powers of his soul. He cannot walk before God as Adam did in Paradise, nor as God’s saints and servants do even in their fallen state. But, by the name of Jesus Christ, who is there that may not be healed? Who is there, however deplorable his state, whom the power of Divine grace cannot renovate, so as to make him altogether a new creature? Can any thing be conceived more effectually changed than the converts on the day of Pentecost? From blood-thirsty lions, they at once became meek and patient lambs. So it was with the jailer, who, but a few hours before had thrust Paul and Silas into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks, yet, at the instant of his conversion, administers to them with all the tenderness of the most endeared brother. Thus it is, wherever the grace of God is received in truth. There is “a new creation [Note: 2 Coríntios 5:17.], a resurrection from the dead, like unto that which was effected in the Lord Jesus Christ, when he was raised from the dead, and exalted to the right hand of God, far above all the principalities and powers, whether of heaven or hell [Note: Efésios 1:19.].” Great wonder was excited by the change wrought on this poor man; yet was that but a very faint shadow of what is wrought on all, by the converting grace of God, through faith in the name of Christ.]

2. Its effects upon the heart and life—

[See this man, when begging an alms of Peter and John, a poor miserable suppliant for the smallest dole of charity! Behold him, the very instant Peter stretched out the hand of faith and love to raise him up! See how upright he stands, how firmly he walks, how exultingly he leaps for joy! See him entering with his benefactors into the temple of the Lord, pouring forth his praises and thanksgivings to God for the astonishing mercy vouchsafed unto him! Nor will he let go his hold on those who had been the instruments of conveying this mercy to him. No: he would never lose sight of them more, if he could help it; so ardent was his gratitude, so abundant his love. Now, then, this shews what the healing grace of God effects in the heart of man. O the joy which a sense of God’s pardoning love kindles in the soul! Once the man attended the house of God in a formal customary way, without any delight in the duties there performed: but now the ordinances of divine worship are sources of the sublimest enjoyment. His addresses to God now come from the heart: and he scarcely knows how to restrain his emotions; such a fire is kindled within him, and such exquisite joy stimulates his whole frame. And to the instruments of his conversion he feels a love altogether different from any which mere nature had ever excited in his bosom. St. Paul says of the Galatian converts, that “they would have even plucked out their own eyes, and have given them to him.” The whole life and conversation is from that hour altogether changed. He begins to live, not to himself, as formerly, but unto God: and he desires to shew to the whole world what a Saviour Christ is; so that in his deportment they may have an undeniable evidence of the excellency and blessedness of the Gospel salvation.]

See then, brethren,
1.

What it is we aim at in all our Ministrations—

[We find you all in the sad predicament of this poor cripple. But, because the weakness is in your souls, and not in your bodies, you are not conscious of it: whereas you may see in one moment, if you would candidly examine your state, that you have been, from your very birth, as destitute of all spiritual energy in your souls, as that poor man was of activity in the use of his limbs. And hither we see you brought, some perhaps by a formal regard to the habits of your country, and others by mere curiosity, and none of you expecting to receive more than some customary gratification: but we come (to work a miracle, shall I say?—that would be deemed presumptuous;—but we do come) to convey a benefit which not all the angels in heaven could confer, even the renovation of your souls in the name of Jesus Christ. We do say to you, and you, and you, “In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, arise and walk;” and if only you can receive that word in faith, and look to the Lord Jesus Christ for his blessing, a healing operation shall go forth with the word, and salvation come to your souls this very day. It is thought by many, that we would make you melancholy. Yes, as melancholy as was that healed cripple in the first hour of his deliverance. Dear brethren, search the Scriptures, and see what the effects of the Gospel were in the days of old. And such they are at this hour; and we account not ourselves to have ministered it to any good effect, any further than we see realized in you the blessed miracle which has been this day set before your eyes. O that not only one or two of you might experience it this day, but all of you together; so that you might all be “filled with peace and joy in believing;” yea, and all be transported with a “joy that is unspeakable and glorified!”]

2. What it is that we expect from you, if ye “receive not the grace of God in vain”—

[We expect you no longer to continue the poor, low, grovelling creatures that ye have been; but to shew to all around you, that you are endued with power from on high, and enabled to “walk even as Christ himself walked.” We expect you to shine as lights in the world: yea, the world itself expects this of you. If you profess to have experienced the converting grace of God, the world will ask you, and with reason too, “What do ye more than others?” And they should be made to see, that there is in divine grace an energy and a power, to which they are utter strangers; and an efficacy, for which they know not how to account. Dear brethren, ye must live above the world: ye must delight yourselves in God. Ye must not be afraid of man: nor, if man ridicule and revile your devotion to God, must ye regard it as of the smallest moment. Gratitude to the Saviour must fill your souls. To him you must consecrate all the powers he has renewed; and the whole of your life must henceforth be devoted to the praise of his grace, and to the glory of his name. And never must you return to your former state. Think, I pray you, how the enemies of Christ would have triumphed, if this cripple had relapsed into his former state of impotence, and had again been necessitated to be carried, as before, to the temple-gate, to beg for alms. And will not the world triumph, if they ever behold you again returning to the state in which you were, previous to your reception of the Gospel? O! remember that the honour of your Lord and Saviour is bound up, as it were, in you and your conduct: if you walk uprightly, he will be glorified; but if you turn back, he will be dishonoured, and his very name be blasphemed. O! beg of God that you may never give occasion to the enemies of your Lord to speak reproachfully, but that, both in time and in eternity, you may be distinguished monuments of his power and grace.]