Peter Heals a Beggar Story - Bible

One day, Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer. It was three o'clock in the afternoon. A man who could not walk was being carried to the temple gate. He had been lame from birth. Every day people put him beside the gate called Beautiful. There he would beg from people going into the temple courts.

When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him. So did John. Then Peter said, 'Look at us!'

So the man watched them closely. He expected to get something from them.

Peter said, 'I don't have any silver or gold. But I will give you what I do have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk.'

Peter took him by the right hand and helped him up. At once the man's feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. He went with Peter and John into the temple courts. He walked and jumped and praised God.

When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him. They knew he was the same man who used to sit and beg at the temple gate called Beautiful. They were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished. They came running to them in the place called Solomon's Colonnade.

When Peter saw this, he said to them, 'Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed. You disowned him before Pilate, even though Pilate had decided to let him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One. You asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life. But God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.

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 completely healed him. You can see it with your own eyes.

Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets. He said that his Messiah would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God. Then your sins will be wiped out. That times of refreshing may come from the Lord. He will send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you. Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything. He promised this long ago through his holy prophets.

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. Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.'

Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets who have spoken have foretold these days. 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.' When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you. He sent him to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.'

While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard came up to them. The Sadducees were also with them. The Sadducees were very disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people. They were proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John. It was already evening, so they put them in jail until the next day.

But many who heard the message believed. The number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.

The next day, the rulers, the elders, and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there. Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and other people of the high priest's family were also there. They had Peter and John brought before them. They began to question them. 'By what power or what name did you do this?' they asked.

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, 'Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame, and you are asking how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel. It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. This man stands before you healed by Jesus.

Jesus is the stone you builders rejected. He has become the cornerstone. Salvation is found in no one else. There is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.'

The rulers saw the courage of Peter and John. They realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men. They were astonished. They took note that these men had been with Jesus. Since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say.

So they ordered Peter and John to leave the Sanhedrin. Then they talked things over. 'What are we going to do with these men?' they asked. 'Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign. We cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them. We must tell them never to speak to anyone in Jesus' name again.'

Then they called Peter and John back in. They commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

But Peter and John replied, 'Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.'

The rulers warned them again and let them go. They could not decide how to punish them. All the people were praising God for what had happened. The man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

When Peter and John were released, they went back to their own people. They reported everything the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When the believers heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. 'Sovereign Lord,' they said, 'you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David. You said, 'Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one.' Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city. They conspired against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats. Enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.'

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. They spoke the word of God boldly.

The healing of the lame beggar showed everyone the power of Jesus' name. Peter and John did not have silver or gold. But they had something much better. They had the power of Jesus. That power can heal bodies and save souls. Nothing can stop the good news about Jesus. Not even jail or threats could stop Peter and John from telling others about their Savior.

The Peter Heals a Beggar story teaches faith and compassion. It shows the power of God working through His followers. This story highlights miracles and service.