The Book of Acts ~ Study Thirteen

"Ain't Beggin' No More"

Solomon's Colonnade Model

Acts 3:11-16 (NLT) They all rushed out in amazement to Solomon’s Colonnade, where the man was holding tightly to Peter and John.
     Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness?For it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of all our ancestors—who has brought glory to his servant Jesus by doing this. This is the same Jesus whom you handed over and rejected before Pilate, despite Pilate’s decision to release him. You rejected this holy, righteous one and instead demanded the release of a murderer. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact!
     “Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed—and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has healed him before your very eyes.


The lame man who was begging by the "Beautiful Gate" at the Temple was now healed and holding on to Peter and John. This man was well known at the Temple because he went there everyday to beg for years. Now he's walking and holding on to Peter and John and the people were astonished. I would be too, wouldn't you?


Describe a time when you were completely blown away at something God has done for you. Take the time to thank Him for it. If you experienced this, keep your eyes on Jesus and trust that He will bless your life if you will only lay aside what you think you want for what He knows you need. The beggar wanted money...Jesus wanted to heal him.


The "beggar" was now the "healed man." He was now a "new man" because Jesus healed him. It's a perfect illustration of how we become a new creation in Christ when we come to Jesus and allow Him to take control.


Galatians 6:14-16 (MSG) For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate. Can't you see the central issue in all this? It is not what you and I do—submit to circumcision, reject circumcision. It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life! All who walk by this standard are the true Israel of God—his chosen people. Peace and mercy on them!


"It is not what you and I do..... It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life!" Peter made the point, at Solomon's Colonnade to the curious folks gathered around, that it was not about him or the beggar, it was about what God had done through the name of Jesus.


How do your view yourself? Are you living as a new creation in Christ or are you holding on to your old life before you came to know Jesus? Maybe you haven't asked Jesus to take control. Would like you like to do so now? Take this time to ask Him to renew your thought pattern about who you are in Him or ask Him to renew you for the first time now. He's waiting patiently for you.


Peter took this opportunity to direct the crowds attention to Jesus. He gave Him the credit for the healing. He also reminded them of Christ's crucifixion, so fresh on his mind, and let them know Jesus had risen from the dead. "You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead." He didn't pull any punches but used the opportunity to show how Jesus was very much alive and had healed this beggar they all had seen for so long at the temple gate Beautiful.


2 Corinthians 5:16-17 (NLT) So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!


I think that's what wrong sometimes when I get frustrated with what's going on in my life. I am evaluating others and situations from a human point of view. I can't look at Jesus from this vantage point. I need to see Him with the new spiritual eyes that He's supplied me with. How about you? How do you view things? Do you use your new eyes or your failing human ones?


Jesus wants us to see things from His vantage point. He desires that we trust Him and step out to walk on some water towards Him. Keep your eyes on Jesus and you'll see wonderful things happen.


Psalm 119:18 (NLT) Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions.

We aren't "beggars" anymore. 

We are new creations in Jesus!