At the very beginning of Acts, Luke said he would continue the story of all that Jesus "began to do and to teach." In other words, we should expect that what we read here is a continuation of Jesus' ministry---what Jesus continues to do and teach through the apostles. With the sending of the Holy Spirit, the disciples are empowered to continue the ministry of their risen and ascended Lord.

That's exactly what we see in this story for today. In the continued ministry of Jesus, one of the things we would expect is healing, which was central to Jesus' life and work. In healing people, Jesus demonstrated that the kingdom of God has come near.

Peter and John enter the temple for prayers. This was a very good spot for a beggar, as Jews were required to give alms as part of their religious obligations. Of course, the man who couldn't walk asked Peter and John for money, and all the other temple visitors too.

Luke tells the story with characteristic attention to detail. He says that Peter looked straight at the beggar and demanded that he look at them. Likely, after years of demeaning begging, the man had learned to keep his eyes downcast---better for him and better for business. When called to attention, he naturally expected a big handout from these two visitors.

Imagine his disappointment when Peter says, "Silver and gold I do not have . . . "---and his puzzlement when Peter orders him to stand up and walk in the name of Jesus of Nazareth. The man obviously needs some more encouragement, so Peter reaches out his hand to help him stand.

New energy surges through the man's nerves and muscles. He leaps to his feet, and as soon as he's steadied himself, he begins to walk and jump and dance, praising God. Soon everybody knows what's happened, because this same man has sat in the same place at the same temple gate for years, with those downcast eyes. And now here he is dancing all over the place!

Well, the apostles never let a crowd go to waste, so Peter begins to preach many of the same points he made to the Pentecost crowd. But this time he emphasizes that this formerly lame man now walks through the power of Jesus and by faith in the name of Jesus. In other words, this miracle is not about us, it's about Jesus.

There are a couple of unique and remarkable things about Peter's sermon on this occasion. He talks more clearly about what happened to Jesus, concluding with, "Heaven must receive him" (v. 21). That's the way he describes Jesus' ascension---like there had to be a celebration in heaven to receive the victorious Lamb (Rev. 4 and 5). Then Peter points to the end of time, describing it as the time for "God to restore everything." (v. 21).

In the end, God will restore everything and make it new again. And the healing of this man who couldn't walk, who was a social outcast and had to beg, is a sign of that final restoration. The power of God restores both his legs and his dignity.