Let’s continue our observations from Acts. I love the story of Peter and John healing the lame man in Acts 3:

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. (Acts 3.1 – 8, NIV)

When I read this story, I’m reminded of this exchange:

According to Cornelius a Lapide, Thomas Aquinas once called on Pope Innocent II when the latter was counting out a large sum of money. “You see, Thomas,” said the Pope, “the church can no longer say, ‘Silver and gold have I none.’” “True, holy father,” was the reply; “neither can she now say, ‘Rise and walk.’” Cited by F.F. Bruce

And it’s not just the Catholics. Few of our churches of any stripe would say, “Rise and walk.” Some argue that the ability to heal as Peter did in Acts 3 went away with the apostles. I don’t think so. If it went away, it went away when churches became part of the mainstream in 300 A.D. In short, many of our churches believe, as the church of Ladodecia believed:

I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing… (Revelation 3.17, ESV)

But here are Peter and John who heard Jesus say:

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. (John 14.12, ESV)

“Whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do” – and Peter and John believed Jesus! So he told the man to rise and walk because he had seen Jesus cause people to rise and walk. (See, for example, John 5.1 – 8.) Later, Peter was clear:

And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all. (Acts 3.12 – 16, ESV)

It’s not my power, it’s his power, as we observed a couple weeks ago.

And from the beginning, it’s been about POWER. We’ll stay on this subject another day or two.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1.8, ESV)