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THE CRIPPLE HEALED BY PETER
PERSECUTION for righteousness’ sake was foretold by Christ as the portion of all his people: and accordingly we find, that no sooner did his Apostles begin to publish the glad tidings of salvation, than they were arrested as criminals, and brought into a court of justice to answer for their conduct. Peter and John had healed a man who had been “lame from his mother’s womb.” In consequence of this, multitudes were gathered together, to inquire into this miracle, and to learn by what means it had been wrought. Peter declared to them all, that it had been wrought by that very Jesus, who had so recently been crucified by them, but who was risen from the dead, and possessed of all power in heaven and in earth [Note: Act_3:1-16.]. This testimony was the means of converting an immense number of persons to the faith of Christ [Note: ver. 4.]. But it grieved and incensed the rulers, who immediately adopted measures to crush the rising sect; apprehending and imprisoning the two Apostles, and on the very next day bringing them to trial as disturbers of the public peace. Peter renewed the testimony he had before given, and persisted in declaring, that the miracle had been wrought by Jesus of Nazareth, in proof that he was risen from the dead, and was the true Messiah, the Saviour of the world.
In considering this miracle, we shall notice it,
I. As a ground of conviction to the Jews—
That a great miracle had been wrought, was manifest to all, insomuch that the rulers themselves were constrained to acknowledge it [Note: ver. 14, 16.]. Hence Peter took occasion to shew them,
1. That Jesus was indeed the promised Messiah—
[It was obviously beyond the power of man to effect so great a work, as that of restoring in a moment to the perfect use of his limbs “a man who was forty years of age,” and had been a cripple from the womb. Whence then did Peter and John obtain the power to effect it? This was the point which the rulers desired to ascertain [Note: ver. 7.]; and this could be learned only from the Apostles themselves. Peter boldly answered the interrogatories which were put to him; and declared, that the lately-crucified, and now exalted, Jesus had empowered them to communicate this blessing to the man [Note: Act_3:16.]. But how could he convey to them this power, if he were not himself alive? or how could he enable them to do what nothing but Omnipotence could effect, if he himself were not omnipotent?
This argument was addressed to the very people who had bribed the soldiers a few weeks before to say, that the Disciples had come, whilst they were asleep, and had stolen the body of Jesus from the tomb. But though the rulers had satisfied their nation by accounting in that manner for the supposed resurrection of Jesus, they did not now dare to bring forward such an absurdity in anwer to the Apostles: for of what use would the dead body of Jesus be? could that enable the Apostles to work a miracle? or would God communicate miraculous powers to them for the express purpose of sanctioning the most wicked falsehood that could be fabricated?
Here then the argument was incontrovertible: a miracle had been wrought: the persons who had been the instruments of effecting it, ascribed the power to Jesus, who, agreeably to the prophecies concerning him, had been “set at nought by the builders, and was become the Head of the corner [Note: ver. 11.]:” there was therefore no alternative left, but to acknowledge Jesus as the true Messiah. How infatuated must they be, who could withhold their assent from so plain a truth!]
2. That they in God’s sight were the worst of murderers—
[They had not been able to fix any charge of guilt upon him: seeing that he had in all things approved himself “The Holy One and the Just:” yet had they insisted on his crucifixion, when Pilate, convinced of his innocence, had “determined to let him go:” yea, though he was “the Prince and Author of life,” they had preferred “a murderer” and destroyer of life before him [Note: Act_3:13-15.]. It was true, they had acted “ignorantly,” blinded by their own prejudices and passions [Note: Act_3:17.]: but still they were highly criminal in the sight of God; and must perish to all eternity, if they did not look to Him as their Saviour, whom they had crucified as a malefactor.
What a tremendous charge was this! To be accused of murder! of murdering the Prince of life, and “crucifying the Lord of glory!” But the charge was undeniable: and no hope of mercy remained to them, but by repenting of their guilt, and seeking to be cleansed from it in that very blood which they themselves had shed.]
But, as the miracle in this view is profitable chiefly to the Jews, we shall proceed to consider it,
II. As a ground of consolation to us—
Whilst we enter into all the feelings of the man that was restored, and are ready, as it were, to unite with him in all the expressions of his joy, we cannot but regard his miraculous restoration as calculated,
1. To confirm our faith—
[What cannot the Lord Jesus Christ effect? Whose soul can he not heal as easily, and as effectually, as he healed the body of that poor man? “Is there any thing too hard for him?” — — —]
2. To encourage our hope—
[Long had that man neglected the opportunities which the presence of Jesus at Jerusalem afforded him: for we cannot doubt, but that if he had applied to Jesus for relief, as myriads of others did, he would not have applied in vain. But now the mercy which he had never thought of seeking, was conferred upon him unsolicited [Note: Act_3:6-7.]. What then will not Jesus do for them that ask him? What though we have slighted him all our days, and have never so much as thought of him till this present hour; will he spurn us from his footstool? Has he not said, that “Whosoever cometh to him, he will in no wise cast out?” — — —]
3. To inflame our love—
[We wonder not at the ecstacies of the restored man: we should rather wonder if he had not so expressed his joy and gratitude. But have not we also cause for joy? Does not every recovery from sickness, or every continuance of health, proceed from the same source? and is it not equally a ground of praise and thanksgiving? The circumstance of his cure being miraculous attracted more attention, it is true; but it added nothing to the value of the blessing bestowed: and if we were duly sensible of the benefits we enjoy, we should glorify our God even as he did.
But what if the Lord Jesus Christ has healed our souls? What if, by his life-giving word, he has quickened us from the dead? Should not we praise and magnify his name? Would not “even the stones cry out against us, if we held our peace?” See what the prophet foretold as the effect of the preached Gospel; “Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing [Note: Isa_35:6.].” See what David experienced as the result of this mercy to his own soul [Note: Psa_103:1; Psa_103:3.]; and know, that if the same external demonstrations of joy be not called for, the same internal frame of mind as the healed cripple possessed, should distinguish every one that professes to believe in Christ — — — “What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits towards me?” is surely as proper to be asked on account of spiritual blessings, as of any mercies that can be vouchsafed to our poor perishing bodies.]
Improvement—
1. Let us seek ourselves to be living witnesses for Christ—
[Little did this healed cripple imagine what weight he added to the Apostles’ testimony, or how the sight of him confounded all the enemies of the Lord Jesus. And little does the consistent Christian imagine to what a degree he strengthens the hands of those who preach the Gospel. Truly we take courage when we can appeal to the effects of our ministry on the hearts and lives of our hearers. O let those who profess to have received the truth, shew, that the grace of Christ has wrought as effectually on them for the renovation of their souls, as it wrought on the cripple for the restoration of his limbs. Let every temper and disposition of our minds constrain our enemies to acknowledge, that “we have been with Jesus,” and are blessed monuments of his transforming power [Note: See Isa_43:11-12.] — — — Such an exhibition of his power and grace will glorify him more than all the bodily cures he ever wrought [Note: 2Th_1:11-12. with Isa_62:3.].]
2. Let us never be afraid to vindicate his cause—
[It was but lately that Peter was intimidated by the voice of a servant-maid; but now he boldly confronted the whole Sanhedrim, and charged them all with the murder of their Messiah. Thus, if the whole world were to rise against us for our attachment to Christ, we should not give way to any unworthy fears, or be deterred from confessing him openly before men. We must indeed look well to our own spirit, and guard against the intemperate sallies of an angry or vindictive mind: the apostolic rule should be rigidly adhered to, “Be ready always to give an answer to every one that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear [Note: 1Pe_3:15.]:” but still we must never be ashamed of Christ, but “be faithful unto death, if ever we would receive from him a crown of life” — — —]