“The Miracle at Beautiful Gate”
Acts 3
The 3rd chapter of Acts is a very special chapter; it is where we find the 1st miracle performed by the apostles after the ascension of Jesus Christ. We must look at the entire 3rd chapter to get the full impact of this miracle which took place at the gate called beautiful. This gate which is called beautiful is named such because it was made of solid brass and was believed to be 31 feet high x 62 feet wide. So you can see why this gate was called Beautiful.
Verse #1 says “Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.” There is something very important about this 1st verse and that is the word together. There must be unity in the body of Christ, for a house divided will fall. Peter and John going to the temple together fulfilled the scripture in Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Together means unity it is the minimum requirement necessary in order to do the Will of God. By Peter and John being together they fulfilled the minimum requirement for God to be in the midst of them and lead to the healing of the man at beautiful gate. The ninth hour was 3:00 in the afternoon.
Verse #2 says “And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful to ask of alms of them that entered into the temple” As we have stated the gate was called Beautiful because of how it was made and the grandeur of it. The Jewish people did not look upon this man as some kind of beggar or transient as many people, even so-called Christians, look upon those that are less fortunate then us today. However they understood the law and knew that it was a commandment of God to take care of the poor among them. Deuteronomy 15:7 says “If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brotheren within any of thy gates in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother.”
Verse #3 says “Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked of alms.” This verse shows that we must realize that we have a need and not be ashamed to seek God for an answer to our problems. Many people feel that they are in such disarray that God will not even have anything to do with them, but this is just a trick of the enemy, God loves who’s with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, when you are broken it is then that God will put the pieces back together.
Verse #4 Says “And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John said look on us.” They focused on the lame man. When we focus our attention and desires on God he focuses His anointing and deliverance power upon us. However we must me the requirements and that is portrayed in what they told the man “look upon us”. We cannot be entangled with the affairs of this world, we cannot try to do the things of the world and have God pour out His miracles upon us. We must be obedient to His Will and focus on Him. If this lame man would not have been obedient to what Peter and John said to him, he would not have received his healing. Maybe the reason some of you have not received what you desire from God is because you have not been obedient to His Will.
Verse #5 says “And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.” This is the key ingredient to receiving anything from God. How many of you remember the saying “prayer is the key but faith unlocks the door”? Well here’s this one “Obedience is the key but expectation unlocks the door.” “Expecting to receive something from them” This is called the Spirit of Expectancy. You must understand that when you ask God for something you must expect for that which you asked Him for to happen. Jesus said ask in my name and my father in heaven will give it to you. We must expect it to manifest itself in our lives. This is the concept of taking the name of the Lord thy God in vain. Asking something to be done in the name of Jesus, but not expecting it to happen is taking His name in vain. Realize that to use the word god followed by a curse word is utterly repulsive, but is not the meaning of taking the name of the Lord in vain. First of all His name is Jesus, God is what He is, Jesus is His name. The power of whatever you ask is manifested because of His name. When we ask in His name, that wonderful name of Jesus and we expect for that to happen then God will do as my favorite scripture says, in Ephesians 3:20 “Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us.” When we expect for God to do what we ask, He not only does that, but He does beyond our expectations. The man at the gate called Beautiful expected something, but what he got was more then he expected, WHY because God will do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think if we follow His will and expect the results.
Someone may be wondering how they are going to have enough money to pay their bills this month and have asked God to make a way, well I believe that if you just expect Him to make a way, that He is going to take you completely out of debt, WHY, because you asked in His name, JESUS, and are expecting Him for something and when He shows up He shows out.
God has an abundance of blessing that He desires to give unto you, but you must expect Him to do what He said and He will give you a Blessing so great that you will not have room to receive them all. Do you have the Spirit of Expectancy? If so do like the song by the Clark Sisters and say I expect a miracle everyday, the Lord will make a way because I expect a miracle. I have the Spirit of Expectancy.
Verse #6 says “Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but that which I have give I thee: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” If obedience is the key and expectation unlocks the door, this is what opens it and that is the name of Jesus. Peter said “what I have give I thee in the name of Jesus Christ”, this is what we like to call Power of Attorney. Peter and John and all of us that are called by His name according to His purpose have this Power of Attorney given us in Jesus’ name. We have the healing power in the name of Jesus, Deliverance in the name of Jesus, freedom in the name of Jesus, whatever you want you can have in the name of Jesus. We have been given Power of Attorney.
What is Power of Attorney: When someone is given Power of Attorney they are given the authority to act on the behalf of someone else. There are different types of Power of Attorney, but there is what is called Durable Power of Attorney and this says that you have the complete freedom to do everything on behalf of the person who has given the power of attorney to you. This is the power that God has given us, His children, for the Bible says in Acts 1:8 that we shall receive power (Dunamis) after that the Holy Ghost has come.
Understand that numbers play a very important part in the Bible, for instance:
The number 3 in the Bible speaks of solidity it is the symbol of fullness. Next to the number 7 it is the most mentioned number in the Bible. It denotes Divine testimony. The number 3 represents fullness. Fullness is not lacking in any essentials it is being at the highest or greatest degree. It is the completeness of the process. 3 is the fullness of His power, 3 represents the 3 manifestations of God. That’s the concept of “Trinity” 3. We must understand the importance and the power of 3. Fullness: Father, Son, & Holy Ghost Fullness, Death, Burial, & Resurrection Fullness Body, Soul, & Spirit Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent Faith, Goodness, Mercy, Tabernacle, Temple, Pentecost, Outer court, inner court, Holy of Holies 30, 60, 100 fold, fruit, more fruit, much fruit, Peter, James, & John Fullness. There were 3 temptations that Satan tempted Jesus with after He fasted 40 days, there were 3 crosses on Calvary, 3 men and 3 deaths, 1 died in sin, 1 died to sin, and the 1 died for sin. It was on the 3rd day of creation that everything was different; the waters under the firmament gathered together, dry land appeared the earth brought forth grass, the herbs yielded seed and the fruit tree its fruit WHEN on the 3rd day. There’s something about the power of 3.
There are 3 things that go into a durable power of attorney: 1. – A statement of intent.
2. – The appointment of the attorney in fact or representative. 3. – Statement of the attorney in-fact’s power. You need these three things in order to make a power of attorney effective. Well baby God has given us the power of attorney to use His name. He has given the Statement of Intent Acts 1:8 “After the Holy Ghost has come you shall receive power”. The Appointment of the attorney in fact “Ye shall receive power”. Statement of Powers Mark 16:17-18 “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues: They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”
Verse #7 “And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.” This is faith in action. Peter fulfilled James 2:20 “Faith without works is dead.” When Peter took the lame man by the hand and lifted him up, he put into action that which he was given power of attorney over into action, the name of Jesus Christ. Peter also showed the spirit of expectancy by lifting him up he expected God to heal the man and the man be able to stand. When we believe God and work in His name and expect something to happen God shows up and does exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think.
Verse #8 “And he leaping up stood, and walked and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.” It is amazing to see that this man didn’t do like many people in today’s time do. He didn’t go home, he didn’t go to the club, but he went into the temple to give God praise and the way he enter into the temple walking, leaping, and giving God praise fulfilled the scripture in Psalm 100:4 “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise, be thankful unto him and bless his name.”
Verse #9 & #10 says “And all the people saw him walking and praising God: And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.” The people here were amazed just like those on the Day of Pentecost when they heard those speaking in their own tongues that they considered as unlearned Galileans.
Verse #11 “And the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.” This man held onto Peter and John shows that when God blesses us we should hold on to Him. However the attitude of the people was that of amazement, they were looking at Peter and John as though they had done some great thing.
Verse #12 “And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? Or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk.” Peter asked 2 questions here 1st was “why marvel at this”? Not many days before they saw Jesus doing the same thing and this was no different or greater than what He had done. 2nd question he asked “why look so earnestly at us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk”? Here Peter got to the core of the matter he stated who was responsible for the healing of this man and who should receive all the Glory and that is no other than Jesus Christ whom they not long before had chosen to crucify on the cross.
Verse #13 - #15 “The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. But ye denied the Holy One and Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the prince of life whom God hath raised from the dead; wherefore we are witnesses.” Peter here proclaims the deity of Jesus Christ and identifies those that are responsible for his death, the Jews that refused to accept him. He proclaimed how Jesus was raised from the dead, there were some that were there that did not believe in a resurrection from the dead the Sadducees. And finally he made a great show of faith when he said whom we are witness, he showed that Jesus had revealed himself to them after his resurrection and how just a few days earlier Peter even denied knowing Jesus, but now with boldness was standing admitting that he was in fact a witness for Jesus Christ.
Verse #16 “And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom you see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him is perfect soundness in the prescience of you all.” The main point of the message is Faith. Faith contains 2 elements to make it complete and that is belief and trust. It is necessary to believe in that name of Jesus, but it is imperative to trust in that name in order for that faith or belief to manifest itself. A simple explanation would be belief is knowing God can, trust is knowing and expecting that he will. The key element to the working of miracles and power with God is IN his name. To have faith is good, but without His name Jesus, faith has no power.
Verse #17 “And now, brethern, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.” Peter used this as a tool to lead to repentance not has a cover up for the sin there had committed.
Verse #18 “But those thing which God had showed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.” Peter is letting the people know that everything the prophets said Jesus would fulfill has be done.
Verse #19 “Repent ye therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” Peter was letting the people know that Repentance is the first step to salvation. Repentance is not just saying I’m sorry, repentance is not tears, but true repentance is a complete and total change. To make a turn from doing something never to do it again. Peter was telling the people, they very ones that not long before had caused the death of Jesus Christ to repent of their sins. The word blotted means wiped away. He was letting them know that God will wipe away all their sins, even how they turned their backs upon him and rejected Jesus, that their sins would be wiped away if the would just repent. The times of refreshing is when this mortal shall put on immortality and this corruption shall put on incorruption.
Verse #20 “”And he shall send Jesus Christ which before was preached unto you.” This is talking about the second coming of Jesus Christ when he shall come and rapture the church away.
Verse #21 “Whom the heavens must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by his mouth of all holy prophets since the world began.” This is letting us know that Jesus will not come back to earth until the millennium kingdom, the 1000 year reign.
Verse #22 “For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethern, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.” Peter was letting the people know that what Moses, the father of the law prophesied came true in Jesus Christ, this is that which he prophesied about.
Verse #23 “And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among all people.” Peter is letting the people know that Moses prophesied about this man Jesus and how people will have to make a choice on rather or not to listen to what he says and if the refuse they will be destroyed talking about in hell.
Verse #24 -#26 “Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, and in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.” Peter let them know that all the prophets foretold of Jesus Christ, the universal work of Christ, and how they were first to receive the Savior and present him to the rest of the world.
Elder Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr
Boanerge Ministries
