The lame beggar at the temple never expected to be healed or even asked to be healed. He would have heard about Jesus who healed but now that time had gone. So Peter's intervention was a total surprise. The apostle simply told the cripple to walk, 'in the Name of Jesus', because Jesus had authorised him to do so (John 14:13). Peter did not want the man to try to do the impossible but to trust in the power of Jesus Christ. If Jesus commanded him to walk, then he should obey.

He did. Instantly, rudimentary muscles which had never been used gained full strength. He did not even hesitate, sway and fall like a toddler, or lose balance. Instead, he had full control of muscles and joints and could walk and jump. It was amazing for him and for the onlookers. This man was well known, having graduated to one of the best begging spots in Jerusalem (Acts 3:2): but now his income had disappeared. It did not matter to him because he was glad he had obeyed Jesus allowing the Saviour to change him and let others, including people from many nations which had travelled for the feast of Pentecost (Jeremiah 33:9).

As we shall see, the Lord was going to use this episode to bring Jesus to the attention of the religious leaders once again (Luke 22:66-23:1) . Many of the Pentecost crowd had repented of their responsibility for Jesus’ death (Acts 2:41). Not so the supreme religious court, the Sanhedrin. They had condemned Jesus of Nazareth to death and yet God was giving them the opportunity to repent also. The praise coming from the healed man would alert Jerusalem to the reality that Jesus still had power, and people needed to submit to His authority as the Saviour (Luke 5:24)

Jesus still has power. When we receive an instruction in His Name, it is a sovereign command. Obey and be blessed; disobey and decay. But personal blessings are not just for our satisfaction; they are God's means of reaching a world which has rejected Him. That is why we must praise God instead of retreating into self-satisfaction (Luke 17:15-19). Our praise, in front of a watching world, witnesses to the authority of Jesus (Acts 1:8); and is a serious challenge to those who want to ignore Him or promote themselves.