April 15, 2026 | Be Connected
It’s All About Jesus
Scripture: Acts 3:11-16(NIV)
11 While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. 12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.
Devotional
In the previous verses from Acts 3:1-10, we read that Peter and John allowed Jesus to work through them to heal a well-known local beggar who was crippled from birth. The beggar asked for money as usual. Peter and John demanded eye contact (which is unusual because eye-contact is often avoided when we spot a disabled panhandler), then Peter grabbed his right hand and commanded him to get up and walk in the name Jesus. The man began to walk, jump and praise God as they led him to Solomon’s Colonnade. This caused quite a stir and people gathered around staring at Peter and John as if they were magicians. He quickly reminded them that this miracle was done by the power of Jesus and NOT themselves. Then he gave a brief history of the events (and the role the onlookers played in this awful history) leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection and exaltation, including the dreadful zinger: “but YOU killed the author of Life.”
They knew the beggar. They saw him at Gate Beautiful every time they went through. There was no denying who he was or what had just happened. The question was WHO DID IT? Since Peter had the man by the hand, it seemed an obvious conclusion that he might have been responsible for the miraculous transformation. But Peter quickly used the whole event as an opportunity to share a brief history lesson and then the Gospel. The onlookers would be stunned by Peter’s accusations that THEY were responsible for killing Jesus, but also by the fact that he was denying that his own power had performed this miracle and proclaiming that it is faith in Jesus’ name that made this beggar whole, walking and jumping for the first time in his whole life!
What an odd guy Peter is! Here’s his chance to claim power and healing abilities, gather a large following, fame, add some silver and gold to his portfolio and start the “BEAUTIFUL GATE APOSTLE PETER MINISTRIES,” but he deflects all glory to Jesus. There is no struggle in Peter’s heart to make sure he doesn’t claim any credit for this man’s healing. All he sees is an opportunity to facilitate the Lord’s compassion and share the Gospel.
Silver and gold Peter doesn’t have. He has the Gospel and the Holy Spirit and so do we.
