The Beautiful Gate!

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. ³ 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!” ⁵ 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. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.  Acts 3:1-10

So, I just would like to tell you a story about a poor beggar that every day was brought to a temple gate called Beautiful to beg from those going into the temple courts.

From what I read this was a common place where beggars used to beg.  Perhaps wealthy people walked through the gate.  It was a beautiful gate.  The Jewish historian Josephus describes a gate made of fine Corinthian brass.  It was seventy-five feet high with huge double doors…

This was a beautiful place.  It was an active place with people coming and going for morning and evening prayer.  Perhaps this beggar wished he was one of those people, free to come and go as he pleased.  Free to go beyond the Beautiful gate and experience the Worship there.

I find it interesting that the word beautiful is used in this passage.  Most people would not think of a beggar’s life as having much beauty, but as God always prophetically sees beyond our current state.  He knew that one day he would give him, “beauty for ashes.” (Isaiah 61:3)

His day would come! At the right moment, Peter and John walked by him.  Perhaps he knew who they were, that they were disciples of Jesus Christ because he stopped them and asked them for money.  Yes, he needed to eat, yes he needed a place to sleep, yes he needed to be clothed but what the disciples could provide went even more deeper. Then Peter said, “Silver and Gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you.  In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!” They were filled with the Holy Spirit and by the matchless name of Jesus they took his hand, helped him up, and instantly he was healed. 

It says the first thing he did was jump!  Just walking wouldn’t do him justice.  There was an indescribable joy that lifted him right up.  He knew what it meant- “In him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28) This movement went beyond the temple gate called Beautiful and before the wonder and amazement of many people.

He was healed, He was whole, and He was no longer someone that people pitied or passed by without even noticing.  This Holy act of God restored a once beggar to a new life now called beautiful.