Acts 3:1-11
3 Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. 2 As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.
4 Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. 6 But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!”
7 Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. 8 He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.
9 All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. 10 When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded! 11 They all rushed out in amazement to Solomon’s Colonnade, where the man was holding tightly to Peter and John.
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This is the account of Peter and John and the healing of the lame man. Why are healings like this so rare today? I don’t think the healing in anyway validated what Peter was going to say in his sermon, anymore than Jesus’ miracles validated, in the minds of most of the people, his ministry. I think this miracle was simply to get the attention of the people in order for them to listen to Peter.
Today, we have the scriptures and the history of faith as validations. So then, why are some people healed, and others not healed? It’s not to validate the message, so it must simply be to glorify God. In missions, there are often miracles and they still gather the crowds. But it is the preaching and the Holy Spirit that convinces those who hear to believe.