Acts 3

The Explanation

It was afternoon. The sun was warm. Two men walked to the big temple in the city. Their names were Peter and John. They wanted to pray to God.

By the temple was a big gate. It was called the Beautiful Gate. There sat a man on the ground. His legs did not work. They had never worked, not even when he was little. He could not walk. He could not run. So he sat by the gate every day.

The man had a bowl. He said to everyone, "Please, some money? Please?" That is how he got food.

Peter and John came near. The man held up his bowl. "Please, some money?"

Peter stopped. He looked at the man. John looked too. Peter said, "Look at us."

The man looked up. He thought, now I get some money.

But Peter said, "I have no money. But I have something else. In the name of Jesus, stand up and walk!"

Peter took the man's hand. He pulled him up. And then… then something wonderful happened. The man's feet became strong. His legs became strong. He stood!

He took a step. And another step. And then he jumped! He jumped high in the air. He ran into the temple. He shouted, "Thank You, God! Thank You, God!"

Everyone saw it. Everyone knew that man. He had always sat by the gate. Now he was jumping. The people said, "How can this be?"

Peter said, "Look, we did not do this. Jesus did this. Jesus is alive. He made this man walk."

What Does This Mean?

Peter did not have any money. But he had Jesus. And Jesus is stronger than money. Jesus made the man walk. That made the man so happy that he jumped and jumped.

The Common Thread

Jesus loves people who cannot do it by themselves. When Jesus lived on earth, He also made sick people better. And now, from heaven, Jesus is still strong. He heard the man by the gate. He helped him.

For You

Sometimes you cannot do something yet. Maybe you cannot tie your shoes. Maybe you are scared in the dark. You can ask Jesus for help. He hears you. He is very close.

And do you know what else? You can be happy like that man. He jumped for joy. You may jump too, because Jesus is alive.

Talk About It

What do you think the man felt when he could walk for the first time?

What would you like to ask Jesus for help with?

Praying Together

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for the man who could walk. Thank You that You are strong. Thank You that You hear me too. Help me when something is hard. And make me happy, like the jumping man.

Amen.