Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles — Homily 8

St. John Chrysostom

1. 0. Greeting

Acts III. 1

Now Peter and John went up together into the temple, at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

Everywhere we find these two Apostles in great harmony together. To him Simon Peter beckoned. [[John 13.24]] These two also came together to the sepulchre. [[John 20.3]] et seq. And concerning John, Peter said to Christ, And what shall this man do? [[John 21.21]] Now as for the other miracles, the writer of this book omits them; but he mentions the miracle by which they were all put in commotion. Observe again that they do not come to them purposely; so clear were they of ambition, so closely did they imitate their Master. Why now did they go up to the temple? Did they still live as Jews? No, but for expediency ( χρησίμως ). A miraculous sign again takes place, which both confirms the converts, and draws over the rest; and such, as they were a sign for having wrought. The disease was in the nature of the man, and baffled the art of medicine. He had been forty years lame [[Acts 4.20]], as the writer says afterwards, and no one during all that time had cured him. And the most obstinate diseases are those which are born with men. It was a great calamity, insomuch that even to provide for himself his necessary sustenance was impossible for him. The man was conspicuous both from the place, and from his malady. Hear how the matter is related. And a certain man, lame from his mother's womb, was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple. [[Acts 3.2]] He sought to receive alms, and he did not know who the men were. Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him, with John, said, Look on us. (v. 3, 4.) Yet, not even so were the man's thoughts elevated, but he persisted in his importunity. For such is poverty; upon a refusal, it compels people still to persist. Let this put us to shame who fall back in our prayers. But observe, I pray you, Peter's gentleness: for he said, Look on us. So truly did their very bearing, of itself, betoken their character. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have I give you. (v. 5-6.) He did not say, I give you something much better than silver or gold: but what? In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up. [[Acts 3.7]] Such was also the way of Christ. Often He healed by word, often by an act, often also He stretched forth the hand, where men were somewhat weak in faith, that the cure might not appear to be spontaneous. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up. This act made manifest the Resurrection, for it was an image of the Resurrection. And immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked. [[Acts 3.8]] Perhaps it was by way of trying himself that he put