¹¹While he was clinging to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the so-called portico of Solomon, full of amazement. ¹²But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? ¹³The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him . . . ¹⁶And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.”

The healing drew a crowd; the normal routines of “religion” had been invaded by the supernatural. Word spread like lightning; people rushed to the temple. There they found the healed man clinging to Peter. Imagine yourself in this man’s place, having been lame your entire life and now you can dance! How would you respond?

While miraculous tongues-speaking was the attention-getter for Peter’s first sermon, his second message springs from the healing of a man well known to have been lame his entire life. Again, he addresses the crowd as “Men of Israel” (cf. Acts 2:22), his message being to the Jewish people as a whole. The audience included those who had not believed at the first preaching of the gospel on the day of Pentecost.

Peter wastes no time; His impetuous ways have been transformed from unthinking outbursts to reasoned, powerful proclamations of the truth. We see in him what all believers should emulate:

[S]anctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you . . . (1 Peter 3:15)

The apostle comes across as surprised that anyone would be astonished at God doing what God can do! If this miracle was due to Peter’s abilities or exceptional religious standing, it would have been impressive—a mere human healing another human. But Peter disavows being the healer! Only the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob could say, “I, the Lord, am your healer” (Ex. 15:26). What is surprising is that any member of the Jewish people would reject “His servant,” the one they executed. Just as God healed the man physically, He desires to heal all people spiritually. Therefore, Peter makes it clear, God’s healing comes in the name of Jesus and through believing in Him.

Lord, I am amazed at the healing of our souls that has come through Jesus.