Our current teaching series, "The First Fifty," explores some very important questions: What happened after the resurrection? Where did Jesus go? What happened to his disciples? When and why did the Holy Spirit come? How did the church start? And what does all this have to do with me? Join us as we inquire into the Bible's story of the 40 days from Jesus' resurrection to his ascension into heaven, and the 10 days from his ascension to the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Read Acts 3:1-10

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. Now a man crippled 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. 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!" 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 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.

Reflect

This man's needs were very real, and it seems he was a well-recognized beggar, probably passed daily by many of those going in and out of the Temple. He expected Peter to help him, but not in the way things played out. Notice how he responded—the amazement and joy he couldn't contain.

Respond

Have you ever expressed a need to God and had the experience of receiving an answer beyond what you could have imagined? Those moments should not only fill us with wonder, but make us overflow with praise for what God has done.