Acts 3:1-8. One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame 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. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.
On the day of Pentecost, the disciples gathered in the upper room, holding onto Jesus’ promise and devoting themselves to prayer (Acts 1:14). Then, as Jesus had said, “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” (Acts 2:4).
Luke’s focus was not merely on what happened but why—the Holy Spirit gave them the gift of tongues so that they could declare “the wonders of God,” to the many nations gathered in Jerusalem (Acts 2:5-11). Fifteen nations heard the gospel in their own languages, and the world saw the birth of the church empowered by the Spirit.
The message they proclaimed was not about the experience of tongues but about the gospel that Jesus is the Christ. Peter boldly declared, “God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). The true work of the Holy Spirit is not to glorify human experience but to exalt Jesus as the Christ—the True King who destroys the works of the devil, the True Priest who breaks the power of sin and death, and the True Prophet who opens a new and living way to God.
When Peter and John went up to the temple at the hour of prayer (Acts 3:1–12), they carried that same Spirit-filled conviction. Standing before a lame beggar at the gate called Beautiful, Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” At that moment, the power of the Holy Spirit revived the man’s spirit, and his feet and ankles became strong. He stood, walked, and leapt for joy—praising God before all the people.
The miracle was undeniable, but the greater work was invisible: the exaltation of the name of Jesus. Peter testified, “By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong” (Acts 3:16). The same Peter who once denied Jesus now stood before the crowd with boldness and conviction. The Holy Spirit had transformed his fear into faith, manifesting His power through him.
When you are filled with the Holy Spirit, your life changes in both visible and invisible ways. You begin to see what others overlook. You gain spiritual discernment and conviction. The same Spirit who filled Peter will enable you to stand as Christ’s witness to the ends of the earth, wherever you are and whatever your circumstances. The lame still walk, though not always physically; the broken are healed, and the lost find new life in Christ.
Paul described this power as “the treasure in jars of clay” (2 Corinthians 4:7–10). Though fragile and flawed, we carry within us the all-surpassing power of God. Through every problem, conflict, or crisis, the Holy Spirit sustains us—turning each into an answer, a moment of renewal, and an opportunity to experience His power. The fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23)—becomes visible in every area of life, drawing others to the light of the gospel.
Jesus promised this same power to all who believe: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses… to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit is not an option for us but the only source of our strength for world evangelization. Through Him, God continues to display His glory and accomplish His work of salvation in your life.
As you yield to the Spirit, God will reveal His mysteries to you and transform you into the image of Christ “with ever-increasing glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18). Like Daniel and his friends, you will receive wisdom and understanding from the throne that far surpass the world’s to save lives and proclaim the gospel to the 237 nations and 5,000 tribes.
Prayer. Father, I thank You for Your Son, Jesus Christ, where all wisdom and power are hidden. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, that I may live as a true witness of Christ, bringing Your healing, truth, and glory to the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.