One day, very soon after the Holy Spirit had been sent down to give power to the disciples, Peter and John, as their custom was, went up into the Temple to pray.
It was what was called the ninth hour, our three o'clock in the afternoon, and was "the hour of prayer" in Jerusalem.
Peter and John climbed up the many steps that led to the Temple, and reached the gate called the Beautiful Gate.
Some one else had come up those many steps, too; but he had not walked. He had been lame all his life, and daily his friends carried him up that long way, to lay him in the Beautiful Gate.
What do you think they took all that trouble for? It was that the poor lame man might ask for money of the passersby who went up to pray.
He had no means of providing for himself, and, like many other sick and helpless people, he lay there hour after hour, holding out his hand to receive the coins which the pity of the passersby made them give him.
As he saw Peter and John about to go into the Temple, he begged them to have pity on him in his poverty.
Then Peter, knowing that within him rested the great power of God, said to the lame man, "Look on us!"
The poor man eagerly obeyed, thinking they were not going to pass on without showing him some kindness.
He was quite right. Peter at once said: "I have not any silver or gold! But what I have, I will give you! In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones were given strength, and the man, who had been a cripple for more than forty years, walked and leapt, and went with Peter and John into the Temple, walking and leaping and praising God!