“ALL THE PEOPLE!”

Acts 3:11-16                 (ESV)

Peter Speaks in Solomon’s Portico

“[11] While he (the lame man just healed) clung to Peter and John, “ALL THE PEOPLE”, UTTERLY ASTOUNDED, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. [12] And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? [13] The GOD of Abraham, the GOD of Isaac, and the GOD of Jacob, the GOD of our fathers, glorified HIS servant JESUS, WHO you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. [14] But you denied the HOLY and RIGHTEOUS ONE, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, [15] and you killed the AUTHOR of life, whom GOD raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. [16] And HIS NAME—by FAITH in HIS NAME—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the FAITH that is through JESUS has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.”

“ALL THE PEOPLE” love to see miraculous things occur in their presence.  “ALL THE PEOPLE” apparently don’t have a clue where the MIRACLE comes from, only that they were CHOSEN to be a witness to it’s happening?

Peter and John had just been used by GOD to heal a man who had been laid “at the gate of the temple” (Acts 3:2) for years, and “ALL THE PEOPLE” witnessed it!  This man had been “lame” for 40+ years (Acts 4:22), so one would suspect that he might need to be taught how to walk and navigate on his own?  But Acts 3:8 says he went into the temple walking and leaping and PRAISING GOD!!!  

Memories of August 29, 2007 jump into my mind, as that is the day I was released from the rehabilitation hospital following the “massive brain hemorrhage”!  “ALL THE PEOPLE” gathered at the front door and celebrated my recovery.  My hospitalization was only 52 days, yet I needed “assistance” in getting back to where I was able to function on my own.   Most people who were surrounding my “story” admitted that DIVINITY had to be involved.  

The term “ALL THE PEOPLE” should not be misunderstood to mean that EVERYONE acknowledged that the man “at the gate of the temple” was DIVINE.  BUT “ALL THE PEOPLE” who were present could not deny that something MIRACULOUS had happened!  

You CANNOT DENY a MIRACLE when you SEE it!  I pray that “ALL THE PEOPLE” who are CHOSEN will have their EYES OPENED and SEE what GOD has done for them!!!