Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 6.djvu/36

30 does his, and yet it is Christ that does all: it is he that puts strength into him. As the bread multiplied in the breaking, and the water was turned into wine in the pouring out, so strength was given to the cripple's feet in his stirring them and using them.

V. Here is the impression which this cure made upon the patient himself, which we may best conceive of, if we put our soul into his soul's stead.

1. He leaped up, in obedience to the command, Arise. He found in himself such a degree of strength in his feet and ankle-bones, that he did not steal up, with fear and trembling, as weak people do when they begin to recover strength; but he started up, as one refreshed with sleep, boldly, and with great agility, and as one that questioned not his own strength. The incomes of strength were sudden, and he no less sudden in shewing them. He leaped, as one glad to quit the bed or pad of straw on which he had lain so long lame.

2. He stood, and walked; he stood without either leaning or trembling, stood straight up, and walked without a staff; he trod strongly, and moved steadily; and this was to manifest the cure, and that it was a thorough cure. Note, Those who have had experience of the working of divine grace upon them, should evidence what they have experienced. Has God put strength into us? Let us stand before him in the exercises of devotion, let us walk before him in all the instances of a religious conversation. Let us stand up resolutely for him, and walk cheerfully with him, and both in strength derived and received from him.

3. He held Peter and John, v. 11. We need not ask why he held them. I believe he scarcely knew himself: but it was in a transport of joy that he embraced them as the best benefactors he ever met with, and hung upon them to a degree of rudeness; he would not let them go forward, but would have them stay with him, while he published to all about him what God had done for him by them. Thus he testified his affection to them, he held them, and would not let them go. Some suggest that he clung to them for fear lest, if they should leave him, his lameness should return. Those whom God hath healed, love them whom he made instruments of their healing, and see the need of their further help.

4. He entered with them into the temple. His strong affection to them held them; but it should not hold them so fast as to keep them out of the temple, whither they were going to preach Christ. We should never suffer ourselves to be diverted by the most affectionate kindnesses of our friends, from going in the way of our duty. But if they will not stay with him, he is resolved to go with them, and the rather because they are going into the temple, whence he had been so long kept by his weakness and his begging. The impotent man whom Christ cured, was presently found in the temple, John 5. 14. He went into the temple, not only to offer up his praises and thanksgivings to God, but to hear more from the apostles of that Jesus in whose name he had been healed. Those that have experienced the power of Christ, should earnestly desire to grow in their acquaintance with Christ.

5. He was there walking, and leaping, and praising God. Note, The strength God has given us both in mind and body, should be made use of to his praise, and we should study how to honour him with it. Those that are healed in his name, must walk up and down in his name, and in his strength, Zech. 10. 12. This man, as soon as he could leap, leaped for joy in God, and praised him. Here was that scripture fulfilled, (Isa. 35. 6.) Then shall the lame man leap as a hart. Now that this man was newly cured, he was in this excess of joy and thankfulness. All true converts walk, and praise God; but perhaps young converts leap more in his praises.

VI. How the people that were eye-witnesses of this miracle, were influenced by it, we are next told.

1. They were entirely satisfied in the truth of the miracle, and had nothing to object against it. They knew it was he that sat begging at the Beautiful gate of the temple, v. 10. He had sat there so long, that they all knew him; and for that reason he was chosen to be the vessel of this mercy. Now they were not so perverse as to make any doubt whether he was the same man, as the Pharisees had questiened concerning the blind man that Christ cured, John 9. 11. They now saw him walking, and praising God, (v. 9.) and perhaps took notice of a change in his mind: for he was now as loud in praising God as he had used to be in begging relief. The best evidence that it was a complete cure, was, that he praised God for it. Mercies are then perfected, when they are sanctified.

2. They admired at it; they were filled with wonder and amazement, (v. 10.) greatly wondering, v. 11. They were in an ecstasy. There seems to be this effect of the pouring out of the Spirit, that the people, at least those in Jerusalem, were more affected with the miracles the apostles wrought than they had been with those of the same kind that had been wrought by Christ himself; and this was in order to the miracles answering their end.

3. They gathered about Peter and John; All the people ran together unto them in Solomon's porch: some, only to gratify their curiosity with the sight of men that had such power; others, with a desire to hear them preach, concluding that their doctrine must needs be of divine original, which thus had a divine ratification. They flocked to them in Solomon's porch, a part of the court of the Gentiles, where Solomon had built the outer porch of the temple. Or, it was some cloisters or piazzas which Herod had erected upon the same foundation which Solomon had built that stately porch upon, that bore his name; Herod being ambitious herein to be a second Solomon. Here the people met, to see this great sight.

12. And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? Or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? 13. The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. 14. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; 15. And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. 16. And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. 17. And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. 18. But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. 19. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the