Preaching on Solomon's Porch (Part 1)
"Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon's, greatly amazed. So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: 'Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Son Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all'" (Acts 3:11-16).

Nor surprisingly, this man who was healed from his lameness stayed close to Peter and John. A crowd quickly gathered, as a result of this incredible act, in an open walkway of the temple courtyard known as Solomon's Porch. Some had undoubtedly witnessed the healing personally (if they were at the right spot at the right time), but even those who only saw the result were fully persuaded. They knew this man had been unable to walk from birth. Seeing him jump around with strength and "perfect soundness" caused the crowd to be overcome with amazement.

Peter asked the people why they looked at him and John as if they worked the miracle by their own power or piety. This was a mild rebuke. They should have automatically concluded that God was responsible for the miracle. Peter then proceeds to convict the crowd of sin, similarly to how he had done on the day of Pentecost (e.g., Acts 2:22-24,36). He accuses them of several serious charges:

What a powerful message! Peter was not afraid to boldly tell the truth; he did not hold back what needed to be said! The facts he presented were undeniable. He also declared that God, in contrast to their wickedness, raised Him from the dead (which the apostles were witnesses of) and further glorified His Servant Jesus on this occasion by healing this lame man.

In Acts 3:16, Peter gives the credit to Jesus. The miracle was worked by the power and authority of Christ "through faith." But, whose faith is under consideration here? As we noted in our prior lesson, it certainly wasn't the faith of the lame man! There was no indication that he was expecting anything from Peter and John other than a monetary gift. The only other possibility is that it was the faith of Peter and John under consideration here. Without faith, Peter and John would not have been able to heal this man by the power of God. This is consistent with other passages that discuss faith as a requirement for one with spiritual gifts to work a miracle (cf. Luke 17:6; Matt. 14:28-31; 17:14-20). Of course, it should be understood that one lacking spiritual gifts from God will be unable to work any miracle, regardless of the strength of faith such a one possesses. This principle must be understood if one is to properly interpret Luke 17:6.