So Peter and John were going up into the Temple courts
at the hour of prayer,
the ninth hour. 1
And a certain lame man,
– (lame) from his mother’s womb
used to be carried up,
– whom was put there,
every day
by the gate of the Temple,
which is called ‘Beautiful’
to beg alms
from those entering into the Temple courts.
– who seeing Peter and John
about to enter into the Temple courts
began to ask them for alms.
Then Peter looked directly at him
– with John –
and said:
‘Look at us!’
So he looked at them,
expecting to receive something from them.
Then Peter said:
‘Silver and gold?
– I don’t have any.
But what I do have ,
this I give to you.
In the name of Jesus the Nazarene
[get up and] walk!’
And he took hold of him with his right hand
and he raised him up.
And at once
his feet and ankles
were made strong.
And he jumped up
and he stood
and walked
and went with them
into the Temple courts,
walking
and leaping
and praising God.
And all the people saw him
walking
and praising God.
They recognised him
as the one who used to sit
to beg alms
at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple
and they were filled with wonder
and amazement
at what had happened to him.
- Three O’clock ↩︎
Lord, you have given me so much,
I ask for one more thing –
a grateful heart.
George Herbert