One day
Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in
the afternoon. Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried
to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from
those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John
about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him,
as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man
gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Acts 3:1-5
Not
always. Peter and John encountered a man
who could not walk. When the man saw Peter
and John he asked for money, not healing.
Then Peter
said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name
of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand,
he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped
to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts,
walking and jumping, and praising God. Acts 3:6-8
The man
did not ask for healing nor did he say he had the faith to be healed. God just healed him. The purpose wasn’t to only heal the man but
to get the people in the town excited about God. God will heal for his own purposes, despite
our faith, but always to increase the faith of others.