In the early days of the Christian church, Peter and John were devoted followers of Jesus Christ. One day, they went to the temple in Jerusalem. There, they encountered a man who had been lame from birth. He sat by the temple gate, hoping to receive alms. Peter looked at him and said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” Immediately, the man’s feet and ankle bones received strength. He stood up, walked, and entered the temple with them, praising God.
The people in the temple were amazed to see the man, who they knew had been lame, now walking and leaping. Peter and John took the opportunity to preach about Jesus, explaining that it was through faith in Jesus that the man had been healed. As they spoke, a crowd gathered, and the religious leaders and temple guards became concerned. They arrested Peter and John, fearing that their teachings would disturb the people and challenge their authority.
The next day, Peter and John were brought before the Sanhedrin, the highest council of Jewish leaders. They were questioned about the healing and the authority by which they acted. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, boldly declared, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a man who is lame, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him this man is standing before you well.”
The council was astonished at the boldness of Peter and John, especially considering that they were uneducated men. They recognized that the healing was a genuine miracle and that the people were convinced by the power of Jesus’ name. The leaders did not want to punish them, fearing a backlash from the crowd. Instead, they warned Peter and John to stop speaking in the name of Jesus.
But Peter and John replied, “We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” The council could not find any way to deal with them, so they released them. Peter and John returned to their fellow believers and shared what had happened. The early church continued to grow, and the message of Jesus spread despite the opposition they faced.