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Look at the miracle in the light of what has just taken place. There is great enthusiasm in the Church. The Divine life is, so to speak, at its highest point. We should consider, confining ourselves within the limits of the Church, that the age of human unity and love had come in all its golden glory. We are now invited to go beyond the Church line, and at our very first step we find a man who appeals to our sympathy in his pain and helplessness. See how world lies within world, and how misleading are all the inferences drawn from a limited set of facts.

1. The man who has access to every means of mental and spiritual culture may think all the world as highly privileged as himself.

2. The healthy and prosperous family may forget that other households are afflicted and depressed. Look beyond your own sphere. You have not far to look; there is but a step between thee and the world which is either higher or lower than thine own. The lesson has a double application; the prosperous man is to look down that he may help; the unsuccessful man is to look up that he may hope.

I. THE SOCIAL SIDE of this incident.

1. We may be able to carry the cripple when we are unable to heal him. Do what you can. Human helplessness is a continual appeal to human power. There are secondary services in life. We cannot always do the great deed; nor can we always stand in the full light, that we may be seen of men. Sometimes we can only carry. We cannot restore.

2. The commonest minds, as well as the highest, have always associated the idea of charity with that of religion. This is right. This is a high compliment to any form of religion. See how it has been paid to Christianity above all! The theology that has no philanthropy is its own vain god.

3. Look at the compensations of the poorest life. The man was carried daily by friendly hands, and had the temple as his daily hope. The sun shines even on the poorest lot.

II. THE APOSTOLIC SIDE.

1. The apostles never attempted to do without public worship. Such worship has its distinct advantages.

(1) Provocation of thought.

(2) Development of sympathy.

2. They. never neglected human want in their anxiety to render Divine worship. Some people are one-sidedly religious.

3. They never attended even to physical necessities in their own name.Conclusion: The incident suggests two questions.

1. Are we too pious to be philanthropic?

2. Has the name of Jesus lost its power?

(J. Parker, D. D.)

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KJV: Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

WEB: Peter and John were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.