Peter And John At The Temple Gate Poem by Gert Strydom

At three o'clock in the afternoon
Peter and John were on their way to the temple
at the time that prayers were being said
and a man that had been born lame
was laid down to beg
at the entrance of the temple
and they just wanted to enter
when the man asked for a contribution.

Together Peter and John said:
'Look at us'
and expecting some money from them
the lame man looked at them.

Peter said to him: 'I do not have
any silver or gold
but what I do have
I am giving to you.

On authority of the name
of Jesus Christ of Nazareth
do rise up and walk'

and Peter took the man by the right hand
and immediately his feet and ankles were healed
and he leapt up,
walked up and down
and entered the temple with them
while a crowd that witnessed this
gathered at the Solomon's porch

and Peter said to the gathered people:
'why do you look at us
as if our own power or religiousness
caused this man to walk?

It is the God of our fathers
that has given godly glory to His Son
Jesus Christ
whom you have rejected
and delivered to Pontius Pilate
when he decided to release Him

and you denied the holy sincere and righteous One
and rather asked for a killer to be released to you,
did kill the life-giver, the Prince
but God did raise Him up from death.

The name of Jesus did heal and strengthen
the legs of this man
and by faith in the name of Jesus
this man is walking
and you do know how he had been born

and I know that by ignorance
you and your leaders did kill the Son of God
but Jesus did suffer as the prophets did predict
and do therefore repent and covert
that your sins may be blotted out
and times of refreshment may come.'

[Reference: Acts 3: 1-19.]