Why did the crippled man get healed? Was it because apostles had so much faith? Or was it the crippled man who had enough faith?
Peter’s answer to the bystanders was clear, and debunks current Word of Faith or “name-it, claim-it” theology:
“Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? … And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.” (Acts 3:12,16 ESV)
This healing didn’t happen because the apostles had so much power, or because they were so holy, or because they used the right incantation.
There is only one secret to what happened: “his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong”. It’s all about Jesus’ name.
In Hebrew thinking “the name” of the person is the person himself. So Jesus is the healer of the lame man here, not the apostles (although he definitely used these apostles!). This isn’t about using his name in some sort of magical incantation or as some kind of passcode to activate healing.
So how does “faith” come into the equation here? The Greek word for “faith” is pistis, which means believing loyalty. The apostles were walking around and ministering from their total loyalty, their total commitment to Jesus. They walked past that lame man as a representative of him, and the Lord stirred something in their heart to minister healing to this man.
But the bottom line is that it was Jesus who healed the lame man! Let’s always remember that when he pray with people for healing! Let us ASK in Jesus’ name, and not command God around! As Jesus himself said in John 14:13 (ESV):
“Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
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