Peter’s first care was to arouse the man.  “Look on us!” The man’s attention was commanded.  All his life he had been training to know faces, to know who would give and who would not give, who would not give if others were looking, and who would give at the gate of the Temple, dropping the coin as into an alms box, without any regard to the want of the beggar.  One glance at the frank face of Peter tells him he is about to receive something.  That is a man to be trusted.  This is a good beginning.  Trust in Peter maybe the first step to trust in Christ.  But many rest at the earliest stage, believing the messenger, but not coming into personal relations with Christ.  Many persons wish to be better than they are, and are prepared to do much and sacrifice much in order to attain to a satisfactory spiritual state.  What is lacking is personal appeal to Christ.  They must recognise, with a conviction wrought in their own mind, that Jesus Christ is the source of spiritual power, and they must for themselves, appeal directly to Him.

The boldness with which Peter forms or, it might almost be said, forces this personal relation to Christ in the case of this man is surprising.  Without a moment’s hesitation or inquiry as to whether the man’s faith is quickened, Peter cries, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk,” taking him by the right hand and lifting him up.  Peter could not confer health upon the man in spite of his state of mind.  If the man had so chosen he might have continued to lie where he was, a cripple.  But simultaneously with Peter’s faith and authoritative command, the man’s own faith was quickened.  He believed that in this name, that is, at the command and in the strength of Christ, he could get up; and he arose.  It was the contagious confidence of Peter which begat faith in the lame beggar’s spirit.  And there could not be a more instructive instance of the suddenness with which a human being can be brought into saving relation to Christ.  When Peter began his sentence the lame man had no faith, yet he boldly said to him, “In the name of Jesus Christ arise and walk.”  Men may always thus be summoned to believe on the spot and to act out the commands of Christ.

But in order that such a summons be effectual, two qualities in the apostle are needful.  He must not fear failure or rebuff.  He must have that humility which seeks the good of others regardless of its own reputation.  So long as we fear to expose our own feelings, and to show that we are deeply concerned about the welfare of another person, we shall do little in the way of inspiring faith.  Our mouth is kept shut by the fear of fruitlessly exposing our feelings.  We are not sure how our advances will be received.  We have not, the loving humility which braves risks to self.