em. The minute they make trouble--arrest them!
We can do whatever we want then."

Just before the hour of prayer the following afternoon, Peter and John
entered the Temple with the worshipers who were streaming from the city.
To the two disciples it seemed a long time since Jesus had been there,
but nothing was changed. The row of slender columns which enclosed the
inner court was majestic in the afternoon sunlight. Words of Moses,
carved in the stone of the Beautiful Gate, invited every Jew to enter
for prayer. There were no money-changers there. Since Jesus had driven
them out, neither they nor the sellers of animals had tried to come
back.

Two men carrying a cripple on a litter passed Peter and John. The
disciples had seen him before, begging money from all who walked by. His
helpers placed him near the Beautiful Gate as Peter and John climbed up
the steps toward him. The beggar looked at them, smiled, and held out
his hand. "Will you give a little money to a lame man?" he asked.

Peter and John stopped in front of the man. He was a miserable
sight--dirty, ragged, and thin from hunger. His bony legs were paralyzed
and useless.

"Look at us!" commanded Peter. The beggar looked at them expectantly.
"We do not have any money," said Peter, "but we will give you what we do
have! By the power of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, stand up and walk!"
Peter stooped and pulled the man to his feet.

People had turned at the sound of Peter's voice. The beggar was standing
alone! The man looked at his feet; then, utterly amazed, took a cautious
step. The trumpet sounded from the roof of the Temple, calling the
people to prayer, but none paid any attention; they rushed toward the
beggar to see what had happened. Swiftly Peter led the man toward the
outer part of the Temple courtyard. The people crowded after Peter.

At the trumpet signal the high priest left the council chamber and
entered the rear gate of the inner court. How strange! The Temple was
deserted! Two other priests came into the court. "What has happened?"
they asked, baffled. "Where are the people?"

Through the columns, the high priest saw people running. "Look!" he
exclaimed. He turned and waved to several burly guards in the uniform of
the high priest's palace. "We need you here!" They followed the priests
toward the sound of the crowd.

People were pushing forward to catch a glimpse of the beggar clinging to
the two disciples. Peter raised his hands and cried