Acts 3:12-16: a reflection

12When Peter saw it, he responded to the people, “You men of Israel, why do you marvel at this man? Why do you fasten your eyes on us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him walk? 13The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had determined to release him. 14But you denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, to which we are witnesses. 16By faith in his name, his name has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which is through him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

After a lame man is healed at the temple gate, a crowd gathers, amazed, staring at Peter and John as though they had done it. But Peter immediately deflects the credit. Why do you stare at us, he asks, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him walk? It was not us, but God, who glorified his servant Jesus; and it was by faith in Jesus' name that this man was made strong. Peter refuses to take the credit, pointing the crowd away from himself and to God and to Christ.

Notice how quickly Peter deflects the credit. The crowd was ready to marvel at Peter and John, to give them the glory for the healing; and Peter at once turns their eyes away from himself. It was not our doing, he insists; it was God who acted, through faith in Jesus' name. He would not accept the glory that belonged to God; he pointed the crowd past himself to the One who had really done it. He was jealous for God's glory, not his own.

That refusal to take credit for what God does is worth learning. When God works through us, and others are impressed, we can be tempted to accept the credit, to enjoy the admiration, to let the glory rest on ourselves. But Peter deflected it at once, pointing to God and to Christ. When God works through you, and others are ready to credit you, do as Peter did: deflect the credit, and point them to God. Do not take for yourself the glory that belongs to God; when others would credit you for what God has done, turn their eyes to him, as Peter turned the crowd from himself to Christ. It is God who works; let him have the glory, and be quick, as Peter was, to point others past yourself to the One who really acts.

Lord, after the lame man was healed, the crowd stared at Peter and John as though they had done it; but Peter at once deflected the credit, asking, why do you stare at us as though by our own power we made him walk? It was you who glorified your servant Jesus, and by faith in his name the man was made strong. Teach me that refusal to take credit for what you do. When you work through me, and others are impressed, I can be tempted to accept the credit, to enjoy the admiration, to let the glory rest on myself. But Peter deflected it at once, pointing to you and to Christ. When you work through me, and others are ready to credit me, help me do as Peter did: deflect the credit, and point them to you. Keep me from taking for myself the glory that belongs to you; when others would credit me for what you have done, help me turn their eyes to you, as Peter turned the crowd from himself to Christ. It is you who work; let you have the glory, and make me quick, as Peter was, to point others past myself to you, who really act. Keep me from stealing your glory, Lord.