The Only Reaction

Acts 3:8 And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.

8 καὶ ἐξαλλόμενος ἔστη καὶ περιεπάτει καὶ εἰσῆλθεν σὺν αὐτοῖς εἰς τὸ ἱερὸν περιπατῶν καὶ ἁλλόμενος καὶ αἰνῶν τὸν θεόν.

This man was sitting at the temple begging.  He had to beg because he had no means of support.  He had problems with his feet and ankles.  Therefore, he could not work.  I think it's safe to say that he was not educated as a Scribe so he could basically have a cushy desk job.  He had to beg.  Peter did not give him alms, but he did give him the use of his legs and feet.  This verse shows us how he reacted.  He ἐξαλλόμενος or "leaped up."  It's translated "leaping" because it is a participle.  The word ἁλλόμενος used later is the same word minus the εκ prefix.  He was simply leaping rather than "leaping up."

This passage certainly shows the power of God over sickness.  However, I also think that it shows us the proper reaction to contact with God.  The biblical view of man is quite low.  Spiritually-speaking, we are like this man.  We are unable to walk on our own.  We cannot get up.  All we can do is beg for grace.  To those of us who are Christians God in His mercy gave us His grace.

What is your reaction to this?  Do you just take it in stride like nothing happened?  Does it change the way you life your life?  Is your life basically the same, but now you've added Jesus to it so you can punch your ticket to heaven?  Or is your reaction like this paralytic?  Are you effectively leaping and praising?  I'm not saying that your reaction needs to look like this, but in a spiritual sense it should not be far off.

If you don't have some form of "leaping and praising God," then do you really understand what salvation is all about?  I would say no.