Facts Are Stubborn Things

by David Gibson

A Miracle No One Could Question

It was a double miracle: a man lame from birth was healed instantly and could immediately walk without having to learn to walk. No lengthy rehabilitation. It was as if he’d never been lame a day in his life.

Naturally, the crowds “were filled with amazement” (Acts 3:10-11 NASB). They had seen this man begging at the temple gate many times, so no one could say, “Aw, this is just a stage trick. This man was only pretending to be lame. It’s all a hoax!”

The indisputable authenticity of the healing lent great credibility to what Peter preached to the gathered crowd. He referred to “this man whom you see and know” (Acts 3:16). He gave full credit for the miracle to the power of Christ, who had healed many lame people during His ministry. So even after returning to heaven, He was still working miracles on earth!

A Miracle Too Obvious to Deny

The message Peter preached included the resurrection of Christ. That didn’t sit well with the Sadducees, who denied the possibility of resurrection (Acts 23:6-8). Peter and John were then jailed for preaching an abundantly confirmed fact.

When brought before the Sanhedrin the next day, Peter explained that this miracle was done “by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead” (Acts 4:10). “And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply” (Acts 4:14). Here right before their eyes was Exhibit A of the power of the resurrected Christ. What an inconvenient fact!

The rulers then went into a huddle. “For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it” (Acts 4:16). Oh, how they would have loved to deny it if only they could!

But “facts are stubborn things.”