My friends and neighbors listen to me, what I'm going to tell you is true

It happened only a month ago, my whole life was changed anew,

My father and mother were shunned by their friends for having a child like me

For they were convinced my parents had sinned, their child was crippled you see,

I felt their pain and I felt their shame but there was nothing I could do

I was trapped in a body that could not move as my hopelessness grew and grew,

When I was old enough, I would beg for alms where they lay me at the gate

If there was some kind soul to gift me some, that was the day I ate,

Some time before I had overheard talk, that God had sent His Son

But no one would stop to talk to me, for I was the "crippled one,"

So day after day I would lay and beg, there at the Beautiful Gate

And day after day I had absorbed such ridicule and hate

That after some time I began to despair, and wish for the end of life

I had even asked a soldier to stop, and slay me with his knife,

All he did was laugh at me and with his companions joke

That I was not worth the time it would take to get out his sword and poke,

When the two men came walking up, I had heard their joyful step

And I heard them talking about feeling such love, from the company they kept,

Without looking their way I called to them, hoping alms to beg

I imagined them looking me up and down, at my arms and withered legs,

"Some silver or gold," I pleaded, "for a sad, poor, soul like me?"

With a strange, loving voice he commanded, "Look up so your eyes can see."

There was a light in his eyes, a smile on his face, and love in his calming voice

That all at once filled me with hope, and asked me to make a choice,

"Silver or gold, we have none, but what we have, we give"

From the first word the man had uttered, I knew I wanted to live,

"Rise up from your bed and walk," he said, "in the name of Jesus Christ."

And without even looking, I knew I was whole, for the first time in my life,

He helped me to feet that held me up, no longer withered and bent

Great tears of joy and laughter came out, for these men were heaven sent,

I threw my arms around them and embraced them with my love

And as we walked they told me about, my Savior from above,

I laughed and lept and ran about, I must have looked a sight

But I simply couldn't help it, my whole life was set aright,

And then a peculiar thing happened, the people were looking at me

Not out of disgust and loathing, but with wondrous curiosity,

So Peter and John boldly told them the simple gospel truth

That Jesus died and rose again, offering them verbal proof,

I thought I knew human nature, but the Sanhedrin were really peeved

The fact I was healed in Jesus' name was cause for them to grieve?

Why couldn't they see that God was in this, and that he bestowed such love

Why couldn't they admit their sin like I did, and turn to the Savior above?

I felt like calling and yelling at them, "Why is it your eyes can not see?"

Why have you arrested Peter and John with such evidence present in me?

But instead I called to the crowd as it waited to see what would happen to them

"Did you see the work performed by God through the hand of his servant men?

Turn you this day from your wicked ways, put your faith in Jesus above

And He will display His power in you because of His boundless love."

Soon they released Peter and John, after threatening bodily harm

And they eagerly spoke loud to the crowd, showing no alarm,

Five thousand souls listened to them and eagerly glanced at me

They accepted Christ that day and they, now are totally free,

That very day I vowed to tell everyone who'd hear

So I tell you my friends, listen well, soon Jesus will appear!