2013.11.03 Acts 3:1- 11
Healed by God´s grace
Good morning! I´m glad you´re here…… Here at CC Wiesbaden
we teach through the Bible verse by verse…. We need to see the big picture of
our great God ….. and our redeemer the Lord Jesus Christ…. As we look at this
text this morning I want to remind us of something that Luke wrote in chapter
2….. Acts 2: 43….
Acts
2: 43 NKJV Schlachter 2000
43
Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through
the apostles.
43 Es kam aber Furcht über alle
Seelen, und viele Wunder und Zeichen geschahen durch die Apostel.
Luke told us that signs and wonders were performed by the
Apostles…. Here in our text for today we have an example…. V1…. We see that
this lame man was seated at the gate of the temple…... It was the Beautiful
Gate…. As Peter and John went up to the temple to pray….. they found him there……
Acts
3: 1- 11 NKJV
1
Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the
ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom
they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask
alms from those who entered the temple; 3 who, seeing Peter and John about to
go into the temple, asked for alms. 4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John,
Peter said, “Look at us.” 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive
something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but
what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and
walk.” 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately
his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 So he, leaping up, stood and
walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 9
And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 Then they knew that it was
he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were
filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. 11 Now as the lame man who was healed held
on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is
called Solomon’s, greatly amazed.
Acts 3:1- 11 Schlachter 2000
1 Petrus und Johannes gingen aber miteinander in den
Tempel hinauf um die neunte Stunde1, da man zu beten pflegte.
2 Und es wurde ein Mann herbeigebracht, der lahm war von
Mutterleib an, den man täglich an die Pforte des Tempels hinsetzte, die man
»die Schöne« nennt, damit er ein Almosen erbitten konnte von denen, die in den
Tempel hineingingen.
3 Als dieser Petrus und Johannes sah, die in den Tempel
hineingehen wollten, bat er sie um ein Almosen.
4 Da blickte ihn Petrus zusammen mit Johannes an und
sprach: Sieh uns an!
5 Er aber achtete auf sie in der Erwartung, etwas von
ihnen zu empfangen.
6 Da sprach Petrus: Silber und Gold habe ich nicht; was
ich aber habe, das gebe ich dir: Im Namen Jesu Christi, des Nazareners, steh
auf und geh umher!
7 Und er ergriff ihn bei der rechten Hand und richtete
ihn auf; da wurden sogleich seine Füße und seine Knöchel fest,
8 und er sprang auf und konnte stehen, lief umher und
trat mit ihnen in den Tempel, ging umher und sprang und lobte Gott.
9 Und alles Volk sah, wie er umherging und Gott lobte.
10 Und sie erkannten auch, daß er derjenige war, der um
des Almosens willen an der Schönen Pforte des Tempels gesessen hatte; und sie
wurden mit Verwunderung und Erstaunen erfüllt über das, was mit ihm geschehen
war.
11 Da sich aber der geheilte Lahme zu Petrus und Johannes
hielt, lief alles Volk voll Erstaunen bei ihnen zusammen in der sogenannten
Halle Salomos.
The early New Testament church went to the temple
everyday……. They went to worship the Lord….. They went to pray…… They went to
proclaim the Good News….
Peter and John were close friends…… They had been
fishermen together when Jesus called them to himself…. They were part of Jesus´ inner circle….
Peter does all the talking….. Peter was the chosen
instrument of God to preach the gospel to the Jews….. And John was his
companion….. There were three Jewish hours of prayer…... The third, the sixth,
and the ninth hour…… Approx. 9 o'clock,
12 o'clock and 3 o'clock….. The ninth hour was 3:00 in the afternoon…... And
this was the time of the evening sacrifice and the evening prayers….. Peter
and John went to the Temple every day….. The greek says that they were
continually there…. We read that in Acts2:
46…..
"they were
continually daily with one accord in the temple."
The children of Israel had always had these three hours
of prayer…... Daniel 6:10
tells us that Daniel observed them……. In Psalm 55:17 David tells us that there
were three times observed by the Jews for prayer….. It was a natural part of
their lives….
So they went to the temple for the time of prayer and It was full of people….. Peter and John entered the temple compound
through the Gate Beautiful…..
The Temple treasury was by the gate beautiful….. The
people came there to offer sacrifices and to pray…. and often to give into the
treasury…… This was a perfect place to come to as a beggar…. And the
true worshippers….. the truly godly ones would very likely to give alms….
Acts 3 verse 2…..
Acts
3: 2 NKJV Schlachter 2000
2
And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily
at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who
entered the temple;
2 Und es wurde ein Mann herbeigebracht, der lahm war von
Mutterleib an, den man täglich an die Pforte des Tempels hinsetzte, die man
»die Schöne« nennt, damit er ein Almosen erbitten konnte von denen, die in den
Tempel hineingingen.
The
lame man is carried there….. This Greek verb is in the imperfect tense…. That means he was
habitually being carried there…. He was 40 years old…. Who knows how many of
those years he had been carried there…..
He was lame from
birth…. In those days…. The fact that this man was born lame was taken as a
sign that either he or his parents were great sinners….He was treated as an
outcast…. His life was very hard….. I would say impossible to bear…. Can you
imagine what that would be like…. To be born with such a difficult future…… Why did God allow this to happen to him…?
This passage reminds me of earlier in Jesus´ ministry…. Jesus
passed by a blind man and the disciples asked Jesus who sinned…. Turn with me
to John 9….v1…
John
9: 1-3 NKJV
1Now
as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And
His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents,
that he was born blind?
3 Jesus
answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God
should be revealed in him.
John 9: 1-3
Schlachter 2000
1 Und als er vorbeiging, sah er einen Menschen, der blind
war von Geburt an.
2 Und seine Jünger fragten ihn und sprachen: Rabbi, wer
hat gesündigt, so daß dieser blind geboren ist, er oder seine Eltern?
3 Jesus antwortete: Weder dieser hat gesündigt noch seine
Eltern; sondern an ihm sollten die Werke Gottes offenbar werden!
The disciples asked why
did this happen to him, but they thought they knew the answer….. They
were sure that the source was sin in someone´s life…… Jesus´ answer….. This happened so the power
of God could be seen in him….. The Lord Jesus then healed him…… The blind
beggar became a great witness to the power and mercy of God….. God heals some….
Even today…. We know that God heals some….. But it always His sovereign
choice….. He know´s what is best….. Everything is done according to His perfect
plan and purpose……. These two beggars were healed by the power of God and in
their healing…… They Glorified God with their lives…..God used their
transformed bodies to tough hearts and lives for His Glory….. Wonderful grace
and mercy poured out to bless and heal and save…. But what about those who are
not healed….?
That can also be to the Glory of God…..
In fact there are times and people who Glorify God
powerfully in the middle of their physical handicaps….. I think of Joni Erickson-Tada….. Paralyzed since she
was 17…. She has been mightily used of God for many years….. Today there is
an amazing man whose name is Nick
Vujicic….. Nick was born in Australia without arms and legs…. Can you
imagine that….? When he was 10 years
old…. he tried to kill himself….. He couldn´t….. He
said God had a plan for his life…… He
cried out to Jesus and was miraculously saved…. Today he travels all over the
world…. proclaiming the Good News….. Testifying of God´s love and mercy to millions
on Youtube alone….…. He sings a song…. It´s called Something More…… It´s
worth watching if your feeling hopeless…… He is filled with the Joy in the midst of circumstances that
only Jesus can give…. His life is testimony to the truth that Jesus still heals Broken hearts and lives…. Nick is living proof
of the miracle working power of God at work today….. even though he still
doesn´t have any arms or legs…. He leads crusades all over the world…
With
our natural eyes when we look at Joni and Nick…. we see broken bodies and
hopeless lives….
2
Broken bodies….. Hopeless…. ? No not at all….. Their
broken hearts were healed….. and they were transformed and are being mightily
used by God….
Today I know that there are some of us who feel
hopeless…… We have very difficult lives…. We are discouraged…. You see we focus
on our problems….. and not on our great
redeemer…….. Jesus….. Jesus continues to transforms hearts and lives ……
Miracles are still happening today…. Jesus is ready to forgive and transform and save…. Today…. right now….. Do you know Him….. He will
forgive you… He will heal your broken heart….. He will redeem the wasted years
and wipe away all of our tears of pain and sorrow…. He will comfort and
help you….
One of the great scripture passages in the Word of God is 2 Cor 1…. Paul gives us
a tremendous description of our Heavenly
Father… turn with me to 2 Cor 1…..
2
Corinthians 1: 3-5 NKJV
3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies
and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may
be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we
ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us,
so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
2 Corinthians 1: 3-5 Schlachter 2000
3 Gelobt sei der Gott und Vater unseres Herrn Jesus
Christus, der Vater der Barmherzigkeit und Gott alles Trostes,
4 der uns tröstet in all unserer Bedrängnis, damit
wir die trösten können, die in allerlei Bedrängnis sind, durch den Trost, mit
dem wir selbst von Gott getröstet werden.
5 Denn wie die Leiden des Christus sich reichlich
über uns ergießen, so fließt auch durch Christus reichlich unser Trost.
Our great God is the
God of all Comfort….
He comforts us in all of our hard times …. God performed
the greatest miracles in them and through them…… In the middle of their
sufferings and sorrows…. They were given hearts of Flesh…. The miracle that
they so desperately needed was a new heart….. This ministry of comfort and
encouragement has been given to us… We are
called to love and comfort a lost and dying world by proclaiming the Good
News….. By comforting our brothers and sisters….. These things are also
part of true Koininia….
Back
to our text for today… Acts 3.3…
This beggar was carried to the Temple gates every day….
He was well known….. After so many years it could be that they
didn´t even notice him anymore as they went in and out….
Acts
3:3 NKJV Schlachter 2000
3
who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.
3 Als dieser Petrus und Johannes sah, die in den Tempel
hineingehen wollten, bat er sie um ein Almosen.
Now
he is asking for a little money…. All this man could do was beg for help from
God´s people….. That means that if he had family they were not supporting
him….. He was dependent on the giving of the Temple worshippers for his daily
bread…. I´m sure that most days he received a little money…. Enough to get by… Today
will change everything for him….. Because God in His sovereignty will pour
grace out on his life…… And He will miraculously heal him in an instant…… He will use Peter and John as
His instruments to bless this poor beggar beyond his wildest dreams….
That's
the scene…..
Let's look at the
miracle itself…... There are some things that we can learn from this miracle…...
First…. it was
unexpected….. But isn't that how God's grace always comes…..?
It's never what you think it's going to be…… This man had
no thoughts of ever being healed….. The most that he could hope for was enough
money to get by….. But God had other plans for this man…… We have a great and
merciful heavenly Father….. His is able to do great and powerful wonders….. We
cannot even imagine what he can do…. Turn to Ephesians 3… v20
Ephesians
3: 20 NKJV
Schlachter 2000
20
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or
think, according to the power that works in us,
20 Dem aber, der weit über die Maßen mehr zu tun
vermag, als wir bitten oder verstehen, gemäß der Kraft, die in uns wirkt,
It is certain that this man never imagined the miracle
that was soon to happen….
What happened next was totally unexpected…. Verse 4…
Acts 3: 4
NKJV Schlachter 2000
4 Da blickte ihn Petrus zusammen mit Johannes an und
sprach: Sieh uns an!
4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John,
Peter said, “Look at us.”
This is a sovereign act of God here….. I don't know how many beggars Peter and John saw
every day in Jerusalem….. but I'm sure there were many….. But God chose to heal
this man at this moment for God´s own sovereign purpose….. The miracle was
unexpected because the miracle was sovereign…... It was God choosing to do it…..
Verse
5,
Acts
3:5 NKJV Schlachter 2000
5 So
he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.
5 Er aber achtete auf sie in der Erwartung, etwas von
ihnen zu empfangen.
He looked for money and what he got was an unexpected
miracle…. I love verse 6…. These verses form a song that we used to sing way
back in the einfach vergangenheit…. The Jesus people day s of the early 1970´s…
Acts
3: 6 NKJV Schlachter 2000
6
Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you:
In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
6 Da sprach Petrus: Silber und Gold habe ich nicht; was
ich aber habe, das gebe ich dir: Im Namen Jesu Christi, des Nazareners, steh
auf und geh umher!
He heard what they said and I'm sure he sensed the power
of God moving in his life……
He never dreamed this would happen….. But you see that's
how the sovereignty of God is….. God
reaches into his heart and redeems it….. and a miracle happens that he
never dreamed possible…….
Wasn't
that how it was with you when you met Christ? Something happened
far beyond what you ever imagined…. Life became fuller than ever you dreamed it
could be…..
Notice that it was in the name of Jesus Christ of
Nazareth, rise up and walk….. It is as if Peter said because of who the Lord Christ
is…. By His authority and power,
rise up and walk…..
They were acting in the place of and for the Lord Jesus
Christ…..
That´s what every
spirit filled Christian should do….. verse7…
Acts
3:7 NKJV Schlachter 2000
7
And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet
and ankle bones received strength.
7 Und er ergriff ihn bei der rechten Hand und richtete
ihn auf; da wurden sogleich seine Füße und seine Knöchel fest,
This man´s healing was total and instantaneous…. That´s
exactly the way it was with Jesus….. People were healed completely and
instantly…. So Peter reached down and lifted him up….. "And immediately his feet and ankle
bones received strength."
The Lord´s
miracles of healing are always instant….. There is no natural process involved…..
They are instant creative acts…..
Peter was available to be used by Christ….. He was
sensitive to the Holy Spirit…. He reaches down and picks him up……
The healing power was the Lord´s…. But the helping hand
was Peter's…..
That´s exactly what God wants to do in our lives…. He
wants us to be sensitive to the Holy
Spirit and move to the needs all around us….. He ministers to the people
through us……... The greatest ability
that we have to offer is availability…. In fact the only things that we
have to offer the Lord…. Are our willingness and our availability….
That's
how we are to minister…... We make ourselves available and God supplies the
needs supernaturally…. I wonder if we're as sensitive to people as
Peter and John were…. Are we available to be used by God to lift them up…..
Last week we talked for a long time about Koininia….. The
deep fellowship that is represented by this word includes doing life together….
Helping each other…..
Sometimes we come in and out of this place….. And
we have not been sensitive to anybody around us……. Do we really look to help
each other….ß or are we too busy…… Are just saying….. God bless you…. See you
next time….
We are surrounded by people with broken lives
and broken hearts…… There are lonely people….. There are hurting people…..
There are people who are paralysed with
fear and doubt…… They are going through difficult trials….. and they're searching for love and healing…. and they're searching for a hand to lift them
up….. If we are truly walking in the Spirit….
The love of Jesus cause us to give them a hand….. To minister to them…. To bare their burdens…
And so often we come into this place for an hour and a
half…. And then we´re out the door and
we're really being insensitive…… I mean, do you know who's around you? Maybe
you said hi to them this morning….. when we had a minute for you to do that….. Do
you care? I mean, do you know that maybe somebody is here that God wants you to
minister to….. A word of comfort….. A listening ear followed by prayer for
their needs…. Remember last week we talked about the responsibilities of
fellowship….. We have so much ministry that we can do for to each other….. When
we´re walking in the Spirit and making ourselves available…. God will use us to lift up our brothers and
sisters…. God doesn´t want us to just come to church…. He doesn´t want our money…… He wants us to be Ministering and caring and loving and being
sensitive to each other….. That's what God wants.....
So Peter took his hand…. had time for him and lifted him
up…... And God did the miracle…….
Remember God's miracles are always instant…. The miracle was also complete…. He didn´t have
to learn to walk…. He didn´t start off with baby steps….. v8….
Acts
3: 8 NKJV Schlachter 2000
8 So
he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking,
leaping, and praising God. 8 und er sprang auf und konnte stehen, lief umher
und trat mit ihnen in den Tempel, ging umher und sprang und lobte Gott.
Notice how fast he starts walking….. This man has never
walked in his life…… and he entered with him into the temple, walking and
leaping and praising God……
I believe God heals through medicine….. I believe God
uses doctors…… I believe God has given us wisdom to perceive and to find these
wonderful tools that we have today to heal…... When God decides to do a
supernatural miracle….. if you want to check Him in the word of God, you'll
find they always have four characteristics….. They were sovereign….. they were impossible
to explain….. they were instant….. and they were completely sufficient…...
That's a good checklist for a genuine miracle….. This man
born unable to walk was overwhelmed…. Walking
and leaping and Praising God! What a scene…. Verse 9….
Acts
3: 9,10 NKJV Schlachter 2000
9
And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 Then they knew that it
was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were
filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
9 Und alles Volk sah, wie er umherging und Gott lobte. 10
Und sie erkannten auch, daß er derjenige war, der um des Almosens willen an der
Schönen Pforte des Tempels gesessen hatte; und sie wurden mit Verwunderung und
Erstaunen erfüllt über das, was mit ihm geschehen war.
This guy was full of joy….. Can you imagine? Forty years
of begging and now he's up and jumping around….. And the whole temple echoes
his joy…..
Can't
you imagine? They
were all going through the evening sacrifice and prayer….. And all of sudden
this guy bursts in there and he's jumping and yelling all over everywhere….. You
can imagine the surprise of the people as they turned around and saw who it was
who making the scene and disturbing the
evening sacrifice……
God gives joy….. Even when we suffer very difficult
illnesses…. He pours grace and mercy
into our lives….. and He comforts us….. Jesus gave His joy to us….. John 15
v11….
John
15: 11 NKJV Schlachter 2000
11
“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that
your joy may be full.
11 Dies habe ich zu euch geredet, damit meine Freude in
euch bleibe und eure Freude völlig werde.
This is a great place for your quiet times…. Especially
if your going through a hard time ….. Jesus
says…. Abide in me….. Then even when you suffer…… I will give you my joy….
And my peace….
Paul wrote to the Philippians…. He told them to rejoice
no matter what was happening in their lives…. Phil 4:4….
Philippians
4: 4 NKJV Schlachter 2000
4
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
4 Freut euch im Herrn allezeit; abermals sage ich:
Freut euch!
Rejoicing in the Lord is part of genuine worship……
You want to really worship God…. worship God with a joyful
and thankful heart….. The first result of this instant miracle was joy in the healed
man…… Secondly, he praised God…... We saw that in verse 8 and 9. He was
praising God in verse 8 and he was praising God in verse 9…… He gave God the
glory…… That´s true worship…… True worship is praising God with a heart full of
joy…...
Worshipping God is giving Him praise from a heart full of
joy…… Worshipping God is loving and serving your brothers and sisters…..
Look again at Acts 3….v10….
Acts
3: 10 NKJV Schlachter 2000
10
Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the
temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to
him.
10 Und sie erkannten auch, daß er derjenige war, der um
des Almosens willen an der Schönen Pforte des Tempels gesessen hatte; und sie
wurden mit Verwunderung und Erstaunen erfüllt über das, was mit ihm geschehen
war.
What a shock for the people
that were there… They knew this man….. This was impossible….. This was
unbelievable….. He was born lame and unable to ever walk….. What has happened…..
.
How do you handle that problem? They couldn't understand
it…..
Now this was more than a miracle….. This was a sign…...
Listen to what I say……
This lame man…. Leaping in the temple was a sign to those who had eyes to see…. that
the messianic age had come…… Isaiah said in 35:6 "then shall the lame man leap as a deer," When? In the days
of the Messiah."
And here was the classic proof….. The lame man leaping and
praising God….….. Proof that the Messiah had come….. That is the purpose of the
miracle to produce wonder……
They were filled with wonder and amazement….. They were
ready to listen….. They wanted to understand what had happenend to this man…..
Who had healed him…. What does it mean….?
This miracle sets the stage for Peter´s next sermon….. Look
at verse 11….
Acts
3: 11 NKJV Schlachter 2000
11
Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people
ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed.
11 Da sich aber der geheilte Lahme zu Petrus und Johannes
hielt, lief alles Volk voll Erstaunen bei ihnen zusammen in der sogenannten
Halle Salomos.
God used this miracle to gather the crowd….. The
Temple goers were amazed at what had happened…… They were ready to listen
because they wanted to understand what had happened to this man…. Once again….
God miraculously drawed (drew) a crowd…… Bad grammar but easy to translate….
And Peter
began to preach….. And I want you to notice something cool….. They were in
an area of the Temple called Solomon's porch….. Jesus had stood there and given the great lesson on the Good Shepherd
in John 10…... So Peter and John slid into Solomon's porch with all the
people massed and jammed in there to hear them explain what had happened…. And
look who's up there on the platform with them?
The lame man was with them….. Can't you just see this
guy? Living proof of a miracle and he's right there between Peter and John,
right in the middle of Solomon's porch…... They've got a living illustration of
the miraculous…. Life transforming power
of God….. He's hanging on to them….. They're hanging on to him….. Peter begins
to preach…..
What did Peter say? Come back next week and you'll find
out….. Today we need to close
Close
As we travel through time with Luke….we are witnessing
the birth of the Church…. We are seeing Koininia in action…. This true
fellowship includes loving and serving each other…. Doing life together…. We are
called to help and encourage each other…. Paul has a Good word for us to take
home this morning…
turn with me to Romans 12… v9…
Romans
12: 9-15 NLT
9
Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold
tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take
delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the
Lord enthusiastically.
12
Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13
When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to
practice hospitality.
14
Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.
15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.
Romans 12: 9-15
Neues Leben
9 Täuscht nicht nur vor, andere zu lieben, sondern liebt
sie wirklich. Hasst alles Böse und stellt euch auf die Seite des Guten.
10 Liebt einander mit aufrichtiger Zuneigung4 und habt
Freude daran, euch gegenseitig Achtung zu erweisen.
11 Werdet nicht nachlässig, sondern lasst euch ganz vom
Geist erfüllen5 und setzt euch für den Herrn ein.
12 Freut euch auf alles, was Gott für euch bereithält.
Seid geduldig, wenn ihr schwere Zeiten durchmacht, und hört niemals auf zu
beten.
13 Wenn andere Gläubige in Not geraten, steht ihnen zur Seite
und helft ihnen. Seid gastfreundlich und öffnet für Gäste euer Haus.
14 Wenn ihr verfolgt werdet, weil ihr zu Christus gehört,
dann verflucht eure Verfolger nicht, sondern erbittet den Segen Gottes für sie.
15 Sind andere Menschen glücklich, dann freut euch mit
ihnen. Sind sie traurig, dann begleitet sie in ihrem Kummer.
Let's pray……
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