Luke’s text does not state this explicitly. In reality, we do not know who asked the formerly lame man to appear alongside Peter and John. Nevertheless, several observations can be made.
After the healing, the man no longer leaves the two apostles:
“Now as the man held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch called Solomon’s, greatly amazed” (Acts 3.11).
When Peter and John were arrested, it is therefore likely that this man was also brought with them, or summoned later by the authorities to serve as a witness in the case. Concerning the appearance before the , Luke states:
“And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply” (Acts 4.14).
His presence is indeed irrefutable proof of the miracle. Further on, the members of the themselves acknowledge:
“A notable miracle has been done through them, evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it” (Acts 4.16).
It is therefore probable that the religious authorities wished to question him or, at the very least, judged it necessary to have him before their eyes during the investigation. Some commentators also think that he may have accompanied Peter and John of his own accord, out of gratitude and loyalty to those who had just healed him.
Ultimately, the text does not allow us to determine with certainty who took the initiative for his presence before the . His presence nonetheless remains an essential element of the account, for it made any challenge to the miracle impossible and placed the religious authorities in a particularly embarrassing position.