Bible Commentaries
Acts 3

Verses 1-26

The Lame Man Healed

1-26. Healing of the lame man. Speech of Peter. St. Luke here singles out from the multitude of ’wonders and signs done by the Apostles’ (Acts 2:43), the one which led to the first persecution.

1. The ninth hour] The hours of prayer were the third (Acts 2:15), when the morning sacrifice was offered; the sixth (noon); and the ninth, the time of the evening sacrifice.

2. Beautiful] This gate was of Corinthian brass. It faced the E., and its proper name was the Gate of Nicanor. ’Its height was fifty cubits, and its doors were forty cubits, and it was adorned in a more costly manner, having much richer and thicker plates of silver and gold than the others’ (Josephus).

6. In the name] i.e. by the power of Jesus Christ. It is significant that, whereas Jesus worked miracles in His own name, the Apostles only did so in dependence on Him.

11. Solomon’s] see on John 10:23, and cp. Acts 5:12.

12-26. Peter’s Speech. Peter affirms that the miracle has been performed through faith in Jesus, who, though crucified, was truly the Messiah, as was shown by His Resurrection. The Apostle takes a lenient view of the conduct of the Jews in the crucifixion of Jesus, attributing it to ignorance; and he calls them to repentance, stating that the gospel must first be preached to them, before it is carried to the rest of mankind.

13. Hath glorified] viz. by raising Him from the dead, seating Him at His right hand, and enduing Him with almighty power, of which the miracle upon the lame man is a proof.

His Son] or, ’Child.’ But many recent authorities render, ’His Servant,’ supposing that Jesus is here identified with the ’Servant of Jehovah’ in Isaiah 40-66.

14. The Holy One and the Just] a strong affirmation of the sinlessness of Jesus: cp. John 6:69; (RV), ’We have believed and know that thou art the Holy One of God.’

15. The Prince of life] i.e. the Author of eternal life: cp. John 3:16; John 11:25. The word translated ’Prince’ occurs again, Acts 5:31, ’a Prince and a Saviour’; Hebrews 2:10, ’the Captain of their salvation’; Hebrews 12:2, ’the Author of our faith.’ The divinity of Jesus is implied in the fact that He is the author of life: cp. John 1:4; John 11:25; 1 John 1:2.

16. His name] virtually His Power.

18. Should suffer] see especially Psalms 22 Isaiah 50:6 and Isaiah 53:5; Daniel 9:26. Our Lord Himself found intimations of His sufferings in the OT., Luke 24:26; John 13:18, etc.

19. When the times of refreshing] RV ’that so there may come seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ who hath been appointed for you, even Jesus.’ The idea that the Second Coming of Christ may be hastened or retarded by the conduct of the chosen people or of the Church, is also expressed in 2 Peter 3:12; (RM). The Jews believed that just before the coming of the Messiah Israel would be involved in terrible sufferings, and that from these the Messiah would relieve them, thus bringing ’seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord.’

21. Whom the heaven must receive] i.e. retain. This rendering is better than the alternative one, ’who must hold the heaven in possession.’ Restitution of all things] In Matthew 17:11 a restitution of all things by Elijah is mentioned, in preparation for the first coming of Christ. The restitution here spoken of is the restoration of the whole universe to its original and intended perfection, which will take place when Christ comes again. It is the same as ’the regeneration’ of creation spoken of by Christ, Matthew 19:23 as ’the new heavens and new earth’ of 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1 and as ’the redemption’ of the body and of the physical creation of Romans 8:18-23. Since the world began] The first such prophecy is Genesis 3:15, immediately after the Fall; and St. Peter not unfairly assumes that all the prophets, even those whose utterances have not been transmitted to us, looked forward to the coming of a Redeemer, and the final restoration of all things.

22. Moses] see Deuteronomy 18:15-19: and cp. Acts 7:37. In Dt the prophet is to be understood collectively of the line of great prophets which began with Samuel. But it received its chief fulfilment in Jesus Christ; and to Him alone do the words ’like unto me,’ and ’every soul which will not hear that prophet shall be destroyed,’ strictly apply.

25. Unto Abraham] see Genesis 12:3; Genesis 18:18; Genesis 22:18; Genesis 26:4; Genesis 28:14; Galatians 3:8.

26. Unto you first] and afterwards to the Gentiles (Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8). St. Peter, as these words show, already contemplated the conversion of the Gentiles. Son] or ’Servant’: see Acts 3:13.