Bible Commentaries
Acts 3

Verse 1

1 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.

1. Went to the temple - Why? Were the still observing Jewish worship?

1. There were not IN the temple. Only priests could enter the building itself.

2. Many went to the temple grounds and courtyard around the temple compound.

2. They were not there to observe Jewish worship. The temple compound is a place where converts (prospects, suspects) could be found.

3. The hour of prayer, called the 9 th hour of the day, would be 3 in the afternoon as we measure time.

4. Jews often prayed at 9 am, noon, and 3 pm each day. See Dan_6:10 and Psa_55:17 .

Verse 2

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;

1. This miracle was not a fake. There was no deception here. He was lame at birth.

2. Often the poor would sit near a temple gate. There were more apt to receive help because people passing by were going to pray and would be more generous.

3. Alms means a gift, or charity. The Greek word is more often translated mercy or pity. It is also translated "almsdeeds" in Act_9:36 .

4. Beautiful Gate

1. Scholars disagree about which gate is mentioned here. There were 9 gates around the temple.

2. Most commentators believe it was the Shushan Gate. This gate was very ornamental with Corinthian brass and a picture of the palace in Persia on it.

Verse 3

3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.

1. Peter was just another person passing by. Like he did for all who passed by, he asked for alms.

2. How do we respond to the homeless, beggars, today?

Verse 4

4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, " Look at us. "

1. Peter did not just glance his direction. He looked intently "into" him.

2. See Mar_10:21 - Jesus looked at the rich young ruler. It was an intense loon inside, not just a casual glance. Jesus saw his heart loved the man.

3. Peter is saying, "Look at us. Do we look rich to you?"

Verse 5

5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.

1. So, the lame man looked. He paid attention to them. He looked and expected some gift from them. He was looking in anticipation of money.

2. Healing was far from his anticipation.

Verse 6

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. "

1. Silver and gold were the common metal for coins.

2. What do you have - that can be used for God?

1. David - a slingshot

2. Samson - donkey jawbone

3. Moses - a rod (walking stick)

4. Little boy - 5 loaves, 2 fish

5. Gideon - horns and clay pots

6. Elijah - 12 barrels of water

3. What do you have that God can use?

4. In the name of Jesus Christ - not by the power of Peter or John

5. A command is given. "Rise up and walk." Would you have believed? Would you have tried to stand up? Would you have argued?

6. Many would respond, "I can't, never have been able to. I just need a dollar for some food for supper."

Verse 7

7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

1. Luke, the doctor, tells us the problem. It was not his hip, knees, muscle or nerve problems.

2. His feet and ankles were his weakness.

3. Immediately! There was no delay. The healing was not gradual. It was an immediate, total, and complete healing.

Verse 8

8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them-walking, leaping, and praising God.

1. How is this healing verified? Notice the words used. Leaping up - Stood - Walked - Entered temple - Walking - Leaping

2. Was this man healed? There was no doubt.

Verse 9

9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God.

1. Miracles had many witnesses. This was done at the temple gate at the time many were coming to prayer.

2. These people passed by several times a day, every day, for the past 40 years. They had seen him every day of his life.

Verse 10

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.

1. All who saw it were filled with wonder (astonishment) and amazement (bewilderment).

2. Fake healers bring in "ringers" who leap out of wheelchairs night after night in city after city. They are "healed" every night in a new city in front of people who do not know if he is lame or not.

3. Many people knew this man. They had seen him for years.

Verse 11

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.

1. The healed man began to cling to Peter and John.

2. All the witnesses came together - Amazed at the event they had witnessed.

3. Solomon's Porch is a long area on the east side of the temple. It was 400 cubits long. With the cubit of 18 inches, this area was about 600 feet long. This is equivalent to 2 football fields in length.

4. It was a long covered walkway where many could gather and have discussions and hear the news from others they would meet.

5. It is called Solomon's Porch. But Solomon did not build this. It was attached at a part of Solomon's temple that remained standing after the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem.

Verse 12

12 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: " Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?

1. Why are you amazed? If this miracle is amazing, think about Jesus and His resurrection from the dead.

2. Do you think Peter did this by his own power?

3. Was it the godliness of Peter that made this man walk? No.

Verse 13

13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go.

1. A common phrase used by the Jews. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, also the God of our fathers, were phrases used in prayer and reference to Jehovah.

2. Peter makes the same points here as on Pentecost.

1. God sent Jesus.

2. You denied His claims.

3. You delivered Him to Pilate.

Verse 14

14 But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,

1. You requested a murderer be released to you.

2. You would rather have a murderer loose in Jerusalem than Jesus.

Verse 15

15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.

1. You killed Jesus, the Prince of life.

2. God raised Him from the dead.

3. We are witnesses to this resurrection.

Verse 16

16 And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

1. This miracle was accomplished by faith in this name. It was through faith in His name that this man is made strong.

2. You can not deny that he is healed.

1. Perfect - complete, whole, fully developed

2. Sound - solid (sound as a dollar)

3. In your presence - not hidden, no tricks, nothing set up and prearranged.

Verse 17

17 " Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers.

1. Peter assures them that they were not to blame. They were mislead.

2. The real blame must be on the Jewish rulers - Sanhedrin, scribes, High Priest, and the Pharisees.

Verse 18

18 But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.

1. God kept His promise. See 2Co_1:20 . When God makes a promise, you can mark it down, check it off. It is as good as done when it is promised.

2. All the prophecies about Christ were fulfilled.

Verse 19

÷ Act_3:19

19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

1. Parallel with Act_2:38

Act_2:38 Act_3:19 Repent Repent Be baptized Be converted For remission of sins Sins may be blotted out Gift of Holy Spirit Time of refreshing come from the Lord

Verse 20

20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before,

1. This sending is not referring to his first coming in the flesh or his future second coming.

2. Jesus will go into all the world - by the preaching of the gospel. Jesus has come to you by others teaching, preaching, studying with you.

3. Jesus was preached to you.

1. In the OT, all the prophets told you about Jesus.

2. Now, the apostles and disciples are now telling you the same things.

Verse 21

21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.

1. Jesus is now in heaven, at the right hand of the Father.

2. Until - Jesus will remain in heaven while the plan of God is working out.

3. Restoration - Not all people will be restored to faith in Jesus. The restoration is the accomplishment and fulfillment of the plans of God. When they are completed and all of God's plans have reached their end, Jesus will leave Heaven.

Verse 22

22 For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you.

1. Moses told us that Christ would come. Deu_18:15-19

2. Prophet is a teacher, spokesman for God, one who speaks the message of God.

1. Often we think of one who predicts the future - foreteller

2. Prophets were more - forthtellers - speaking the message of God

Verses 23-24

23 And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people. '

24 Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days.

1. All the prophets told you Jesus was coming - Samuel - and all after him.

2. As many as have spoken, everyone of them, have statements about Christ in their sermons, writings, speeches, or oracles.

Verse 25

25 You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. '

1. Peter is talking to Jews. They, above all others, should have known this.

2. God promised Abraham that all families of the earth shall be blessed through his seed. Gen_12:3 ; Gen_22:18

Verse 26

26 To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities. "

1. The good news came to the Jewish nation first.

1. It was preached on Pentecost.

2. On Paul's journeys, he went to the Jews first. See Rom_1:16 . The gospel was for the Jew first, also the Greek (Gentile).

2. Jesus came to bring you back from your iniquities. He came to save you from your sins.

3. Iniquities is another word for sin. Thayer says this word means, "depravity, wickedness, malice, evil purposes and desires".