Acts
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Acts 3
Acts 3
1Now Peter and John were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
1Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
Commentary · verse 1
2And a certain man that was lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the door of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; 3who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked to receive an alms.
2And 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 of them that entered into the temple;
3Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
Commentary · verses 2-3
A lame man asked them for money.
4And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him, with John, said, Look on us.
4And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
Commentary · verse 4
Peter, with John, told the man to "look on us." Peter was helping the man focus. They were also getting the man to state his will, which was an act of faith.
5And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something from them.
5And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
Commentary · verse 5
The man was focused and listened to the point that he knew he would receive something from them, which also showed that he had faith.
6But Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but what I have, that give I thee. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.
6Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
Commentary · verse 6
Doctrine: All of the miracles in the Bible were done through people who had little to no money. Peter stated he did not have silver or gold to give the man but he would give the man what he had. This was a statement of his faith. Then, Peter healed the man in the Name of Jesus Christ. This was the first direct New Testament healing done by someone other than Jesus. In the Gospels, we heard about how the Disciples healed people but did not have a direct account. In this healing, Peter first stated his will about what he would do. Then, Peter prefaced his statement "walk" with "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth." Every directly recorded example of Jesus doing a healing did not involve a preface. Jesus only made a statement where the object of the healing was the subject of the statement: "walk." At this point, we know that stating this preface before the command worked for the Disciples. We have yet to see an example where they did not state this preface.
7And he took him by the right hand, and raised him up: and immediately his feet and his ankle-bones received strength.
7And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
Commentary · verse 7
Notice, Peter pulled the man up. Again, this was something different than what Jesus did. Jesus never directly caused the person to express their faith. The lame man's feet and ankle bones were strengthened. This was not an injury or a weakness of muscles. This man had weak bones that were made strong.
8And leaping up, he stood, and began to walk; and he entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
8And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
Commentary · verse 8
The man was leaping. Clearly this man was completely healed.
9And all the people saw him walking and praising God: 10and they took knowledge of him, that it was he that sat for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
9And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
10And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
Commentary · verses 9-10
The people knew what man this was and were amazed and wondered what happened to him.
11And as he held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.
12And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this man? or why fasten ye your eyes on us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him to walk?
11And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.
12And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?
Commentary · verses 11-12
Solomon's porch was a covered open-aired section of the temple that people had to pass through in order to enter the temple. Peter was having "church" just outside the temple. Peter asked why they marveled as if it was by his own power. Peter knew that the power in him to heal was not his power but power from the Holy Spirit living in him.
13The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Servant Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied before the face of Pilate, when he had determined to release him.
14But ye denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted unto you,
13The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.
14But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
Commentary · verses 13-14
The "murderer" Peter referred to was Barabbas. This was the man the people set free from prison instead of Jesus: Matthew 27:21.
15and killed the Prince of life; whom God raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
15And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
Commentary · verse 15
Again, Peter was bold with his words regarding what the people did to Jesus.
16And by faith in his name hath his name made this man strong, whom ye behold and know: yea, the faith which is through him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
16And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
Commentary · verse 16
Peter gave Jesus' Name the credit for healing the lame man. Again, Peter did preface the healing by stating this would be done in Jesus' Name.
17And now, brethren, I know that in ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.
17And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.
Commentary · verse 17
Peter wanted the people to do the opposite of what their rulers did. Peter was calling them to repentance.
18But the things which God foreshowed by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled.
19Repent ye therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that so there may come seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord;
18But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
19Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Commentary · verses 18-19
Peter said to repent so that their sins were "blotted out."
20and that he may send the Christ who hath been appointed for you, even Jesus: 21whom the heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, whereof God spake by the mouth of his holy prophets that have been from of old.
22Moses indeed said, A prophet shall the Lord God raise up unto you from among your brethren, like unto me; to him shall ye hearken in all things whatsoever he shall speak unto you.
20And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
21Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
22For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
Commentary · verses 20-22
Peter referenced Deuteronomy 18:15.
Doctrines on this passage
23And it shall be, that every soul that shall not hearken to that prophet, shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.
24Yea and all the prophets from Samuel and them that followed after, as many as have spoken, they also told of these days.
25Ye are the sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
26Unto you first God, having raised up his Servant, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.
23And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.
24Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.
25Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
26Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
Commentary · verses 23-26
The "Servant" God raised up was Christ. God sent Christ to bless and to turn people from their iniquities. God had drawn attention to Peter's and John's ministry by doing a healing through them. It gave Peter the opportunity to be heard by a large crowd just outside the temple. Peter gave the credit to Jesus, taught about His death and resurrection, and then called the people to repentance. What do you think happened next? Would thousands be added to their number like at the end of Acts 2?
Commentary · verse 26
Acts 1-3 covered Christ's ascension into heaven, the baptism of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and Peter's miraculous healing of a lame man at Solomon's porch.
Peter and John went to the temple to pray. We can see that Peter and John were very close. In the Gospel according to John, there were many stories where Peter was mentioned by name and John's name was never mentioned, only that the author was "the disciple whom Jesus loved." (See comment after John 21:7.) At the end of John's Gospel Account, Jesus made Peter the leader of the Disciples, and Peter was concerned about what would happen to the Disciple that Jesus loved: John 21:21. Now we can see that Peter continued to be concerned for John and the two of them were mentioned as working together during this first evangelism event.