Acts 3:12

12 videns autem Petrus respondit ad populum viri israhelitae quid miramini in hoc aut nos quid intuemini quasi nostra virtute aut pietate fecerimus hunc ambulare

Acts 3:12 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 3:12

And when Peter saw it
That the people ran to them, and looked wistly upon them, and wondered at what was done: he answered unto the people, ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at
this?
either at this man, who was cured of his lameness, or at the cure itself: or why look ye so earnestly on us;
suggesting, that they ought to look to God, and observe his divine power, and to the Lord Jesus Christ, whom they had crucified, whose apostles they were, and in whose name, and by whose power they had wrought this miracle; which shows that they were not self-seeking and vain glorious men, but discovers great sincerity and integrity, much love to Christ, and great regard to his honour, and to the glory of God: as though by our own power and holiness we had made this man to
walk?
as if it was any natural power of theirs; or for any merit of theirs, because of their strict religion and piety; or "laudable conversation", as the Arabic version; because they were mightier in themselves and holier than others, that they had such a faculty of curing lame persons; all which they utterly reject, and place it to a right account in the next verse. Instead of "holiness", the Syriac version reads "authority"; and to the same, or like sense, the Vulgate Latin, which seems most agreeable.

Acts 3:12 In-Context

10 cognoscebant autem illum quoniam ipse erat qui ad elemosynam sedebat ad Speciosam portam templi et impleti sunt stupore et extasi in eo quod contigerat illi
11 cum teneret autem Petrum et Iohannem concurrit omnis populus ad eos ad porticum qui appellatur Salomonis stupentes
12 videns autem Petrus respondit ad populum viri israhelitae quid miramini in hoc aut nos quid intuemini quasi nostra virtute aut pietate fecerimus hunc ambulare
13 Deus Abraham et Deus Isaac et Deus Iacob Deus patrum nostrorum glorificavit Filium suum Iesum quem vos quidem tradidistis et negastis ante faciem Pilati iudicante illo dimitti
14 vos autem sanctum et iustum negastis et petistis virum homicidam donari vobis
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.