Acts 3:12

12 And Peter saw, and answered to the people, Men of Israel, what wonder ye in this thing? either what behold ye us, as by our virtue either power we made this man for to walk [+Men of Israel, what wonder ye in this thing? or what behold ye us, as by our virtue, or power/either piety, we made this man to walk]?

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 And they knew him, that he it was that sat at alms at the fair gate of the temple. And they were filled with wondering, and astonishing, in that thing that befelled to him [And they were full-filled with wonder, and ecstasy, that is losing of mind and reason, and letting of tongue, in that thing that befell to him].
11 But when they saw Peter and John, all the people ran to them at the porch that was called of Solomon, and wondered greatly. [Soothly when they saw Peter and John, all the people ran to them at the porch that is called of Solomon, wondering greatly.]
12 And Peter saw, and answered to the people, Men of Israel, what wonder ye in this thing? either what behold ye us, as by our virtue either power we made this man for to walk [+Men of Israel, what wonder ye in this thing? or what behold ye us, as by our virtue, or power/either piety, we made this man to walk]?
13 God of Abraham, and God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, [and] God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus, whom ye betrayed, and denied before the face of Pilate, when he deemed him to be delivered [+when he deemed to be dismissed, or let go].
14 But ye denied the holy and the rightful, and asked a manslayer to be given to you. [Ye forsooth denied the holy and just, and asked a man-homicide, or manslayer, to be given to you.]
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.