Acts 3

1 And Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, [which is] the ninth [hour];

2 and a certain man who was lame from his mother's womb was being carried, whom they placed every day at the gate of the temple called Beautiful, to ask alms of those who were going into the temple;

3 who, seeing Peter and John about to enter into the temple, asked to receive alms.

4 And Peter, looking stedfastly upon him with John, said, Look on us.

5 And he gave heed to them, expecting to receive something from them.

6 But Peter said, Silver and gold I have not; but what I have, this give I to thee: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazaraean rise up and walk.

7 And having taken hold of him [by] the right hand he raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones were made strong.

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

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

10 and they recognised him, that it was *he* who sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

11 And as he held Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the portico which is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.

12 And Peter, seeing it, answered the people, Men of Israel, why are ye astonished at this? or why do ye gaze on us as if we had by our own power or piety made him to walk?

13 The God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus, whom *ye* delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when *he* had judged that he should be let go.

14 But *ye* denied the holy and righteous one, and asked that a man [that was] a murderer should be granted to you;

15 but the originator of life ye slew, whom God raised from among [the] dead, whereof *we* are witnesses.

16 And, by faith in his name, his name has made this [man] strong whom ye behold and know; and the faith which is by him has given him this complete soundness in the presence of you all.

17 And now, brethren, I know that ye did it in ignorance, as also your rulers;

18 but God has thus fulfilled what he had announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer.

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

20 and he may send Jesus Christ, who was foreordained for you,

21 whom heaven indeed must receive till [the] times of [the] restoring of all things, of which God has spoken by the mouth of his holy prophets since time began.

22 Moses indeed said, A prophet shall [the] Lord your God raise up to you out of your brethren like me: him shall ye hear in everything whatsoever he shall say to you.

23 And it shall be that whatsoever soul shall not hear that prophet shall be destroyed from among the people.

24 And indeed all the prophets from Samuel and those in succession after [him], as many as have spoken, have announced also these days.

25 *Ye* are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God appointed to our fathers, saying to Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

26 To you first God, having raised up his servant, has sent him, blessing you in turning each one [of you] from your wickedness.

Acts 3 Commentary

Chapter 3

A lame man healed by Peter and John. (1-11) Peter's address to the Jews. (12-26)

Verses 1-11 The apostles and the first believers attended the temple worship at the hours of prayer. Peter and John seem to have been led by a Divine direction, to work a miracle on a man above forty years old, who had been a cripple from his birth. Peter, in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, bade him rise up and walk. Thus, if we would attempt to good purpose the healing of men's souls, we must go forth in the name and power of Jesus Christ, calling on helpless sinners to arise and walk in the way of holiness, by faith in Him. How sweet the thought to our souls, that in respect to all the crippled faculties of our fallen nature, the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth can make us whole! With what holy joy and rapture shall we tread the holy courts, when God the Spirit causes us to enter therein by his strength!

Verses 12-18 Observe the difference in the manner of working the miracles. Our Lord always spoke as having Almighty power, never hesitated to receive the greatest honour that was given to him on account of his Divine miracles. But the apostles referred all to their Lord, and refused to receive any honour, except as his undeserving instruments. This shows that Jesus was one with the Father, and co-equal with Him; while the apostles knew that they were weak, sinful men, and dependent for every thing on Jesus, whose power effected the cure. Useful men must be very humble. Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to thy name, give glory. Every crown must be cast at the feet of Christ. The apostle showed the Jews the greatness of their crime, but would not anger or drive them to despair. Assuredly, those who reject, refuse, or deny Christ, do it through ignorance; but this can in no case be an excuse.

Verses 19-21 The absolute necessity of repentance is to be solemnly charged upon the consciences of all who desire that their sins may be blotted out, and that they may share in the refreshment which nothing but a sense of Christ's pardoning love can afford. Blessed are those who have felt this. It was not needful for the Holy Spirit to make known the times and seasons of these dispensations. These subjects are still left obscure. But when sinners are convinced of their sins, they will cry to the Lord for pardon; and to the penitent, converted, and believing, times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord. In a state of trial and probation, the glorified Redeemer will be out of sight, because we must live by faith in him.

Verses 22-26 Here is a powerful address to warn the Jews of the dreadful consequences of their unbelief, in the very words of Moses, their favourite prophet, out of pretended zeal for whom they were ready to reject Christianity, and to try to destroy it. Christ came into the world to bring a blessing with him. And he sent his Spirit to be the great blessing. Christ came to bless us, by turning us from our iniquities, and saving us from our sins. We, by nature cleave to sin; the design of Divine grace is to turn us from it, that we may not only forsake, but hate it. Let none think that they can be happy by continuing in sin, when God declares that the blessing is in being turned from all iniquity. Let none think that they understand or believe the gospel, who only seek deliverance from the punishment of sin, but do not expect happiness in being delivered from sin itself. And let none expect to be turned from their sin, except by believing in, and receiving Christ the Son of God, as their wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.

Footnotes

• [a]. Hieron, the general buildings.
• [b]. Some omit 'to the assembly,' ch. 2.47, and link 'together' with the end of ch. 2. Probably we should read 'the Lord added together daily such as should be saved. And Peter (or, 'Now Peter') and John went up into the temple.'
• [c]. This word is difficult to render in English. It is a 'leader,' but it is more. It is used for one who begins and sets a matter on. The Greek word occurs four times in the New Testament, here and ch. 5.31; Heb. 2.10; 12.2. In Heb. 12.2 it means, 'he began and finished the whole course;' 'the origin' or 'originator,' though the word is harsh in connexion with life. The word is only used of our Lord.
• [d]. Epi: see Note, 1Cor. 1.4.
• [e]. 'Since time began' refers to 'holy prophets:' lit. 'his holy since-time-began prophets.'
• [f]. See Deut. 18.15,19.
• [g]. See Gen. 22.18.
• [h]. As ver. 22; ch. 13.33.