Acts 3

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The Lame Beggar Healed

1 Now Peter and John were ¹going up to the temple at ²the hour of prayer, ³the ninth hour.^[a]

2 And a man ⁴lame from birth was being carried, ⁵whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate ⁶to ask alms of those entering the temple.

3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms.

4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us."

5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.

6 But Peter said, ⁷"I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. ⁸In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!"

7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.

8 And ⁹leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.

9 And ¹⁰all the people saw him walking and praising God,

10 and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Peter Speaks in Solomon's Portico

11 ¹¹While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in ¹²the portico called Solomon's.

12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: "Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?

13 ¹³The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, ¹⁴the God of our fathers, ¹⁵glorified his servant^[b] Jesus, whom ¹⁶you delivered over and ¹⁷denied in the presence of Pilate, ¹⁸when he had decided to release him.

14 But you denied ¹⁹the Holy and ²⁰Righteous One, and ²¹asked for a murderer to be granted to you,

15 and you killed ²²the Author of life, ²³whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.

16 And ²⁴his name--by ²⁵faith in his name--has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is ²⁶through Jesus^[c] has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

17 "And now, brothers, I know that ²⁷you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers.

18 But what God ²⁸foretold ²⁹by the mouth of all the prophets, that ³⁰his Christ would ³¹suffer, he thus fulfilled.

19 ³²Repent therefore, and ³³turn again, that ³⁴your sins may be blotted out,

20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ ³⁵appointed for you, Jesus,

21 ³⁶whom heaven must receive until the time for ³⁷restoring all the things about which ³⁸God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.

22 Moses said, 'The Lord God will raise up for you ³⁹a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen ⁴⁰to him in whatever he tells you.

23 And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet ⁴¹shall be destroyed from the people.'

24 And ⁴²all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days.

25 ⁴³You are the sons of the prophets and of ⁴⁴the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ⁴⁵'And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.'

26 ⁴⁶God, ⁴⁷having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, ⁴⁸to bless you ⁴⁹by turning every one of you from your wickedness."

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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.

Taken from Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)

Cross References 49

1. See Luke 18:10
2. Psalms 55:17
3. Acts 10:3, 30; Matthew 27:46; [1 Kings 18:29]
4. Acts 14:8
5. [Luke 16:20]
6. [John 9:8]
7. 2 Corinthians 6:10
8. [Acts 9:34]
9. Acts 14:10; Isaiah 35:6
10. Acts 4:16, 21
11. Acts 4:14
12. Acts 5:12; John 10:23
13. Matthew 22:32
14. Acts 5:30; Acts 22:14; [Acts 7:32]
15. Isaiah 55:5; [Isaiah 52:13]; See John 8:54
16. See Matthew 20:19
17. Acts 13:28; John 19:7, 12, 15
18. Luke 23:14, 16; John 19:12
19. [Acts 4:27, 30]; See Mark 1:24
20. Acts 7:52; Acts 22:14; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 2:1; 1 John 3:7; [James 5:6]
21. Luke 23:18, 19, 25
22. Acts 5:31
23. See Acts 2:24
24. [ver. 6]
25. [John 1:12]
26. [1 Peter 1:21]
27. Acts 13:27; [Acts 26:9; Luke 23:34; John 16:3; 1 Corinthians 2:8; 1 Timothy 1:13]
28. See Acts 2:23
29. Acts 17:3; Acts 26:22, 23; [Hebrews 2:10]; See Luke 24:26, 27
30. See Luke 9:20
31. Matthew 17:12; Luke 22:15; Luke 24:46; Hebrews 13:12
32. See Acts 2:38
33. See Luke 22:32
34. Psalms 51:1, 9; Isaiah 43:25; Isaiah 44:22; Colossians 2:14
35. Acts 22:14; Acts 26:16
36. [Acts 1:11; Luke 24:26]
37. [Matthew 17:11; Romans 8:21]
38. Luke 1:70
39. Acts 7:37, cited from Deut. 18:15, 18, 19
40. Matthew 17:5
41. Leviticus 23:29
42. Acts 13:20; 1 Samuel 3:20; Hebrews 11:32
43. See Acts 2:39
44. See Romans 9:4, 5
45. Cited from Genesis 22:18; See Genesis 12:3
46. Romans 1:16; Romans 2:9; Romans 15:8; [Mark 7:27]
47. ver. 22
48. ver. 25
49. Romans 11:26; [Ezekiel 3:19]; See Matthew 1:21