Acts 3
Acts 3 begins with an event in which Peter and John meet a man who had been unable to walk from birth at the Beautiful Gate of the Jerusalem temple and heal him. This miracle is connected to the Pentecost events just before the text, showing how the lives and ministry of the apostles of the early church—who had received the Holy Spirit—continue on. This chapter is divided broadly into the miracle event (verses 1–10) and Peter’s sermon (verses 11–26).
1versePeter and John were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
2verseA certain man who was lame from his mother’s womb was being carried, whom they laid daily at the door of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask gifts for the needy of those who entered into the temple.
3verseSeeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive gifts for the needy.
4versePeter, fastening his eyes on him, with John, said, “Look at us.”
5verseHe listened to them, expecting to receive something from them.
6verseBut Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!”
7verseHe took him by the right hand and raised him up. Immediately his feet and his ankle bones received strength.
8verseLeaping up, he stood and began to walk. He entered with them into the temple, walking, leaping, and praising God.
9verseAll the people saw him walking and praising God.
10verseThey recognized him, that it was he who used to sit begging for gifts for the needy at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. They were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
11verseAs the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.
12verseWhen Peter saw it, he responded to the people, “You men of Israel, why do you marvel at this man? Why do you fasten your eyes on us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him walk?
13verseThe God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had determined to release him.
14verseBut you denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,
15verseand killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, to which we are witnesses.
16verseBy faith in his name, his name has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which is through him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
17verse“Now, brothers, I know that you did this in ignorance, as did also your rulers.
18verseBut the things which God announced by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled.
19verse“Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, so that there may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord,
20verseand that he may send Christ Jesus, who was ordained for you before,
21versewhom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God spoke long ago by the mouth of his holy prophets.
22verseFor Moses indeed said to the fathers, ‘The Lord God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, like me. You shall listen to him in all things whatever he says to you.
23verseIt will be that every soul that will not listen to that prophet will be utterly destroyed from among the people.’
24verseYes, and all the prophets from Samuel and those who followed after, as many as have spoken, also told of these days.
25verseYou are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘All the families of the earth will be blessed through your offspring.’
26verseGod, having raised up his servant Jesus, sent him to you first to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your wickedness.”
The Healing of a Man Who Could Not Walk from Birth
As Peter and John go up to the temple during the ninth hour (3:00 p.m.) for the time of prayer, they meet a man who had been unable to walk from birth (verses 1–3). This man had been sitting at the entrance to the temple every day, begging. The apostles say they cannot give him silver or gold, and they lift him up in the name of Jesus Christ (verses 6–7). He immediately gets up, walks, and runs, praising God (verse 8). As a result, people are greatly amazed, and this incident becomes an opportunity for the gospel to many (verses 9–10).
Peter’s Sermon: The Name of Jesus and Repentance
To the crowd astonished by the miracle, Peter declares that this healing was not done by their own power, but through the name of Jesus Christ (verses 12–16). He also points out that although Jesus was the author of life sent by God, the Jews handed him over to death (verses 13–15). However, God raised Christ back to life, and Peter says that now anyone who believes in his name can receive healing through faith in Jesus’ name (verse 16). Then Peter urges the crowd to repent and turn back toward restoration (verses 17–21), and he explains that Jesus is the promised Christ by citing the Old Testament Scriptures (verses 22–26).
The Structure and Flow of the Text
- Verses 1–10: The healing event at the Beautiful Gate
- Verses 11–26: Peter’s sermon and proclamation of repentance in light of the miracle
The apostles’ deeds and words in ministry are not separated; the miracle and the proclamation of the gospel are happening together.
Points to Ponder
- The healing event is not merely a simple miracle; it testifies that Jesus Christ is still working today.
- We can see that in the early church, gathered as a community of faith, God’s Word and prayer were at the center.
- It is emphasized that genuine change begins through faith in Jesus Christ and through repentance.
Try Applying It to Yourself
- In the face of the problems and limits of life, I reflect on whether I am trusting God’s will and name rather than the way I expect.
- I also consider whether the life I live, in which God’s grace and work that I have experienced become proof of the gospel to others, is truly bearing witness.
- Even in the small encounters or situations given to me in everyday life, I take up the attitude of seeking opportunities to honor God’s name and share the gospel.
