Chapter Three
A Lame Man Healed
3:1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. 3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms.
Peter and John were on their way to the Temple at the hour of prayer being the ninth hour (3:00 in the afternoon). A man who was unable to walk was carried everyday to the Beautiful Gate (believed to be a large gate between the court of the Gentiles and the court of the Israelites on the east side of the Temple, also known as the Gate of Nicanor) a location that could be seen by people as they approached for the prayers to appeal for alms (Greek eleēmosynēn, a merciful donation, can be money, food, or some other provision). The man saw Peter and John and proceeded to ask them for alms.
3:4 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, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”
With both him and John looking at the man, Peter asks the man to look at them, which the man does. Peter tells him that he has neither silver nor any gold to give him, but will give what he has to him. He then proclaims to the man, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!’
3:7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
Peter raised him onto his feet and immediately his feet and ankles became strong. The man then leaped up, stood, and began to walk. He proceeded to join Peter and John in the Temple leaping and praising God as they entered.
3:9 And all 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.
It didn’t take long for the people to recognize the man as the one who sat at the gate asking for alms. They were all astonished and wondering how this healing took place. The words ‘wonder’ and ‘amazement’ are the Greek words thambous (means astonishment) and ekstaseōs (from the root that means to move out of place, figuratively used to refer to one’s mind or logic being displaced, something we might say today, truly “blown away”), respectively.
Considerations
The Ninth Hour
Even though not explicitly instructed in God’s law, it is an old Jewish tradition to pray three times a day. Morning (third hour, 9:00 AM), mid-day (sixth hour, Noon), and evening (ninth hour, 3:00 PM). The times for the morning and evening prayers are thought to been chosen to coincide with the morning and evening sacrifices (see Exodus 29:38-39; Numbers 28:2-8). It is interesting to note the number of times these three times are mentioned in Scripture (see 1 Kings 18:36-39; Ezra 9:5; Psalm 55:17; Daniel 6:10; 9:24; Matthew 27:45, 46; Mark 15:25, 33, 34-37; Luke 23:44; John 19:14; Acts 10:3). The most notable event that occurred on the ninth hour was Jesus dying on the cross, “It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.” (Luke 23:44-46, ESV)
Peter Speaks at the Temple’s Solomon’s Portico
3:11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s.
The man that was healed clung onto Peter and John probably due to the commotion sparked by seeing him walking on his own. Luke records their now undoubtedly loud response by writing that they were “utterly astounded” (Greek ekthamboi, out of or beyond astonishment, a great marvel, this is the only time this word is used in the New Testament) as everyone ran to see what everyone was talking about in an area known as Solomon’s portico.
3:12 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 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16 And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
Peter seeing and hearing the commotion speaks to the people. He begins by addressing them as “Men of Israel,” people who should know that humans can’t heal without God. But apparently they looked at them as if they possessed supernatural powers. So, he continues to speak by pointing out that their God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, made glorious His servant Jesus. The same Jesus they delivered over to Pilate, who would have released Him, but He, the Holy and Righteous One, was denied in favor of letting a murderer go free. Peter straight out tells them that they killed the Author of life, but God raised Him from the dead, something that they themselves witnessed. The healing that they witnessed was done through faith in the name of Jesus.
3:17 “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.
Peter acknowledges that the people and their rulers acted out of ignorance, they really had no idea what they were doing when they crucified Jesus. He then calls their attention to the fact that it was told through the prophets that the Messiah was to suffer (see Psalms 22:1-31; Isaiah 49:7; 50:6; 53:3-12) and He did suffer.
3:19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,
Essentially the theme of the entire Bible, repent, and turn back (Greek epistrepsate, to return from error, in context instead of rejecting Jesus, accept Him as the Messiah, the Christ) so that one’s sins will be blotted out.
3:20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.
Peter pleas with the people to see that Jesus is the Messiah that was foretold by the prophets so that they can become refreshed in His presence. He also told them that Jesus will come again but only when it was time for the restoration of all things as prophesied by God’s prophets in the distant past like Moses.
3:22 Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’
Quoting from portions of Deuteronomy 18:15-19, Peter reminds the people that Moses spoke about another prophet like him from within the family of Israel and that they will do as He instructed. And those who did not listen will be cut off from God’s people (condemned for eternity).
3:24 And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. 25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’
Peter notes that all of the prophets from Samuel on, also proclaimed the coming Messiah. And that those listening to him are sons of the prophets and of the covenant God made with Abraham, they are the recipients of the promises made by the prophets of a coming Messiah and the Abrahamic Covenant which states that through Abraham’s offspring all families on earth will be blessed.
3:26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”
In prophecy the coming Messiah (Jesus) was often referred to as God’s servant (for example see Isaiah 53:11). Peter tells his fellow Jews that Jesus came to them first, so that they could be blessed by turning away from their sinful ways.
Considerations
The Expectation of Healing
This event of Peter calling God to heal the lame man is often offered as Biblical evidence that one can call on God to heal anyone without first inquiring from Him if that is His will. Some point out that only the apostles were given that authority (see 2 Corinthians 12:12). But we also know there are some given the gift of healing (see 1 Corinthians 12:9, 28, 30). So does that mean anyone can call on God for healing and expect healing to occur? The answer to that question is neither a yes nor a no, as we are told to pray with expectation, but understand that God may say no, or not yet. The potential problems arise when some believe that they have the gift of healing or they believe they are an apostle and when the healing doesn’t happen they accuse the one being prayed for not having enough faith. This is not how God works and these people are false teachers, apostles, or prophets. When the Bible refers to apostles, these were people selected by Jesus directly, it is not an office, title, or even a role someone is called to today. If someone misrepresents Jesus pray for them, but stay away from them.
Eloquence
In each of the gospel accounts Peter always seemed to open his mouth at all the wrong times often saying something Jesus had to correct. But now in the book of Acts Peter has made a couple of eloquent public speeches. This should serve as encouragement for any believer that is hesitant to speak about Jesus and the gospel message. The difference for Peter was the Holy Spirit, the same Holy Spirit that lives in every believer today. So when you need to talk, let Him speak for you.
Abrahamic Covenant
The name refers to the covenant given to Abram (later renamed Abraham) in Genesis 12:1-13, clarified in Genesis 13:14-17; 15:1-21, and then ‘sealed’ in Genesis 17:1-8. The covenant was later reiterated to Isaac and Jacob (see Genesis 26:2-5; 28:1-4, 12-15). The Abrahamic Covenant is both unconditional and eternal, but those that believe that God is through with Israel and the Jews, try to apply conditions to these verses, or state that Jesus fulfilled all covenants (the only covenant replaced by the "New Covenant" with Jesus as the Savior, is the covenant the people of Israel made with God while still in the wilderness through Moses, see Jeremiah 31:31-33). Here when Peter refers to the covenant given to Abraham he doesn’t refer to it as being expired, he actually infers the opposite, he states that future generations of Jews will continue being a blessing for all of humanity.