彼得醫治瘸腿的乞丐

一天,在下午三點禱告的時間,彼得和約翰去聖殿。 有一個生來瘸腿的人天天被人抬到聖殿美門的外面,向進殿的人乞討。 他看見彼得和約翰要進殿,就求他們施捨。 二人定睛看他,彼得說:「看著我們!」 那人就緊盯著他們,期盼能有所收穫。

彼得說:「金子、銀子我都沒有,但是我把我有的給你。我奉拿撒勒人耶穌基督的名,命令你起來行走!」

彼得拉著他的右手扶他起來,那人的腳和踝骨立刻變得強健有力。 他跳了起來,站穩後開始行走,跟著彼得和約翰進入聖殿,走著跳著讚美上帝。 大家看見他一邊走一邊讚美上帝, 10 認出他就是那個在美門外面的乞丐,都為發生在他身上的事而感到驚奇、詫異。 11 那乞丐緊緊拉著彼得和約翰的手走到所羅門廊,眾人都跑過來,嘖嘖稱奇。

彼得傳揚基督

12 彼得看見這情形,就對大家說:「以色列人啊,何必驚奇呢?為什麼一直盯著我們呢?你們以為我們是憑自己的能力和虔誠叫這人行走嗎? 13 亞伯拉罕、以撒、雅各的上帝,就是我們祖先的上帝,已經使祂的僕人耶穌得了榮耀。你們把耶穌交給彼拉多,儘管彼拉多想釋放祂,你們卻在彼拉多面前棄絕祂! 14 你們棄絕了那聖潔公義者,竟然要求彼拉多釋放一個兇手。 15 你們殺了生命之主,上帝卻使祂從死裡復活了。我們都是這事的見證人。 16 你們認識的這個乞丐因為相信耶穌的名,得到了醫治。你們都看見了,他能痊癒是因為他信耶穌。

17 「弟兄們,我知道你們的所作所為是出於無知,你們的官長也是一樣。 18 但是上帝早已藉眾先知預言基督要受害,這事果然應驗了。 19 所以你們要悔改,歸向上帝,祂將除去你們一切的罪惡, 20 賜給你們煥然一新的日子,也將差遣祂預先為你們選立的基督耶穌降臨。 21 基督必須留在天上,直到萬物更新的時候,這是上帝自古以來藉聖先知的口說的。 22 摩西曾經說,『主——你們的上帝將要在你們中間興起一位像我一樣的先知。你們要留心聽祂的話, 23 凡不聽的,必將他從民中剷除。』

24 「從撒母耳到後來的所有先知都宣告過這些日子。 25 你們是先知的子孫,也承受了上帝和你們祖先所立的約。上帝曾對亞伯拉罕說,『天下萬族必因你的後裔而蒙福。』 26 上帝興起祂的僕人,首先差遣祂到你們中間賜福給你們,使你們脫離罪惡。」

Peter and John Heal a Lame Man

The time of prayer[a] was about three o'clock in the afternoon, and Peter and John were going into the temple. A man who had been born lame was being carried to the temple door. Each day he was placed beside this door, known as the Beautiful Gate. He sat there and begged from the people who were going in.

The man saw Peter and John entering the temple, and he asked them for money. But they looked straight at him and said, “Look up at us!”

The man stared at them and thought he was going to get something. But Peter said, “I don't have any silver or gold! But I will give you what I do have. In the name of Jesus Christ from Nazareth, get up and start walking.” Peter then took him by the right hand and helped him up.

At once the man's feet and ankles became strong, and he jumped up and started walking. He went with Peter and John into the temple, walking and jumping and praising God. Everyone saw him walking around and praising God. 10 They knew he was the beggar who had been lying beside the Beautiful Gate, and they were completely surprised. They could not imagine what had happened to the man.

Peter Speaks in the Temple

11 While the man kept holding on to Peter and John, the whole crowd ran to them in amazement at the place known as Solomon's Porch.[b] 12 Peter saw that a crowd had gathered, and he said:

Friends, why are you surprised at what has happened? Why are you staring at us? Do you think we have some power of our own? Do you think we were able to make this man walk because we are so religious? 13 (A) The God that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and our other ancestors worshiped has brought honor to his Servant[c] Jesus. He is the one you betrayed. You turned against him when he was being tried by Pilate, even though Pilate wanted to set him free.

14 (B) You rejected Jesus, who was holy and good. You asked for a murderer to be set free, 15 and you killed the one who leads people to life. But God raised him from death, and all of us can tell you what he has done. 16 You see this man, and you know him. He put his faith in the name of Jesus and was made strong. Faith in Jesus made this man completely well while everyone was watching.

17 My friends, I am sure you and your leaders didn't know what you were doing. 18 But God had his prophets tell that his Messiah would suffer, and now he has kept this promise. 19 So turn to God! Give up your sins, and you will be forgiven. 20 Then the time will come when the Lord will give you fresh strength. He will send you Jesus, his chosen Messiah. 21 But Jesus must stay in heaven until God makes all things new, just as his holy prophets promised long ago.

22 (C) Moses said, “The Lord your God will choose one of your own people to be a prophet, just as he chose me. Listen to everything he tells you. 23 (D) No one who disobeys this prophet will be one of God's people any longer.”

24 Samuel and all the other prophets who came later also spoke about what is now happening. 25 (E) You are really the ones God told his prophets to speak to. And you were given the promise God made to your ancestors. He said to Abraham, “All nations on earth will be blessed because of someone from your family.” 26 God sent his chosen Son[d] to you first, because God wanted to bless you and make each one of you turn away from your sins.

Footnotes

  1. 3.1 The time of prayer: Many of the Jewish people prayed in their homes at regular times each day (see Daniel 6.11), and on special occasions they prayed in the temple.
  2. 3.11 Solomon's Porch: A public place with tall columns along the east side of the temple.
  3. 3.13 Servant: Or “Son.”
  4. 3.26 Son: Or “Servant.”

Peter Heals a Lame Beggar

One day Peter and John(A) were going up to the temple(B) at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.(C) Now a man who was lame from birth(D) was being carried to the temple gate(E) called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg(F) from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,(G) walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping,(H) and praising God. When all the people(I) saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful,(J) and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Peter Speaks to the Onlookers

11 While the man held on to Peter and John,(K) all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade.(L) 12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,(M) the God of our fathers,(N) has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over(O) to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate,(P) though he had decided to let him go.(Q) 14 You disowned the Holy(R) and Righteous One(S) and asked that a murderer be released to you.(T) 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead.(U) We are witnesses(V) of this. 16 By faith in the name of Jesus,(W) this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.

17 “Now, fellow Israelites,(X) I know that you acted in ignorance,(Y) as did your leaders.(Z) 18 But this is how God fulfilled(AA) what he had foretold(AB) through all the prophets,(AC) saying that his Messiah would suffer.(AD) 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out,(AE) that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Messiah,(AF) who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. 21 Heaven must receive him(AG) until the time comes for God to restore everything,(AH) as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.(AI) 22 For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you.(AJ) 23 Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.’[a](AK)

24 “Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets(AL) who have spoken have foretold these days. 25 And you are heirs(AM) of the prophets and of the covenant(AN) God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’[b](AO) 26 When God raised up(AP) his servant, he sent him first(AQ) to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”

Footnotes

  1. Acts 3:23 Deut. 18:15,18,19
  2. Acts 3:25 Gen. 22:18; 26:4