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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.”

First Encounter with the Authorities in Israel

Chapter 3

In the Name of Jesus Christ, Walk![a] One day, Peter and John were on their way to the temple for the hour of prayer at three o’clock in the afternoon.[b] A man who had been crippled from his birth was carried there every day and laid at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate[c] so that he could beg for alms from those who entered the temple.

When this man saw Peter and John about to enter into the temple, he asked them for alms. Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said to him, “Look at us!” He looked at them attentively, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.”

Then Peter grasped him by the right hand and helped him to get up. Immediately, his feet and ankles were strengthened. He jumped up, stood straight, and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. When all the people there saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the man who used to sit and beg for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

11 Peter Speaks to the People.[d] While he continued to cling to Peter and John, all the people came running in amazement toward them in Solomon’s Portico, as it is called. 12 When Peter saw the people assembling, he addressed them:

“Men of Israel, why are you so surprised at this? Why do you stare at us, as though we had enabled this man to walk by our own power or holiness? 13 The God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified his servant[e] Jesus whom you handed over and disowned in the presence of Pilate after he had decided to release him. 14 You rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 The author of life[f] you put to death, but God raised him from the dead. Of this we are witnesses.

16 “By faith in his name, this man whom you see here and who is known to you has been made strong. Faith in him has made him completely well in the presence of all of you.

17 “Now I am aware, brethren, that you acted out of ignorance as did your rulers. 18 God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the Prophets, revealing that his Christ would suffer. 19 Repent, therefore, and be converted so that your sins may be wiped away, 20 that a time of refreshment may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, that is, Jesus. 21 He must remain in heaven until the time comes for the universal restoration announced by God in ages past through his holy Prophets. 22 For Moses said,

‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me
    from among your own people.
To him shall you listen
    in whatever he tells you.
23 Everyone who refuses to listen to that prophet
    will be cut off from the people.’

24 “Furthermore, all the Prophets who have spoken, from Samuel onward, predicted these days.

25 “You are the heirs of the Prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors when he told Abraham, ‘And in your descendants all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ 26 When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each one of you from your wicked ways.”

Footnotes

  1. Acts 3:1 Peter’s action, as he takes the initiative in the first miracle that Acts ascribes to the disciples of the wonderworker of Nazareth, has special significance: it is done “in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth” and aims to show the presence of Christ and his divine activity.
  2. Acts 3:1 Three o’clock in the afternoon: literally, “the ninth hour.” See notes on Mt 27:35 and Mk 15:25.
  3. Acts 3:2 The Beautiful Gate: it was made of Corinthian bronze and led from the court of the Gentiles to the court of the women, on the side where Solomon’s Portico was (v. 11).
  4. Acts 3:11 The discourse that follows embodies the kerygma (i.e., the essentials of Christian preaching) as intended for a Jewish audience.
  5. Acts 3:13 Servant: the Greek word can also be translated as “son” or “child” (see Acts 3:26; 4:25, 27, 30). However, scholars believe that the word “servant” fits in better with the underlying idea of Jesus as the suffering Servant of the Lord (Isa 52:13—53:12).
  6. Acts 3:15 Author of life: this may also be rendered as the “prince of life” or the “pioneer of life”—indicating Jesus as the originator of salvation.

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