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A Crippled Man is Healed

One afternoon, Peter and John were on their way to the Temple for the three o’clock prayer time.[a] Now a man who had been crippled from birth was being carried in. Every day people[b] would lay him at what was called the Beautiful Gate so that he could beg from those who were going into the Temple. When he saw that Peter and John were about to go into the Temple, he asked them to give him something.

Peter, along with John, looked him straight in the eye and said, “Look at us!” So the man[c] watched them closely, expecting to get something from them. However, Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold, but I’ll give you what I do have. In the name of Jesus the Messiah[d] from Nazareth, walk!”[e] Then Peter[f] took hold of his right hand and began to help him up. Immediately his feet and ankles became strong, and he sprang to his feet, stood up, and began to walk. Then he went with them into the Temple, walking, jumping, and praising God.

When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they knew that he was the man who used to sit and beg at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Peter Speaks to the Onlookers

11 While he was holding on to Peter and John, all the people came running to them in what was called “Solomon’s Colonnade”. They were dumbfounded. 12 When Peter saw this, he told the people: “Fellow Israelis, why are you wondering about this, and why are you staring at us as if by our own power or godliness we made him walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of our ancestors—has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you betrayed and rejected in the presence of Pilate, even though he had decided to let him go. 14 You rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer released to you, 15 and you killed the source of life, whom God raised from the dead. We are witnesses to that. 16 It is his name—that is, by faith in his name—that has healed this man whom you see and know. Yes, the faith that comes through Jesus[g] has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you.

17 “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance like your leaders. 18 This is how God fulfilled what he had predicted through the voice of all the prophets—that his Messiah[h] would suffer. 19 Therefore, repent and turn to him to have your sins blotted out, 20 so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord and so that he may send you Jesus, whom he appointed long ago to be the Messiah.[i] 21 He must remain in heaven until the time of universal restitution, which God announced long ago through the voice of his holy prophets. 22 In fact, Moses said,

‘The Lord[j] your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to everything he tells you.[k] 23 Any person who will not listen to that prophet will be utterly destroyed from among the people.’[l]

24 “Indeed, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who followed him, also announced these days. 25 You are the descendants of the prophets and the heirs[m] of the covenant that God made with your[n] ancestors when he told Abraham, ‘Through your descendant[o] all the families of the earth will be blessed.’[p] 26 When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning every one of you from your evil ways.”

Footnotes

  1. Acts 3:1 Lit. temple at the ninth hour
  2. Acts 3:2 Lit. they
  3. Acts 3:5 Lit. he
  4. Acts 3:6 Or Christ
  5. Acts 3:6 Other mss. read stand up and walk
  6. Acts 3:7 Lit. he
  7. Acts 3:16 Lit. him
  8. Acts 3:18 Or Christ
  9. Acts 3:20 Or Christ
  10. Acts 3:22 MT source citation reads Lord
  11. Acts 3:22 Cf. Deut 18:15-16
  12. Acts 3:23 Cf. Deut 18:19; Lev 23:29
  13. Acts 3:25 The Gk. lacks the heirs
  14. Acts 3:25 Other mss. read our
  15. Acts 3:25 Lit. seed
  16. Acts 3:25 Cf. Gen 22:18; 26:4

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.”