1 Now G1161 Peter G4074 and G2532 John G2491 went up G305 together G1909 G846 into G1519 the temple G2411 at the hour G5610 of prayer, G4335 being the ninth G1766 hour.
2 And G2532 a certain G5100 man G435 lame G5225 G5560 from G1537 his G846 mother's G3384 womb G2836 was carried, G941 whom G3739 they laid G5087 daily G2250 G2596 at G4314 the gate G2374 of the temple G2411 which G3588 is called G3004 Beautiful, G5611 to ask G154 alms G1654 of G3844 them that entered G1531 into G1519 the temple; G2411
3 Who G3739 seeing G1492 Peter G4074 and G2532 John G2491 about G3195 to go G1524 into G1519 the temple G2411 asked G2065 G2983 an alms. G1654
4 And G1161 Peter, G4074 fastening his eyes G816 upon G1519 him G846 with G4862 John, G2491 said, G2036 Look G991 on G1519 us. G2248
5 And G1161 he gave heed G1907 unto them, G846 expecting G4328 to receive G2983 something G5100 of G3844 them. G846
6 Then G1161 Peter G4074 said, G2036 Silver G694 and G2532 gold G5553 have G5225 I G3427 none; G3756 but G1161 such as G3739 G5124 I have G2192 give I G1325 thee: G4671 In G1722 the name G3686 of Jesus G2424 Christ G5547 of Nazareth G3480 rise up G1453 and G2532 walk. G4043
7 And G2532 he took G4084 him G846 by the right G1188 hand, G5495 and lifted him up: G1453 and G1161 immediately G3916 his G846 feet G939 and G2532 ankle bones G4974 received strength. G4732
8 And G2532 he leaping up G1814 stood, G2476 and G2532 walked, G4043 and G2532 entered G1525 with G4862 them G846 into G1519 the temple, G2411 walking, G4043 and G2532 leaping, G242 and G2532 praising G134 God. G2316
9 And G2532 all G3956 the people G2992 saw G1492 him G846 walking G4043 and G2532 praising G134 God: G2316
10 And G5037 they knew G1921 that G3754 it G846 was G2258 he G3778 which G3588 sat G2521 for G4314 alms G1654 at G1909 the Beautiful G5611 gate G4439 of the temple: G2411 and G2532 they were filled G4130 with wonder G2285 and G2532 amazement G1611 at G1909 that which had happened G4819 unto him. G846
11 And G1161 as the lame man G5560 which was healed G2390 held G2902 Peter G4074 and G2532 John, G2491 all G3956 the people G2992 ran together G4936 unto G4314 them G846 in G1909 the porch G4745 that is called G2564 Solomon's, G4672 greatly wondering. G1569
12 And G1161 when Peter G4074 saw G1492 it, he answered G611 unto G4314 the people, G2992 Ye men G435 of Israel, G2475 why G5101 marvel ye G2296 at G1909 this? G5129 or G2228 why G5101 look ye so earnestly G816 on us, G2254 as though G5613 by our own G2398 power G1411 or G2228 holiness G2150 we had made G4160 this man G846 to walk? G4043
13 The God G2316 of Abraham, G11 and G2532 of Isaac, G2464 and G2532 of Jacob, G2384 the God G2316 of our G2257 fathers, G3962 hath glorified G1392 his G846 Son G3816 Jesus; G2424 whom G3739 ye G5210 delivered up, G3860 and G2532 denied G720 him G846 in G2596 the presence G4383 of Pilate, G4091 when he was determined G2919 to let G630 him G1565 go. G630
14 But G1161 ye G5210 denied G720 the Holy One G40 and G2532 the Just, G1342 and G2532 desired G154 a murderer G5406 G435 to be granted G5483 unto you; G5213
15 And G1161 killed G615 the Prince G747 of life, G2222 whom G3739 God G2316 hath raised G1453 from G1537 the dead; G3498 whereof G3739 we G2249 are G2070 witnesses. G3144
16 And G2532 his G846 name G3686 through G1909 faith G4102 in his G846 name G3686 hath made G4732 this man G5026 strong, G4732 whom G3739 ye see G2334 and G2532 know: G1492 yea, G2532 the faith G4102 which is G1325 by G1223 him G846 hath given G1325 him G846 this G5126 perfect soundness G3647 in the presence G561 of you G5216 all. G3956
17 And G2532 now, G3568 brethren, G80 I wot G1492 that G3754 through G2596 ignorance G52 ye did G4238 it, as G5618 did also G2532 your G5216 rulers. G758
18 But G1161 those things, which G3739 God G2316 before had shewed G4293 by G1223 the mouth G4750 of all G3956 his G846 prophets, G4396 that Christ G5547 should suffer, G3958 he hath G4137 so G3779 fulfilled. G4137
19 Repent ye G3340 therefore, G3767 and G2532 be converted, G1994 that G1519 your G5216 sins G266 may be blotted out, G1813 when G3704 the times G2540 of refreshing G403 shall come G302 G2064 from G575 the presence G4383 of the Lord; G2962
20 And G2532 he shall send G649 Jesus G2424 Christ, G5547 which before was preached G4296 unto you: G5213
21 Whom G3739 the heaven G3772 G3303 must G1163 receive G1209 until G891 the times G5550 of restitution G605 of all things, G3956 which G3739 God G2316 hath spoken G2980 by G1223 the mouth G4750 of all G3956 his G846 holy G40 prophets G4396 since G575 the world began. G165
22 For G1063 Moses G3475 truly G3303 said G2036 unto G4314 the fathers, G3962 G3754 A prophet G4396 shall G450 the Lord G2962 your G5216 God G2316 raise up G450 unto you G5213 of G1537 your G5216 brethren, G80 like G5613 unto me; G1691 him G846 shall ye hear G191 in G2596 all things G3956 whatsoever G3745 G302 he shall say G2980 unto G4314 you. G5209
23 And G1161 it shall come to pass, G2071 that every G3956 soul, G5590 which G3748 G302 will G191 not G3361 hear G191 that G1565 prophet, G4396 shall be destroyed G1842 from among G1537 the people. G2992
24 Yea, G2532 and G1161 all G3956 the prophets G4396 from G575 Samuel G4545 and G2532 those that follow after, G2517 as many as G3745 have spoken, G2980 have G4293 likewise G2532 foretold G4293 of these G5025 days. G2250
25 Ye G5210 are G2075 the children G5207 of the prophets, G4396 and G2532 of the covenant G1242 which G3739 God G2316 made G1303 with G4314 our G2257 fathers, G3962 saying G3004 unto G4314 Abraham, G11 And G2532 in thy G4675 seed G4690 shall G1757 all G3956 the kindreds G3965 of the earth G1093 be blessed. G1757
26 Unto you G5213 first G4412 God, G2316 having raised up G450 his G846 Son G3816 Jesus, G2424 sent G649 him G846 to bless G2127 you, G5209 in G1722 turning away G654 every one G1538 of you G5216 from G575 his iniquities. G4189
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Acts 3
Commentary on Acts 3 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 3
Ac 3:1-26. Peter Heals a Lame Man at the Temple Gate—Hs Address to the Wondering Multitude.
1-11. Peter and John—already associated by their Master, first with James (Mr 1:29; 5:37; 9:2), then by themselves (Lu 22:8; and see Joh 13:23, 24). Now we find them constantly together, but John (yet young) only as a silent actor.
went up—were going up, were on their way.
2. a certain man lame from his mother's womb—and now "above forty years old" (Ac 4:22).
was carried—was wont to be carried.
4, 5. Peter fastening his eyes on him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed—that, through the eye, faith might be aided in its birth.
6. Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I thee—What a lofty superiority breathes in these words!
In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk—These words, uttered with supernatural power, doubtless begat in this poor man the faith that sent healing virtue through his diseased members.
7. And he took … and lifted him up—precisely what his Lord had done to his own mother-in-law (Mr 1:31).
his feet—"soles."
and ankle bones, &c.—the technical language of a physician (Col 4:14).
8. leaping up, stood … walked … entered the temple walking, leaping, and praising God—Every word here is emphatic, expressing the perfection of the cure, as Ac 3:7 its immediateness.
9. all the people saw him, &c.—as they assembled at the hour of public prayer, in the temple courts; so that the miracle had the utmost publicity.
10. they knew that it was he which sat for alms, &c.—(Compare Joh 9:8).
11. the lame man … held, &c.—This is human nature.
all the people ran together unto them in the porch, &c.—How vividly do these graphic details bring the whole scene before us! Thus was Peter again furnished with a vast audience, whose wonder at the spectacle of the healed beggar clinging to his benefactors prepared them to listen with reverence to his words.
12-16. why marvel at this?—For miracles are marvels only in relation to the limited powers of man.
as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk—Neither the might nor the merit of the cure are due to us, mere agents of Him whom we preach.
13. The God of Abraham, &c.—(See on Ac 2:22; Ac 2:36).
hath glorified his Son Jesus—rather, "his Servant Jesus," as the same word is rendered in Mt 12:18, but in that high sense in which Isaiah applies it always to Messiah (Isa 42:1; 49:6; 52:13; 53:11). When "Son" is intended a different word is used.
whom ye delivered up, &c.—With what heroic courage does Peter here charge his auditors with the heaviest of all conceivable crimes, and with what terrific strength of language are these charges clothed!
15. killed the Prince of life—Glorious paradox, but how piercing to the conscience of the auditors.
16. his name, through faith in his name, hath made this man strong, &c.—With what skill does the apostle use the miracle both to glorify his ascended Lord and bring the guilt of His blood more resistlessly home to his audience!
17-21. And now, brethren—Our preacher, like his Master, "will not break the bruised reed." His heaviest charges are prompted by love, which now hastens to assuage the wounds it was necessary to inflict.
I wot—"know."
through ignorance ye did it—(See marginal references, Lu 23:34; Ac 13:27; 26:9).
18. that Christ—The best manuscripts read, "that His Christ."
should suffer—The doctrine of a Suffering Messiah was totally at variance with the current views of the Jewish Church, and hard to digest even by the Twelve, up to the day of their Lord's resurrection. Our preacher himself revolted at it, and protested against it, when first nakedly announced, for which he received a terrible rebuke. Here he affirms it to be the fundamental truth of ancient prophecy realized unwittingly by the Jews themselves, yet by a glorious divine ordination. How great a change had the Pentecostal illumination wrought upon his views!
19. when the times of refreshing shall come—rather, "in order that the times of refreshing may come"; that long period of repose, prosperity and joy, which all the prophets hold forth to the distracted Church and this miserable world, as eventually to come, and which is here, as in all the prophets, made to turn upon the national conversion of Israel.
20. he shall send Jesus Christ—The true reading is, "He shall send your predestinated (or foreordained) Messiah, Jesus."
21. until the times—embracing the whole period between the ascension and the second advent of Christ.
restitution of all things—comprehending, probably, the rectification of all the disorders of the fall.
22-26. a prophet … like unto me—particularly in intimacy of communication with God (Nu 12:6-8), and as the mediatorial Head of a new order of things (Heb 3:2-6). Peter takes it for granted that, in the light of all he had just said, it would be seen at once that One only had any claim to be that Prophet.
him shall ye hear in all things, &c.—This part of the prediction is emphatically added, in order to shut up the audience to the obedience of faith, on pain of being finally "cut off" from the congregation of the righteous (Ps 1:1).
24. foretold of these days—of Messiah; all pointing to "the time of reformation" (Heb 9:10), though with more or less distinctness.
25. Ye are the children … of the covenant—and so the natural heirs of its promises.
in thy seed, &c.—(See on Ga 3:8, &c.).
26. God, having raised up—not from the dead, but having provided, prepared, and given.
his Son Jesus—"His Servant Jesus" (see on Ac 3:13).
sent him to bless you—literally, "sent Him blessing you," as if laden with blessing.
in turning away every one of you from his iniquities—that is, "Hitherto we have all been looking too much for a Messiah who should shed outward blessings upon the nation generally, and through it upon the world. But we have learned other things, and now announce to you that the great blessing with which Messiah has come laden is the turning away of every one of you from his iniquities." With what divine skill does the apostle, founding on resistless facts, here drive home to the conscience of his auditors their guilt in crucifying the Lord of Glory; then soothe their awakened minds by assurances of forgiveness on turning to the Lord, and a glorious future as soon as this shall come to pass, to terminate with the Personal Return of Christ from the heavens whither He has ascended; ending all with warnings, from their own Scriptures, to submit to Him if they would not perish, and calls to receive from Him the blessings of salvation.