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Acts Chapter 3

New Testament Historical 26 Verses

What is Acts 3 about?

The Spirit-empowered expansion of the church from Jerusalem to Rome under the apostles Peter and Paul. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1Now Peter and John were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, [being] the ninth [hour].
2And a certain man that was lame from his mother`s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the door of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
3who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked to receive an alms.
4And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him, with John, said, Look on us.
5And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something from them.
6But Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but what I have, that give I thee. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.
7And he took him by the right hand, and raised him up: and immediately his feet and his ankle-bones received strength.
8And leaping up, he stood, and began to walk; and he entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
9And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
10and they took knowledge of him, that it was he that sat for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
11And as he held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon`s, greatly wondering.
12And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this man? or why fasten ye your eyes on us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him to walk?
13The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Servant Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied before the face of Pilate, when he had determined to release him.
14But ye denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted unto you,
15and killed the Prince of life; whom God raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
16And by faith in his name hath his name made this man strong, whom ye behold and know: yea, the faith which is through him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
17And now, brethren, I know that in ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.
18But the things which God foreshowed by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled.
19Repent ye therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that so there may come seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord;
20and that he may send the Christ who hath been appointed for you, [even] Jesus:
21whom the heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, whereof God spake by the mouth of His holy prophets that have been from of old.
22Moses indeed said, A prophet shall the Lord God raise up unto you from among your brethren, like unto me. To him shall ye hearken in all things whatsoever he shall speak unto you.
23And it shall be, that every soul that shall not hearken to that prophet, shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.
24Yea and all the prophets from Samuel and them that followed after, as many as have spoken, they also told of these days.
25Ye are the sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
26Unto you first God, having raised up his Servant, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.
← Acts 2Acts 4 →

What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“Now Peter and John went up together into the temple, etc.] These two disciples were intimate companions, and great lovers of each other; they were often together: they are thought, by some, to have been together in the high priest’s palace at the trial of Christ; and they ran together to his sepulchre, (<431815>John 18:15,16 20:2-4) and they now went together to the temple, not to attend the daily sacrifice, which was now abolished by the sacrifice of Christ, but to attend to the duty of prayer, which was still in force, and that they might have an opportunity of preaching Christ, where there was a number of…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“PETER HEALS A LAME MAN AT THE TEMPLE GATE--HS ADDRESS TO THE WONDERING MULTITUDE. (Acts 3:1-26) Peter and John--already associated by their Master, first with James (Mar 1:29; Mar 5:37; Mar 9:2), then by themselves (Luk 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.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“Peter and John went up ... - In Luke 24:53, it is said that the apostles were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. From Acts 2:46, it is clear that all the disciples were accustomed daily to resort to the temple for devotion. Whether they joined in the sacrifices of the temple-service is not said; but the thing is not improbable. This was the place and the manner in which they and their fathers had worshipped. They came slowly to the conclusion that they were to leave the temple, and they would naturally resort there with their countrymen to worship the God of their fathers. In the previous…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 1
“The ninth hour - The Jews divided the time from sunrise to sunset into twelve hours; which were consequently of unequal length at different times of the year, as the days were longer or shorter. The third hour therefore was nine in the morning; the ninth, three in the afternoon; but not exactly. For the third hour was the middle space between sunrise and noon; which, if the sun rose at five, (the earliest hour of its rising in that climate,) was half an hour after eight: if at seven (the latest hour of its rising there) was half an hour after nine. The chief hours of prayer were the third and ninth; at which…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“3:1-11 Jesus’ promise that his disciples would do even greater works than he had done (John 14:12; see Mark 16:20) was fulfilled in the signs, wonders, and mighty works of the apostles (Acts 2:43; 5:12; 8:4-8). Here, Peter clearly exercised the power to heal in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene (3:6, 16). The cure was instant and undeniable (3:8), resulting in the man’s praising God (3:8-9; cp. 2:47; 16:25; Luke 2:20; 17:15-18; 18:43; 19:37; 24:53). This is the first of many demonstrations of divine power given to disciples in Acts (Acts 4:24-31; 5:12; 6:8; 8:6; 9:33-42; 28:8).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“Peter: Act 4:13, Act 8:14; Mat 17:1, Mat 26:37; Joh 13:23-25, Joh 20:2-9, Joh 21:7, Joh 21:18-22; Gal 2:9 went: Act 2:46, Act 5:25; Luk 24:53 the hour: Act 10:3, Act 10:30; Exo 29:39; Num 28:4; Kg1 18:36; Psa 55:17; Dan 6:10, Dan 9:21; Luk 1:10, Luk 23:44-46 Acts 3:2”
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