Acts 3
Notes
Transcript
Handout
1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; 3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. 4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. 7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ancle bones received strength. 8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God: 10 And they knew that it was he which 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. 11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.
Where did we see Peter and John together in scripture before?
They ran together to Jesus’ tomb.
It is also believed that they were together at the high priest’s palace at the trial of Christ.
Remember that Peter and John knew each other from a young age and worked together as fishermen.
Peter and John were close companions.
Peter and John were close friends who knew each other from youth, originally from Bethsaida and working together before being called by Jesus. Their friendship was deepened through their shared discipleship[1][2]. They complemented each other perfectly: Peter was impulsive and emotional, while John was cautious and calm. Peter was outspoken and a leader, while John was more reserved and perceptive[3][4].
Their friendship was particularly valuable because their differences actually made them stronger, with Peter’s impulsiveness checked by John’s caution, and John’s hesitation sometimes overcome by Peter’s boldness[2]. They were often together, appearing side by side in many significant moments, such as at the high priest’s palace, at the sepulchre, and seemingly almost inseparable after Jesus’ resurrection[1][2].
Their close friendship was clearly beneficial, helping them encourage each other in prayer, standing firm during persecution, and serving the Lord excellently in the early church[4]. They were both considered noble men, and their union was so strong that together they would have made an almost faultless character, with their intimate friendship being particularly influential[2].
[1] Madame Cecilia, From the Sepulchre to the Throne (New York; Cincinnati; Chicago: Benziger Brothers, 1914), 263–264.
[2] William M. Taylor, Peter the Apostle (New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1877), 186–187.
[3] Thomas Manton, The Complete Works of Thomas Manton, vol. 1 (London: James Nisbet & Co., 1870), 340.
[4] John G. Butler, Peter: The Illustrious Disciple, vol. Number Eight, Bible Biography Series (Clinton, IA: LBC Publications, 1993), 317.
What time of the day is the ninth hour?
3:00 pm.
We don’t know much about the beggar except that he was lame from his mothers womb, and that according to Acts 4:22, he was older than 40.
22 For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.
Where did they lay the beggar everyday?
The temple gate called Beautiful.
Who else in their lifetime would have seen this beggar given the location and the beggar’s age?
Jesus.
The lame man was a 40-year-old beggar who was well-known in Jerusalem. He was lame from birth and had never walked in his entire life. Every day, he was carried to the Temple and placed at the Beautiful Gate, occupying a prime begging location where he was essentially unavoidable to the heavy traffic of people passing by.[1]
He sat at the “temple gate called Beautiful”, which provided access between the Court of the Gentiles and the Court of the Women. People going between these courts would pass by him as he asked for alms.[1][2] Interestingly, Jesus had frequently been in the Temple compound and would have seen this individual, yet He never chose to heal him, demonstrating that even Jesus did not heal everyone.[1] Eventually, Peter healed the man “in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth”, and the man’s response was dramatic - he leaped up, stood, walked, and entered the temple praising God.[3]
[1] Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, The Book of Acts, ed. Christiane K. Jurik, First Edition, Ariel’s Bible Commentary (San Antonio, TX: Ariel Ministries, 2020), 89–90.
[2] Todd Bolen, “The Jerusalem Temple in the Book of Acts (Acts 2:46–3:10; 5:20–42; 21:26–30),” in Lexham Geographic Commentary on Acts through Revelation, ed. Barry J. Beitzel, Jessica Parks, and Doug Mangum, Lexham Geographic Commentary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2019), 119.
[3] Stephen Pimentel, Witnesses of the Messiah: On Acts of the Apostles 1–15 (Steubenville, OH: Emmaus Road Publishing, 2002), 55.
How does the beggar treat Peter and John?
Like everyone else, begging for alms.
When Peter and John interacted with the beggar, what did he expect?
Money.
I remember hearing a preacher once say that used to give money to the poor at traffic lights because they would tell him they were ‘hungry’. He said he stopped because he realized how they would misuse the money. He said they were not lying, they were indeed hungry, but they are not telling you what they are really hungry for. Today we pass by many who are hungry, but most are hungry for alcohol or drugs. I’m not saying have no compassion, rather I’m saying that we need to have compassion and help them actually satisfy that craving with the bread of life — Jesus.
One of the reasons I love the Rescue mission so much is due to the fact that I can help those in need by preaching the gospel and interacting with them in a place where they are more open to speak and ask questions.
Why did Peter and John have no money?
Remember, the church was in a financial crisis due to persecution and job loss from converting to Christ.
Remember how the church was selling their possessions in Acts 2 to provide for the needs of the people within the church.
Notice Luke’s attention to detail being a physician — his feet and ankle bones received strength.
Who did the healing? Peter? John?
Neither. Jesus did the healing through them by the power of the Holy Spirit.
What did Peter say?
In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
Did the man slowly get up?
No. He leaped up and began walking.
What is the great miracle that took place here?
That he who never learned to walk at all, stood up and walked around and leapt.
The real miracle here is that the lame man was able to walk immediately. He did not need to learn how to move, leap, or run. The power that gave him the ability to stand up also gave his body the natural ability to walk and move freely.
What was the man’s response to being healed?
He was praising God and running around the temple.
People probably thought that he was a crazy man.
How did the people respond to the beggar being healed?
Amazement and wonder.
Every time we read these words in the book of Acts, we should expect that there is a group of people that are burning with hatred and malice.
I find it interesting when we read the bible and we see a crowd who is full of wonder at what God has been doing.
Then it is like an old cartoon with the villain conspiring in the background on how to destroy those who God is using for His glory.
Solomon’s Porch was located on the east side of the temple[1][2][3]. It was a covered colonnade with a roof supported by stone pillars around 40 feet high, open toward the temple but closed on the outside. The temple area was surrounded by a huge stone wall, with porches lining the inner sides[3]. According to historical accounts, it was built upon a high wall rising from the Kidron Valley and featured magnificent galleries supported by columns[4]. In the Herodian Temple, it consisted of a double row of Corinthian columns about thirty-seven feet high and was a favorite place of resort, especially for facing the morning sun in winter[5]. Interestingly, it was the only part of Solomon’s temple that was not destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C.[3]
[1] Got Questions Ministries, Got Questions? Bible Questions Answered, vol. 2 (Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2014–2021).
[2] J.I. Packer, Merrill Chapin Tenney, and William White Jr., Nelson’s Illustrated Manners and Customs of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1997), 741.
[3] Ronald L. Trail, An Exegetical Summary of John 10–21, Exegetical Summaries (Dallas, TX: SIL International, 2018), 36.
[4] Thomas J. Shepherd, The Westminster Bible Dictionary (Philadelphia: Presbyterian Board of Publication, 1880), 482–483.
[5] Joseph S. Exell, The Biblical Illustrator (Acts): Or Anecdotes, Similes, Emblems, Illustrations; Expository, Scientific, Geographical, Historical, and Homiletic, Gathered from a Wide Range of Home and Foreign Literature, on the Verses of the Bible (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 299–300.
During Jesus’ temptation, He would be at the southeast corner of the temple overlooking the Kidron Valley about 100 feet over the pavement and a drop of around 300ft to the bottom of the Kidron Valley. Though Jesus did spend time at Solomon’s Porch in John 10:22-25.
22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch. 24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. 25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.
In the ancient world, people who had certain conditions like blindness, lameness, or other diseases were looked at as cursed by God. Also beauty was representative of God’s favor and blessing.
The crowd gathered around to see the man who was healed running around. He was also probably causing a lot of attention by his praise to God and those who witnessed the event making a lot of noise.
When Peter addresses the crowd, who does he credit for healing the man?
Jesus.
16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
Peter said that by calling on the name of Jesus Christ through faith caused the man to receive strength and healing.
What did Peter say regarding the people and rulers decision to crucify Jesus?
They did it ignorantly.
I think this applies to the majority of the Jewish people and Peter claims that they all need repentance.
I believe that the main leaders of the Sanhedrin were in full knowledge of what they were doing, but not all who were apart of the Sanhedrin may have had full involvement.
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Three: The Power of His Name (Acts 3:1–4:4)
In the Old Testament Law, there is a difference between deliberate sins and sins of ignorance (see
