Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
A man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said: "Look at us." And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said:
"I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. (Acts 3:1–10).
The Jewish reckoning of time on a day began at 6 am, which is the first hour. This means that the ninth hour is 3 pm. The Jews generally observed three periods of prayer a day in the temple; 9 am, noon, and 3 pm, so this is the evening prayer.
There are two reasons why this miracle took place on this day:
- God wanted to pour out mercy on the life of a man who had been born lame and restore him. Give him life back so that he could survive in that culture without being dependent on other people.
- This miracle was intended to arouse people's wonder and amazement so that they would begin to ask questions and then hear the good news of the gospel. Miracles are intended to draw people to the goodness of God.
While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together
to them in the portico called Solomon’s. And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: "Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all. And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom Heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. Moses said: 'The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.' And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham: 'And in your offspring shall all the families of the Earth be blessed.' God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness." (Acts 3:11–10).
to them in the portico called Solomon’s. And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: "Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all. And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom Heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. Moses said: 'The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.' And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham: 'And in your offspring shall all the families of the Earth be blessed.' God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness." (Acts 3:11–10).
There was no natural ability that could make this lame man stand up and walk.
It was a supernatural healing from God. This was what God had gifted them to do,
see Spiritual Gifts. This healing occurred through faith in the person of Jesus Christ.
Peter then had to give the people the bad news (that they were sinners) before he gave them the good news (they could still be forgiven but needed to repent).
It was a supernatural healing from God. This was what God had gifted them to do,
see Spiritual Gifts. This healing occurred through faith in the person of Jesus Christ.
Peter then had to give the people the bad news (that they were sinners) before he gave them the good news (they could still be forgiven but needed to repent).
Peter speaks primarily to a Jewish audience who know and understand the Hebrew Scripture. He therefore appeal to them as a Jewish nation. In our time we speak to people as individuals, who often know and understand very little of the Bible.
And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. (Acts 4:1–3).
The Sadducees didn't believe in a resurrection from the dead,
see Our Resurrection from Death. Peter and John were arrested because a man
who was born cripple now walks, and because they preached the gospel.
see Our Resurrection from Death. Peter and John were arrested because a man
who was born cripple now walks, and because they preached the gospel.
But many of those who had heard the Word believed, and the number of
the men came to about 5000. On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired: "By what power or by what name did you do this?" Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:4–13). See this explained at time 10:56–29:58 in Acts 4 (Part 1) :1-31 • There is Salvation in no one Else.
the men came to about 5000. On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired: "By what power or by what name did you do this?" Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:4–13). See this explained at time 10:56–29:58 in Acts 4 (Part 1) :1-31 • There is Salvation in no one Else.
But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, saying: "What shall we do with these men? For that
a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name." So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them: "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard." (Acts 4:14–20).
a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name." So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them: "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard." (Acts 4:14–20).
Whenever a human authority structure attempts to contradict or undermine what has been given as a command by God through his Word, we are free to say no thanks. We are accountable to a higher authority. This is what we call civil disobedience and isn't rebellion. It is obedience to God. See also This World Is Not Our Home in
The Book of Romans.
The Book of Romans.
And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old. When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said: "Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the Earth and the sea and everything in them, who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit: 'Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the Earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed', for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your Word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus." And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and continued to speak the Word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:21–31).
and continued to speak the Word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:21–31).
See The Book of Acts.
See also Some stories close related to the gospels at the end of
