Acts 3

Acts 3 details a remarkable miracle performed by Peter and John in Jerusalem. As they enter the temple, they encounter a man who has been lame since birth, seeking alms at the gate. Through the power of Jesus Christ, Peter heals the man, drawing a crowd in amazement. Peter then takes the opportunity to preach, explaining that this miracle happened through Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He calls the people to repent and turn to God so that they may be forgiven and receive times of refreshing from the Lord.

Acts 3:1-2 (NKJV)
1 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, 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 from those who entered the temple.

Peter and John follow the Jewish custom of praying at the temple, demonstrating their continued connection with Jewish worship practices. The lame man, brought to the gate each day, relies on others for his needs, revealing both his physical dependence and his social marginalization. This setup prepares us to see a miraculous event that will transcend the usual expectations for this man.

Acts 3:3-5 (NKJV)
3 Who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.
4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.”
5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.

When the man asks for alms, Peter commands his attention, preparing him for something beyond his expectations. The man's response reflects his hope for financial help, but Peter’s gaze signifies that something profound is about to happen, setting the stage for a divine encounter.

Acts 3:6-8 (NKJV)
6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: 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 ankle bones received strength.
8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.

Peter, though lacking material wealth, offers something infinitely greater through Jesus. His command to rise and walk, combined with the act of helping him up, results in an instant, complete healing. The man’s response—walking, leaping, and praising—demonstrates his joy and gratitude, and his entry into the temple signifies a newfound spiritual inclusion.

Acts 3:9-10 (NKJV)
9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God.
10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

The crowd’s recognition of the formerly lame man causes astonishment. This miracle becomes a powerful testimony to God’s work, as people are drawn to witness the transformation. The healing serves as a tangible sign of divine power, sparking curiosity and opening their hearts to Peter's upcoming message.

Acts 3:11-12 (NKJV)
11 Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed.
12 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?

The man clinging to Peter and John draws the crowd's attention, giving Peter a platform. Peter redirects their amazement, clarifying that the miracle was not due to his own power but to Jesus. His humility points them to the true source of healing and sets the tone for his gospel message.

Acts 3:13 (NKJV)
13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go.

Peter identifies the true God as “the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers.” This is the same one true God worshiped by Israel throughout the Old Testament—the Father, who sent, raised, and glorified His Son Jesus. Peter does not present God as a Trinity or as a “three-in-one God.” Instead, he clearly distinguishes between God and Jesus: God is the One who glorified, and Jesus is the One who was glorified. Jesus is called God’s “Servant,” or “Son” in some translations, showing that He came from God, represented God, obeyed God, and fulfilled God’s saving purpose. This does not lower Christ as if He were merely a man, because He is the divine Son of God; but it does show the biblical order between the Father and the Son. The Father is the God of the patriarchs, the source of authority and glory, and Jesus is His beloved Son, whom He exalted after His rejection, suffering, and death. Therefore, this verse points to the Father as the one true God, and to Jesus as the Son whom the Father glorified as the promised Messiah and Saviour.

Acts 3:14 (NKJV)
14 But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,
15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.

Peter strongly contrasts who Jesus truly is with how the people treated Him. Jesus is called “the Holy One and the Just,” meaning He was perfectly pure, righteous, and innocent before God. Yet the people denied Him and chose a murderer to be released instead, showing the terrible blindness and injustice of rejecting the Messiah. Peter then says they “killed the Prince of life,” which means they put to death the very One through whom God gives life, salvation, and resurrection. This reveals the seriousness of their sin: they rejected the righteous Son of God and chose death over life. But their rejection did not defeat God’s purpose, because God raised Jesus from the dead. Again, Peter makes a clear distinction between God and Jesus: Jesus is the Holy and Righteous One, the Prince of life, and the Son whom God raised; while God, the Father, is the One who raised and vindicated Him. The apostles were witnesses of this resurrection, proving that Jesus was not a false teacher or failed Messiah, but the living Christ whom God exalted as Saviour.

Acts 3:16-18 (NKJV)
16 And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
17 Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers.
18 But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.

Peter explains that the man’s healing came through faith in Jesus’ name, not through any human means. He acknowledges the crowd’s ignorance in rejecting Jesus but emphasizes that this fulfilled prophecy. This appeal invites the listeners to see God’s sovereignty at work and encourages them toward repentance without condemnation.

Acts 3:19-21 (NKJV)
19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before,
21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.

Peter calls the people to repentance, promising that their sins will be forgiven and that they will experience “times of refreshing” from God. He points to Jesus’ return and the ultimate restoration, reminding them that this hope has been foretold throughout Scripture. The invitation is one of restoration, renewal, and expectation of Jesus' second coming.

Acts 3:22-24 (NKJV)
22 For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you.
23 And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’
24 Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days.

Peter affirms that Jesus is the fulfillment of Moses' prophecy in Deuteronomy 18:15-19, where Moses foretold that God would raise up a Prophet like himself from among the people and that they must listen to Him. Peter identifies Jesus as this promised Prophet, underscoring His divine authority and the serious consequences of rejecting Him, as those who ignore His words will face judgment. By referencing not only Moses but “all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow,” Peter highlights that Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection are the culmination of God’s redemptive plan, consistently foretold by Israel’s prophets. This message reveals that faith in Jesus is the fulfillment of ancient promises, calling everyone to recognize Him as the long-awaited Messiah and to heed His words.

Acts 3:25-26 (NKJV)
25 You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’
26 To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.

Peter affirms the crowd’s heritage as descendants of the prophets and covenant recipients. He emphasizes that the blessing promised to Abraham finds its fulfillment in Jesus, who has come first to them. Jesus’ mission, Peter explains, is to turn them from sin, inviting them into the blessings of the covenant.