Peter's first recorded miracle after Pentecost occurs at the temple's "Beautiful" gate, ironically transforming physical beauty into spiritual wholeness through Jesus' name.
Acts 3
The Healing of the Lame Man
1Peter and John were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
2A certain man who was lame from his mother’s womb was being carried, whom they laid daily at the door of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask gifts for the needy of those who entered into the temple.
3Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive gifts for the needy.
4Peter, fastening his eyes on him, with John, said, “Look at us.”
5He listened to them, expecting to receive something from them.
6But Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!”
7He took him by the right hand and raised him up. Immediately his feet and his ankle bones received strength.
8Leaping up, he stood and began to walk. He entered with them into the temple, walking, leaping, and praising God.
9All the people saw him walking and praising God.
10They recognized him, that it was he who used to sit begging for gifts for the needy at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. They were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Peter's Second Sermon
11As the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.
12When Peter saw it, he responded to the people, “You men of Israel, why do you marvel at this man? Why do you fasten your eyes on us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him walk?
13The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had determined to release him.
14But you denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,
15and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, to which we are witnesses.
16By faith in his name, his name has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which is through him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
17“Now, brothers, I know that you did this in ignorance, as did also your rulers.
18But the things which God announced by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled.
19“Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, so that there may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord,
20and that he may send Christ Jesus, who was ordained for you before,
21whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God spoke long ago by the mouth of his holy prophets.
22For Moses indeed said to the fathers, ‘The Lord God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, like me. You shall listen to him in all things whatever he says to you.
23It will be that every soul that will not listen to that prophet will be utterly destroyed from among the people.’
24Yes, and all the prophets from Samuel and those who followed after, as many as have spoken, also told of these days.
25You are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘All the families of the earth will be blessed through your offspring.’
26God, having raised up his servant Jesus, sent him to you first to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your wickedness.”
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Theme
Peter and John heal a man lame from birth at the temple gate, demonstrating the continuing power of Jesus through his apostles. The miraculous healing draws a crowd, providing Peter the opportunity to deliver his second major sermon, where he calls the people to repentance and faith in Jesus as the promised Messiah. Peter emphasizes that the healing occurred through Jesus' name and power, not their own, while urging his Jewish audience to recognize Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.
Context
Following the Pentecost events and early church growth in chapter 2, this chapter demonstrates the apostles' continuing miraculous ministry and evangelistic boldness in Jerusalem.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-3 Setting at the Temple Peter and John encounter a lame beggar at the Beautiful Gate during the hour of prayer
- 4-8 The Miraculous Healing Peter heals the man in Jesus' name, resulting in immediate restoration and joyful praise
- 9-11 The Crowd's Amazement Witnesses recognize the formerly lame man and gather in wonder at Solomon's Porch
- 12-16 Peter's Explanation Peter redirects attention from himself to Jesus, explaining the healing came through faith in Christ's name
- 17-21 Call to Repentance Peter acknowledges their ignorance while calling for repentance and promising times of refreshing
- 22-26 Prophetic Fulfillment Peter connects Jesus to Moses' prophecy and God's covenant promises to Abraham
The Healing of the Lame Man
3:1–3:10 narrative narration triumphant
Peter and John heal a man lame from birth at the temple gate called Beautiful, demonstrating the power of Jesus' name. The miraculous healing causes wonder and amazement among all who witness it.
person_contrast
Peter's first recorded miracle after Pentecost occurs at the temple's "Beautiful" gate, ironically transforming physical beauty into spiritual wholeness through Jesus' name.
Peter's Second Sermon
3:11–3:26 narrative speech urgent
Peter preaches his second sermon after the healing miracle, calling for repentance and explaining how Jesus fulfills the prophetic promises. He emphasizes that the healing demonstrates God's power through faith in Jesus' name.
quotation_chain
Peter uniquely weaves together Moses' prophet-like-me promise (Deuteronomy 18:15) with Abraham's seed-blessing covenant (Genesis 22:18) to present Jesus as both Israel's anticipated prophet and the nations' promised blessing.
Insights
Peter uniquely weaves together Moses' prophet-like-me promise (Deuteronomy 18:15) with Abraham's seed-blessing covenant (Genesis 22:18) to present Jesus as both Israel's anticipated prophet and the nations' promised blessing.
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Acts 3:1 4 references
Lexicals 4
Acts 10:9 Lexical
Now on the next day as they were on their journey and got close to the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray at ab…
Mark 13:3 Lexical
As he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,
Luke 9:28 Lexical
About eight days after these sayings, he took with him Peter, John, and James, and went up onto the mountain to pray.
Acts 1:13 Lexical
When they had come in, they went up into the upper room where they were staying, that is Peter, John, James, Andrew, Phi…
Acts 3:2 5 references
Lexicals 5
Acts 14:8 Lexical
At Lystra a certain man sat, impotent in his feet, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked.
Acts 5:25 Lexical
One came and told them, “Behold, the men whom you put in prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people.”
Acts 22:3 Lexical
“I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according…
Luke 8:41 Lexical
Behold, a man named Jairus came. He was a ruler of the synagogue. He fell down at Jesus’ feet and begged him to come int…
Acts 9:2 Lexical
and asked for letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or w…
Acts 3:3 1 reference
Acts 3:4 1 reference
Acts 3:6 2 references
Acts 3:8 1 reference
Acts 3:10 1 reference
Acts 3:11 2 references
Acts 3:12 5 references
Lexicals 5
Acts 2:22 Lexical
“Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God to you by mighty works and wonders and signs…
Acts 21:28 Lexical
crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and th…
Matthew 4:18 Lexical
Walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers: Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casting a net i…
Luke 7:22 Lexical
Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John the things which you have seen and heard: that the blind receive their sight, the…
Acts 28:17 Lexical
After three days Paul called together those who were the leaders of the Jews. When they had come together, he said to th…
Acts 3:13 5 references
Lexicals 5
Acts 7:32 Lexical
‘I am the God of your fathers: the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ Moses trembled and dared not…
Matthew 22:32 Lexical
‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living…
Mark 12:26 Lexical
But about the dead, that they are raised, haven’t you read in the book of Moses about the Bush, how God spoke to him, sa…
Matthew 1:2 Lexical
Abraham became the father of Isaac. Isaac became the father of Jacob. Jacob became the father of Judah and his brothers.
Luke 3:34 Lexical
the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,
Acts 3:14 2 references
Acts 3:15 1 reference
Acts 3:17 1 reference
Acts 3:18 1 reference
Acts 3:21 5 references
Lexicals 5
Luke 1:70 Lexical
(as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been from of old),
Revelation 20:3 Lexical
and cast him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more until the th…
Revelation 10:6 Lexical
and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things…
Acts 1:16 Lexical
“Brothers, it was necessary that this Scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of…
Acts 26:22 Lexical
Having therefore obtained the help that is from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, saying noth…
Acts 3:22 5 references
Lexicals 5
Acts 7:37 Lexical
This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, ‘The Lord our God will raise up a prophet for you from among your…
Luke 16:31 Lexical
“He said to him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the d…
Matthew 22:24 Lexical
saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offsprin…
Luke 24:44 Lexical
He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you, that all things which are written in the law of Mo…
Acts 26:22 Lexical
Having therefore obtained the help that is from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, saying noth…
Acts 3:25 5 references
Lexicals 5
Luke 1:55 Lexical
as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever.”
Romans 4:16 Lexical
For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, to the end that the promise may be sure to all the off…
Hebrews 8:9 Lexical
not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of…
John 8:53 Lexical
Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died. Who do you make yourself out to be?”
Hebrews 10:16 Lexical
“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days,” says the Lord, “I will put my laws on their heart, I…
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