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Acts 3 · Berean Standard Bible

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¹One afternoon Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. ²And a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those entering the temple courts. ³When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. ⁴Peter looked directly at him, as did John. “Look at us!” said Peter. ⁵So the man gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. ⁶But Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!” ⁷Taking him by the right hand, Peter helped him up, and at once the man’s feet and ankles were made strong. ⁸He sprang to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and leaping and praising God. ⁹When all the people saw him walking and praising God, ¹⁰they recognized him as the man who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. ¹¹While the man clung to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and ran to them in the walkway called Solomon’s Colonnade. ¹²And when Peter saw this, he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why are you surprised by this? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? ¹³The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus. You handed Him over and rejected Him before Pilate, even though he had decided to release Him. ¹⁴You rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. ¹⁵You killed the Author of life, but God raised Him from the dead, and we are witnesses of the fact. ¹⁶By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know has been made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Him that has given him this complete healing in your presence. ¹⁷And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. ¹⁸But in this way God has fulfilled what He foretold through all the prophets, saying that His Christ would suffer. ¹⁹Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away, ²⁰that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus, the Christ, who has been appointed for you. ²¹Heaven must take Him in until the time comes for the restoration of all things, which God announced long ago through His holy prophets. ²²For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to Him in everything He tells you. ²³Everyone who does not listen to Him will be completely cut off from among his people.’ ²⁴Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have proclaimed these days. ²⁵And you are sons of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers when He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all the families of the earth will be blessed.’ ²⁶When God raised up His Servant, He sent Him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”

Berean Standard Bible · public domain. More versions and languages in the Reading Plan.

Acts

Acts 3

The Healing at the Temple Gate and the Power of Jesus' Name

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Objective

Acts 3 demonstrates the continued ministry of Jesus through His apostles as Peter and John, empowered by the Holy Spirit, heal a crippled man in the name of Jesus. This miraculous event provides a platform for Peter to preach the Gospel and call the people of Jerusalem to repentance. The chapter emphasizes the power of Jesus' name, the fulfillment of prophecy, and the invitation for all to receive the blessings of God through faith. This commentary explores Acts 3 with artistic reflection, theological depth, and practical application.

Detailed Analysis

Event Description

Peter and John go to the temple at the hour of prayer and encounter a man lame from birth, who is begging at the gate called Beautiful. When he asks for money, Peter tells him, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." Peter helps him to his feet, and the man is immediately healed. He begins walking, jumping, and praising God, drawing the attention of the crowd.

Central Themes

The Power of Jesus' Name: The healing is performed not through Peter's power but in the name of Jesus, demonstrating that His authority continues through His followers.

Faith and Restoration: The man's healing symbolizes the holistic restoration that faith in Jesus brings--physical, spiritual, and communal.

Public Witness: The healing takes place in a public setting, allowing the miracle to serve as a testimony to God's power and a platform for the Gospel.

Cultural & Historical Context

The Beautiful Gate: The temple was central to Jewish worship, and this gate likely served as a highly trafficked area. The man's placement here underscores his exclusion from full participation in worship due to his disability (see Leviticus 21:16-20). Healing in Jesus' Name: The invocation of Jesus' name echoes His own ministry and authority, as seen in Mark 16:17-18. Joy and Praise: The man's response mirrors other healing accounts in Scripture, such as the healing of the blind man in Luke 18:35-43, where praise to God is a natural response to His work.

Key Verse

"Then Peter said, 'Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.'" (Acts 3:6)

Vivid Artistic Descriptions

The Healing of the Lame Beggar

A beggar sits slumped at the Beautiful Gate, his outstretched hand trembling as Peter and John approach. The moment Peter invokes the name of Jesus, a golden warmth surrounds the man, spreading through his limbs as strength floods his legs for the first time. He leaps up, his laughter and praise echoing through the temple courts as the crowd gathers, astonished.

Peter's Sermon at Solomon's Colonnade

The healed man stands beside Peter and John, his exuberance drawing the crowd closer. Peter, standing under the colonnade's massive pillars, raises his voice with conviction, his words cutting through the murmurs of amazement. The faces of the crowd shift--from wonder to guilt to hope--as Peter proclaims the risen Christ and calls them to repentance.

Song

In the Name of Jesus

Verse 1

A beggar cried, "Have mercy, please," At the gate of beauty, on bended knees. But silver and gold were not the cure, In Jesus' name, his healing sure.

Verse 2

"Not by our power, nor by our might, But through the risen Savior's light. Repent and turn, let sins be wiped, For times of refreshing, hearts ignited."

Chorus

Oh, in the name of Jesus, power flows, Grace abounds, and mercy shows. Lift your voice, His wonders proclaim, There's life and healing in His name.

Bridge

The promise of Abraham lives today, Through Christ, the truth, the life, the way. Blessings flow, and the nations sing, Jesus is Savior, Lord, and King.

Outro

There's life and healing in His name.

Practical Application

Personal Life

Trust in the power of Jesus' name in your own life--whether for healing, strength, or guidance. His name carries authority, and prayer in His name aligns us with His will.

Reflect on your own "Beautiful Gate" moments: times when God has shown you unexpected grace and restoration.

Community & Society

Like Peter and John, extend compassion to those in need--not just materially but spiritually. Share the hope and power of Jesus with others, especially those longing for restoration.

Seek opportunities to boldly proclaim Christ in public spaces, trusting the Spirit to empower your witness.

Global Perspective

Recognize the global scope of God's promise to Abraham and support efforts to share the Gospel across cultural and national boundaries.

Pray for times of refreshing and spiritual awakening in communities worldwide, that many would turn to Christ.

Conclusion

Acts 3 is a powerful demonstration of the continuing ministry of Jesus through His Spirit-filled followers. The healing at the Beautiful Gate reveals the authority of Jesus' name, while Peter's sermon calls people to repentance and faith. This chapter reminds us that God is still in the business of restoration--physical, spiritual, and communal--and that He invites us to participate in His mission of proclaiming the Gospel to all. Let us walk in the boldness and compassion of Peter and John, trusting in the life-giving power of Jesus' name.