Acts Chapter 3 — Healing at the Beautiful Gate
Peter and John heal a man who was born lame at the temple gate, drawing a crowd that Peter addresses by preaching about Jesus.
1Peter and John were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.*3:00 p.m.
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.
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,†The word for “brothers” here may be also correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.” 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.’✡Deuteronomy 18:15,18-19
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.’‡or, seed✡Genesis 22:18; 26:4
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.”
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Acts 3:6
“But 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!””
This verse highlights the shift from material expectations to spiritual restoration through the power of Jesus.
Acts 3:15
“and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, to which we are witnesses.”
It provides a clear declaration of the resurrection and establishes the apostles as direct witnesses of the event.
Acts 3:19
“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,”
This verse presents the core call to action in Peter's sermon, linking repentance with spiritual renewal.
Chapter Summary
Peter and John encounter a man lame from birth at the temple's Beautiful Gate. Instead of giving money, Peter heals him in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. The man enters the temple leaping and praising God, causing a stir among the witnesses who recognize him as the local beggar. At Solomon's Portico, Peter addresses the gathered crowd, clarifying that the healing occurred through faith in Jesus rather than by any human power. He identifies Jesus as the "Prince of Life" whom the people delivered to Pilate but whom God raised from the dead. Peter urges the crowd to repent so their sins may be blotted out and calls on the testimony of the prophets, including Moses and Samuel, to show that Jesus is the promised Messiah and descendant of Abraham meant to bless all nations.
Frequently Asked Questions
The miracle occurred at the door of the temple called the Beautiful Gate, and the subsequent sermon was delivered in the area known as Solomon’s Portico.
Peter was explaining to the lame man that he did not have money to give as alms, but he offered a miraculous healing in the name of Jesus Christ instead.
The people were filled with wonder and amazement because they recognized the man as the same beggar who had sat at the temple gate for years.
Peter cites Moses, Samuel, and Abraham to demonstrate that the coming of Jesus and his suffering were foretold long ago in the scriptures.
Study Note
The 'Beautiful Gate' is traditionally identified as the Nicanor Gate, which was famous for its ornate Corinthian bronze craftsmanship.
Related Chapters
Deuteronomy 18
Peter quotes Moses' prophecy from this chapter regarding the prophet who would arise from among the people.
Acts 4
This chapter details the immediate consequences and the arrest of the apostles following the healing at the gate.
Genesis 22
Peter references the covenant made with Abraham mentioned in this book regarding the blessing of all families.
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