BOOK 44 OF 66 · HISTORY · KING JAMES BIBLE

Acts 3

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Acts 3 Overview

Peter and John heal a man lame from birth at the temple gate called Beautiful. The crowd gathers in Solomon’s porch, and Peter refuses personal glory, attributing the miracle to the God who glorified Jesus. He confronts Israel’s rejection of the Holy One, proclaims that God raised Him from the dead, calls for repentance and turning, and points to the promised Prophet like Moses and covenant blessing through Abraham.

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Before you read Acts 3

Coming from

On Pentecost the Holy Ghost fills the disciples and enables them to speak in other tongues understood by Jews from many nations. Peter explains the event from Joel, proclaims Jesus crucified and risen, identifies Him as both Lord and Christ, and calls his hearers to respond. About three thousand are baptized and added, and the Jerusalem believers devote themselves to doctrine, fellowship, breaking bread, prayers, generosity, and daily witness.

In this chapter

A public healing becomes a sign that authenticates apostolic witness and opens another opportunity to preach Christ from Israel’s Scriptures.

Leads into

Acts 4 brings the first major official persecution as Peter and John are arrested, questioned, and commanded to stop speaking in Jesus’ name.

Key understandingExplore deeper

Peter carefully distinguishes the healing from human power or holiness. The miracle serves the message about Jesus rather than the apostles’ celebrity.

The call to repent and be converted concerns Israel’s response to the rejected Messiah and promised times of refreshing. It should not be isolated from Acts’ consistent proclamation that forgiveness is received through faith in Christ.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Apostolic miracles point to Christ

Peter immediately redirects amazement away from himself.

Ignorance does not erase responsibility

Peter acknowledges ignorance while still naming the rejection and killing of the Prince of life.

Jesus fulfills Israel’s prophetic hope

Moses, Samuel, the prophets, and Abrahamic blessing converge in the Messiah.

Repentance changes direction toward the rejected Christ

The audience is summoned to reverse its national and personal rejection of Jesus.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Deuteronomy 18:15–19

Peter explicitly identifies Jesus with the Prophet like Moses.

Genesis 12:3; 22:18

The Abrahamic promise of blessing to all kindreds is applied through Christ.

Isaiah 52–53

The servant language and rejection/exaltation themes stand behind Peter’s proclamation of God’s Servant Jesus.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not treat the apostles as healers by their own holiness

Peter explicitly rejects that interpretation.

Do not convert “times of refreshing” into a vague prosperity promise

The language belongs to Israel’s messianic-restoration horizon.

Do not use repentance language to add meritorious reform to saving faith

The call is a turn toward the Messiah whom they rejected; forgiveness elsewhere in Acts is explicitly tied to belief.

Read Acts 3 watching for…

The man’s lifelong condition and immediate healing.

Peter’s refusal of personal credit.

The titles Peter gives Jesus.

The appeal to Moses and all the prophets.

The connection between Abrahamic blessing and Christ.

Chapter outline3 sections

1-10Peter heals a lame man at the temple gate 11-16Peter explains that faith in Jesus’ name made the man strong 17-26Peter calls Israel to repent and points to the prophets and the promised Christ

Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

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 of them that entered into the temple;

Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.

And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ancle bones received strength.

And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

And all the people saw him walking and praising God:

And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.

And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.

And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.

But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;

And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.

But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:

Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.

And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.

Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.

Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

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Acts 3:4

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