Acts 3 Commentary

Acts chapter 3 commentary Bible study

Acts Chapter 3 Commentary Bible Study

ACTS 3 COMMENTARY

Acts 3:8-12 Praising God
Acts 3:13-21 God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
Acts 3:22-26 Prophet Moses
Acts 3 Bible Study Questions (Handout)
ACTS 3:1  1 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.

At what time did Peter and John go to the temple in Jerusalem?
"The ninth hour" (Acts 3:1), which is 9 hours after the sunrise, which was deemed to be at 6 AM. So it was 3 PM.

Was this the only "hour of prayer" (Acts 3:1) at the temple?
The times for people to pray on their own at the temple were set as the third, the sixth and the ninth hours, which correspond to 9 AM, noon, and 3 PM. Peter and John were going to the last hour of prayer for that day.

Why did they need to go "up" (Acts 3:1) to the temple?
The temple was built atop the temple mount, a plateau on the east side of Jerusalem that was at a slightly higher elevation than the rest of the city (photo).

ACTS 3:2-3  3 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; 3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.

Where were Peter and John about to go through?
"The gate... called Beautiful" (Acts 3:2)

What was so beautiful about this gate?
Josephus, the Jewish historian, described this gate, which separated the inner court from the outer 'Court of the Gentiles' on the east, as the gate that “greatly excelled those that were only covered over with silver and gold.” This gate was about 75 feet (23 meters) high and its massive double doors would have been wide open at this hour to accommodate the foot traffic into the temple.

What was the strategy of the lame man and/or those who "carried" and "laid" him "daily at the temple" (Act 3:2)?
Position him(self) to benefit from a strategic location, time and mindset of potential donors.

ACTS 3:4-7  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. 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.

How did Peter heal the man?
"In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth" (Acts 3:6)

Did Peter have any doubt that the man would be healed?
No, "he took him by the right hand and lifted him up" (Acts 3:7) before the man heeded his words to "rise up and walk" (Acts 3:6).

How quickly was the man healed?
"Immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength" (Acts 3:7)

If Peter had had "silver and gold" (Acts 3:6), how much of it would have achieved the same result as above?
 

What is the value of "the name of Jesus" (Acts 3:6)?
It's priceless.