Acts 3:1-10 Lesson 223

Acts 3:1-10
Lesson 223

Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

In this lesson:

Peter performs a miracle!

Peter heals the beggar at the beautiful gate.

Who was -

John -
One of the original twelve disciples, John was the son of Zebedee (Matthew 4:21-22; Mark 1:19-20; 10:35; Luke 5:10-11) and Salome, the younger brother to the disciple James (Matthew 10:2), and a fisherman on the sea of Galilee when called by Jesus. John's mother Salome and the Virgin Mary were sisters, making Jesus and John cousins. John was a Jew, born in Palestine (Bethsaida) into a wealthy family, was well connected, and knew the high priest (John 18:15). He first learned about Jesus from John the Baptist. He captained a fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee but gave up everything to follow the Messiah. Jesus nicknamed John and his brother James the "Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17) and John 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7; and 21:20 refer to him as "the disciple whom Jesus loved," quite an honor. Along with Peter and James, John was part of Jesus' inner circle and was allowed to witness the resurrection of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37-42), the Transfiguration (Mark 9:1-13; Luke 9:28-36), and Jesus praying in Gethsemane while waiting to be arrested (Mark 14:32-34). Unlike the other disciples who ran and hid when Jesus was arrested, John followed Christ to Calvary, witnessed the crucifixion, and stayed by Jesus' side until the end. While dying on the cross, Jesus entrusted His mother's care to John (John 19:26-27). It is believed that Mary lived and traveled with John until her death. After the crucifixion, John became a driving force for Christianity. Bold yet uneducated (Acts 4:13), John wrote "The Gospel According to ST. John," the Three Epistles of John, and the prophetic "The Revelation of John the Divine." Late in his life, the Romans exiled John to the island of Patmos, a penal colony in the Aegean Sea fifty miles offshore from Ephesus (in modern-day Turkey), for preaching the word of God (Revelation 1:9). He was eventually freed and died an old man around AD 98 in Ephesus. But what a life John led. He traveled with Jesus, saw the miracles, heard the sermons, witnessed the suffering, crucifixion, death, resurrection, and ascension. He was the last of the original twelve disciples to die and the only one to die a natural death.

Study Tip:

As you study the Bible, use the five W's technique popular with investigative journalists.
Ask yourself who, what, when, where, and why as you read each passage.

The Acts of the Apostles

The King James Bible

Acts 3:1-10
Peter heals a lame man

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

2 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;

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

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

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

6 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.

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

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

9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:

10 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.

Margin notes:

"The hour of prayer, being the ninth hour." (3:1) - It's 3 P.M. Jews prayed three times a day, at 9 A.M., 3 P.M., and sunset (Psalm 55:17; Daniel 6:10).

"Lame from his mother's womb." (3:2) - Means, "Lame from birth."

"The gate of the temple which is called Beautiful." (3:2) - The Temple boasted nine magnificent gates. The Beautiful Gate, sometimes called the Gate of Nicanor, was located on the eastern side of the Temple near the court of Gentiles and stood out from the other eight. Built by King Herod the Great, it stood over fifty feet high and twenty-five feet wide, making it the largest of the nine gates. It was covered with Corinthian brass and adorned with gold and silver, which glittered brilliantly in the sunlight. The gate made a stunning impression on everyone who saw it.

"To ask Alms." (3:2) - "To ask for money."

"Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John." (3:4) - We see Paul do the same thing in verses 13:9 and 14:9.

"Gave heed unto them." (3:5) - This means the lame man "gave them his attention."

"And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength."(3:7) - This was the first, but not last, time Peter healed the lame(9:33-34).

"All the people saw him walking and praising God." (3:9) - There were so many witnesses to the apostle's miracles that not even the Jewish High Counsel could "deny" them (Acts 4:16).

New Living Translation

Acts 3:1-10
Peter Heals a Crippled Beggar

1 Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o'clock prayer service.

2 As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple.

3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.

4 Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, "Look at us!"

5 The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money.

6 But Peter said, "I don't have any silver or gold for you. But I'll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!"

7 Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man's feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened.

8 He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.

9 All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God.

10 When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded!

This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."

Today's Question:

1. How was Peter able to heal the lame man? (3:7-8)

The Bible was given to us -
1. To know God.
2. To know ourselves.

Answer: (Do you agree?)

1. On his own, Peter could not heal anyone. Jesus granted Peter and others this power in John 14:12-14. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, called on Jesus Christ (3:6) to make this man whole. The words "in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk" (3:6) mean, "by the authority of Jesus Christ stand up and walk."
Also, remember the man would not have been healed if he hadn't reacted in faith (3:8).

Application thought for the day:

The lame man asked for money but got more than he dreamed.
Sometimes God answers prayers with the unexpected.
God always knows what we need, even if we don't.
Be vigilant, and don't miss God's helping hand because you were expecting something else.

Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress Books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
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