Verse By Verse Through Acts

Chapter Three

Acts 3:1 “Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.”

• Peter and John were among those given select opportunities with Jesus (Matthew 17:1-9, Mark 13:1-4, Mark 14:33-34, Luke 8:51-56, and Luke 22:7-8).
• They were recognized as "pillars" among the brethren (Galatians 2:9).
• Among the children of Israel, there were customary hours of prayer (Psalms 55:17, Daniel 6:10, and Acts 10:9).
• There were those that went to the temple to pray (Luke 18:10 and Acts 22:17).
• Under Christ, there is no specific place or hour appointed for prayer to our Father (I Timothy 2:8).
• Saints are to pray continually (I Thessalonians 5:17-18).
• Our prayers are not to consist of vain, repetitive expressions (Matthew 6:5-7).

• This man is later revealed to have been over forty years old (Acts 4:22).
• Jesus had healed those who had been crippled (Matthew 11:5).
• Later, Paul healed another man who had never walked (Acts 14:8-9).
• After this miracle, the people gathered at Solomon's Porch (Acts 3:10-11; cf. II Chronicles 8:11-12, John 10:23, and Acts 5:12).
• He was laid at the gate by others on a daily basis. The reason: to ask alms [“compassionateness, that is, (as exercised towards the poor) beneficence, or (concretely) a benefaction: - alms (-deeds)”; Strong’s # 1654 ] of the people (cf. Matthew 6:1-4, Acts 9:36, and Acts 10:1-4).
• Many who came to Jerusalem expected to give alms. Giving alms was a common practice among the Jews when they came to Jerusalem (Acts 24:11; Acts 24:17).

• The Apostles were dependent upon others for financial support (Matthew 10:9-15 and I Corinthians 9:1-14).
• What Peter and John had to offer the man was much better. They commanded him to rise and walk in the name of Jesus (Mark 16:15-20; cf. Acts 9:32-35).
• The healing was immediate (Acts 3:7).

• The lame man was healed immediately as was the case with miraculous healings (Luke 4:38-44, Luke 5:17-26, Luke 8:40-47, Luke 13:10-13, Luke 18:35-43, etc.).

• With this immediate healing, the lame man did not need any rehabilitation time. He was able to do things he never did before. He leaped, stood, and walked.
• This is similar to what we see when Jesus healed an impotent man (John 5:1-9).
• This is also like the man Paul healed that was a cripple from birth (Acts 14:8-10).
• He praised God for what had occurred. Not all who were healed did such (Luke 17:11-19).

• Amazement over miracles (cf. Luke 9:43) is reasonable. Peter will use their amazement as a teaching tool (Acts 3:12ff.).
• The Jews recognized this as a miracle and it became well known (Acts 4:16).
• The purpose of performing such miracles is for confirmation of the word being preached (Mark 16:15-20 and Hebrews 2:4).
• Unfortunately, a notable miracle wasn’t enough for some of the Jews (cf. John 11:45-53 and John 12:36-43). We will see this to be true of the Apostles, just as it was with Jesus, as we proceed into chapters four and five of this second letter to Theophilus.

• Peter and the other Apostles addressed the audience in chapter two the same way (Acts 2:22) just as Gamaliel later would (Acts 5:34-35) [“Ye men of Israel.”]
• Those performing miracles were not intended to draw attention to themselves (Acts 14:8-18).
• It was through the power of the Holy Ghost that these things were done (Acts 1:8, Romans 15:18-19, I Corinthians 12:9, and Galatians 3:1-5).
• Such miraculous works provided "much assurance" (I Thessalonians 1:5).
• To God be the glory (Philippians 4:20).
• This miracle demonstrates that the authority and power of Christ continued to be manifested through His apostles (John 14:12, Mark 16:14-20, and Hebrews 2:1-4).

• Peter reminds them that God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 3:6, Exodus 3:15-16, Exodus 4:5, Deuteronomy 6:10, Matthew 22:32, and Acts 7:32).
• This is a reminder that He remembers His covenant (Exodus 2:24) made with their forefathers (Psalms 105:6-10).
• God is faithful. He keeps His covenants (Deuteronomy 7:9).
• Jesus prayed that the Father would glorify Him (John 17:1-10).
• The Father certainly glorified Jesus (Acts 2:33-36 and Hebrews 5:5-10).
• As stated in the previous chapter (Acts 2:23-24), those present at this time in Jerusalem were guilty of delivering up Jesus to be killed (Matthew 27:17-25).
• These things will be repeated by the Apostles to the council that forbade them from preaching Christ (Acts 5:29-31).
• Jesus is the Holy One (Luke 1:35).
• Pilate was determined to let Jesus go, but the Jews prevented that from happening. They chose a murderer to be released (Luke 23:13-25).
• Jesus is the Prince [captain; author] of life (Hebrews 2:9-10 and Hebrews 12:1-2). In Christ is life (John 1:1-5, John 11:25-26, and I John 5:11-12).
• As we saw in the previous chapter, they are continuing to preach the resurrection of Christ and that they are witnesses (Acts 2:32).

• The miracle was performed in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth (Acts 3:6).
• Peter and John worked through faith in the name of Jesus, which is a change from their failures in the past (Matthew 14:22-33 and Matthew 17:14-21).
• It could also be that the man believed he could be healed through the name of Jesus (cf. Matthew 9:20-22).
• A miracle did not require one to have or display faith in Jesus (John 5:1-13 and I Corinthians 14:22; cf. Mark 16:15-20 and Hebrews 2:1-4).
• The man who had been healed was physically whole. He was not dealing with lingering health issues. This is like what was done when Jesus was healing (Matthew 14:34-36).

• The actions taken against Jesus were done in ignorance (Acts 13:27 and I Corinthians 2:6-8).
• Although Peter describes their actions as being done in ignorance, they had nevertheless rejected abundant evidence and therefore bore responsibility for their actions (John 15:18-25).
• Yet, the Lord was showing mercy in allowing these individuals to have the opportunity to be converted, though they had acted in ignorance (I Timothy 1:12-16).
• Jesus knew they were acting in ignorance (Luke 23:34).
• Sadly, ignorance can move people to do wrong (John 16:1-3 and Ephesians 4:17-19).

• As in the first letter to Theophilus, this letter reminds us that what Jesus suffered were written beforehand (Luke 18:31-33 and Luke 24:26-27).
• Those prophecies that were written had to be fulfilled (Matthew 5:17-18 and Luke 24:44).
• What Jesus suffered was according to the Scriptures (I Corinthians 15:1-4).

• Peter (Acts 3:12) is again preaching the message of repentance (Acts 2:38).
• The instruction for sinners to repent is consistent through both the Law of Moses and the Law of Christ (Ezekiel 33:10-20, Luke 5:32, Luke 13:1-5, Luke 19:1-10, Acts 26:18-20, II Timothy 2:24-26, and II Peter 3:9-14).
• “Converted” [ἐπιστρέφω] meaning: “to revert (literally, figuratively or morally): - come (go) again, convert, (re-) turn (about, again)” (Strong’s # 1994). The same Greek word is translated “turn” in Acts 26:18-20. Conversion can refer to initially becoming a Christian, as it does here, or to being restored from apostasy (James 5:19-20).
• One is to be converted and become as a little child (Matthew 18:1-4).
• The word of God is capable of converting the soul (Psalms 19:7-10) when received with a good and honest heart (Matthew 13:15 and Matthew 13:23).
• Sins are transgression of God’s law (I John 3:4). Sin is knowing to do good and not doing it (James 4:17). All unrighteousness is sin (I John 5:17).
• Once converted, God does the blotting [obliterating; erasing; wiping away] of your sins (Romans 5:1-11 and Colossians 1:12-23; cf. Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Hebrews 8:1-13).
• The times of refreshing [ἀνάψυξις] is “a recovery; a revival” (Strong’s # 403).
• The language of verses 20-21 point towards the return of Christ. Salvation is to come (Hebrews 9:28 and I Peter 1:3-9).
• The Father will send Jesus. This confirms what can be inferred from Matthew 24:35-36. That is, the return of Christ is known only by the Father because He is who made or will make that decision.
• Until then, Jesus is in Heaven (Philippians 3:20 and I Thessalonians 1:9-10).
• The restitution [restoration] of all things (I Corinthians 15:12-28).
• The prophets had foretold the salvation that would come through Christ, though they did not fully understand what they prophesied (I Peter 1:10-12).

• Moses is quoted (Deuteronomy 18:15-19; cf. Acts 7:37).
• Jesus came in the flesh through the lineage of the fathers (Matthew 1:1-17, Luke 3:23-38, Romans 9:1-5, and Hebrews 7:11-14).
• Eternal life depends on hearing Him (John 5:24 and Hebrews 5:8-9).
• If you do not hear Jesus, destruction is to come (John 12:48, Hebrews 10:28-31, II Thessalonians 1:7-9, Hebrews 2:1-4, and Hebrews 12:25).

• This point was made in the previous letter to Theophilus (Luke 24:27 and Luke 24:44).

• Being Jews, they were the children of the prophets and heirs of the covenant God had made with their fathers, going back to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3, Deuteronomy 7:1-16, Isaiah 41:8, Acts 13:13-26, and Romans 9:4).

• The blessing that comes from Christ was first sent to the Jews (Romans 1:16), specifically in Jerusalem (Luke 24:47 and Acts 1:8).
• As the prophets had foretold, the word would go forth from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:2-3 and Micah 4:1-2).
• The blessing Christ offered them involved turning them away from their iniquities (Matthew 1:21, Isaiah 59:20-21, and Romans 11:26-27).