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).