Bible Study Acts 3
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Acts 3 · WEB

Healing at the Beautiful Gate

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Peter and John were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
2A certain man who was lame from his mother's womb was being carried, whom they laid daily at the door of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask gifts for the needy of those who entered into the temple.
3Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive gifts for the needy.
4Peter, fastening his eyes on him, with John, said, "Look at us."
5He listened to them, expecting to receive something from them.
6But Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"
7He took him by the right hand, and raised him up. Immediately his feet and his ankle bones received strength.
8Leaping up, he stood, and began to walk. He entered with them into the temple, walking, leaping, and praising God.
9All the people saw him walking and praising God.
10They recognized him, that it was he who used to sit begging for gifts for the needy at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. They were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened to him.
11As the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.
12When Peter saw it, he responded to the people, "You men of Israel, why do you marvel at this man? Why do you fasten your eyes on us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him walk?
13The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up, and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had determined to release him.
14But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,
15and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, to which we are witnesses.
16By faith in his name, his name has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which is through him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
17"Now, brothers, I know that you did this in ignorance, as did also your rulers.
18But the things which God announced by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled.
19Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, so that there may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord,
20and that he may send Christ Jesus, who was ordained for you before,
21whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God spoke long ago by the mouth of his holy prophets.
22For Moses indeed said to the fathers, 'The Lord God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, like me. You shall listen to him in all things whatever he says to you.
23It will be that every soul that will not listen to that prophet will be utterly destroyed from among the people.'
24Yes, and all the prophets from Samuel and those who followed after, as many as have spoken, also told of these days.
25You are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, 'In your offspring will all the families of the earth be blessed.'
26God, having raised up his Servant, Jesus, sent him to you first to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your wickedness."
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Summary

Peter and John, going to the temple at the afternoon prayer time, meet a man lame from birth begging at the Beautiful Gate; Peter has no money but gives him what he does have — healing in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth — and the man leaps to his feet and into the temple praising God. A crowd gathers in Solomon's portico, and Peter preaches a second sermon, deflecting glory from himself and centering it on the risen Jesus: the very Holy One Israel rejected is the Prince of life God raised up. Peter calls them to repent so their sins may be wiped out, anchoring his appeal in Moses, Samuel, and the covenant with Abraham — and reminding them that the blessing promised to all nations begins by being sent first to them.

Themes

  • Power in the name of Jesus
  • Healing as a sign pointing to a greater salvation
  • Israel's ignorance and the offered second chance
  • Christ as the prophet like Moses and the Servant of Abrahamic promise
  • Repentance bringing times of refreshing

Key verses

  • Acts 3:15 — “Killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, to which we are witnesses.”
  • Acts 3:19 — “Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, so that there may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord.”
  • Acts 3:26 — “God, having raised up his Servant, Jesus, sent him to you first to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your wickedness.”
  • Acts 3:6 — “Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!”

Context & background

Probably weeks or months after Pentecost, c. AD 30-33, Jerusalem (modern Israel). The "ninth hour" (3 p.m.) was one of three daily prayer times that coincided with the offering of the evening sacrifice in the temple. The "Beautiful Gate" is likely the Gate of Nicanor on the east side of the Court of the Women — covered with Corinthian bronze that, according to Josephus, gleamed like gold. Solomon's porch was a colonnade running along the eastern wall of the temple court, a traditional teaching place (also where Jesus taught, John 10:23). A lame beggar in this culture was utterly dependent on alms; he had likely sat at this gate for decades. Peter's quotation of Moses (v. 22-23, Deuteronomy 18:15-19) presents Jesus as the long-promised "prophet like Moses" — a fundamental category of messianic expectation in Second Temple Judaism. The "times of restoration of all things" (v. 21) anticipates the consummation of the kingdom — what Paul will call the "redemption of our bodies" (Romans 8:23).

Cross-references

  • Acts 4:12 — Peter will soon say, "There is no other name... by which we must be saved" — the theology of "in the name" (v. 6).
  • Deuteronomy 18:15-19 — The prophet like Moses, quoted in vv. 22-23.
  • Genesis 12:3, 22:18 — The Abrahamic promise of blessing to all families, quoted in v. 25.
  • Isaiah 35:6 — "The lame man will leap like a deer" — fulfilled visibly here.
  • Romans 11:25-32 — Paul's longer reflection on Israel's "ignorance" and future hope.

Check your reading

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  1. Observe

    At what time of day did Peter and John go to the temple, and what was the lame man's specific location (Acts 3:1-2)?

  2. Observe

    What exact words does Peter say to the lame man before commanding him to rise (Acts 3:6)?

  3. Interpret

    In his Solomon's Portico sermon, Peter says the crowd and their rulers acted "in ignorance" (Acts 3:17). What is his purpose in saying this?

  4. Interpret

    Peter promises "times of refreshing" and "the restoration of all things" to those who repent (Acts 3:19-21). What is he describing?

  5. Apply

    The lame man expected money and received healing instead (Acts 3:5-8). How does Peter's response model Christian generosity?

  6. Apply

    Peter urges his hearers: "Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, so that there may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord" (Acts 3:19). What does this verse suggest about the relationship between repentance and spiritual renewal?

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