Acts
Chapter 3
Overview
Peter and John, two followers of Jesus, go to Jerusalem’s temple grounds during the afternoon prayer time. At the gate they meet a man who has never been able to walk and depends on donations. What begins as an ordinary request for money becomes a public healing, and amazement quickly gathers a crowd. Peter then explains that the power came from Jesus, whom God raised from death. He challenges his fellow Israelites to change direction and return to God, connecting Jesus with promises that God had made through Moses and the prophets long before.
1Peter and John were going up to the temple grounds for the regular prayer time at about three in the afternoon.
2A man who had been unable to walk since birth was being carried there. Every day people placed him beside the temple gate called the Beautiful Gate so that he could ask those entering for money.
3When he saw Peter and John about to enter the temple grounds, he asked them for money.
4Peter and John looked directly at him. Peter said, “Look at us.”
5The man gave them his full attention, expecting to receive something from them.
6But Peter said, “I have no silver or gold. What I do have, I give you: By the authority of Jesus the Messiah from Nazareth, walk!”
7Peter took him by the right hand and helped him up. Immediately the man’s feet and ankles became strong.
8Jumping up, he stood and began to walk. He entered the temple grounds with Peter and John, walking, jumping, and praising God.
9Everyone there saw him walking and praising God.
10They recognized him as the man who used to sit at the temple’s Beautiful Gate asking for money. They were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
11While the man clung to Peter and John, the whole crowd ran toward them in amazement at the covered walkway called Solomon’s Colonnade.
12When Peter saw the crowd, he addressed them: “Fellow Israelites, why are you amazed by this? Why do you stare at us as though our own power or devotion to God had made this man walk?
13Peter continued, “The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of our ancestors—has given great honor to his servant Jesus. You handed Jesus over and rejected him in front of the Roman governor Pilate, even though Pilate had decided to release him.
14You rejected the one who was devoted to God and did what was right, and you asked for a murderer to be released to you.
15You killed the source of life, but God raised him from the dead. We saw that happen and can testify to it.
16The authority of Jesus has made this man, whom you see and know, strong because of faith in Jesus. The faith that comes through Jesus has given him this complete healing in front of you all.
17Peter continued, “Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted without understanding, just as your leaders did.
18But this is how God fulfilled what he had announced beforehand through all the prophets: his Messiah would suffer.
19So change your hearts and lives, and turn back to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.
20Then times of renewal may come from the Lord God, and he may send Jesus, the Messiah already appointed for you.
21Jesus must remain in heaven until the time when everything is restored, as God spoke long ago through the prophets who were set apart for him.
22Peter continued, “Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people. You must listen to everything he tells you.
23Anyone who refuses to listen to that prophet will be destroyed and removed from among the people.’
24Peter added, “In fact, all the prophets who spoke, from Samuel onward, announced what is happening in these days.
25You are the heirs of the prophets and of the covenant, the binding promise God made with your ancestors. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your descendant, every family on earth will be blessed.’
26God raised up his servant and sent him first to you. He sent him to bless you by turning each of you away from your evil ways.”