Acts 3:2-5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 3:1-11

We were told in general (Acts 2:43) that many signs and wonders were done by the apostles, which are not written in this book; but here we have one given us for an instance. As they wrought miracles, not upon every body as every body had occasion for them, but as the Holy Spirit gave direction, so as to answer the end of their commission; so all the miracles they did work are not written in this book, but such only are recorded as the Holy Ghost thought fit, to answer the end of this sacred... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 3:1-10

3:1-10 Peter and John used to go up to the Temple at the hour of prayer at three o'clock in the afternoon, and a man who had been lame from the day of his birth was in the habit of being carried there. Every day they used to put him at the gate of the Temple which is called the Beautiful Gate, so that he could beg for alms from the people who were going into the Temple. When he saw Peter and John about to go into the Temple he asked to be given alms. Peter fixed his eyes on him with John and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 3:2

And a certain man, lame from his mother's womb ,.... He was born so; his lameness came not through any disease or fall, or any external hurt, but from a defect in nature, in one of his limbs, or more; which made the after miracle the more extraordinary: and he was so lame that he was carried ; he could not walk of himself, or go, being led, but they were obliged to carry him: whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple ; it had been a common usage, it may be, for years past, to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 3:3

Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple ,.... Just as they were entering through the gate at which he lay, he looked at them; and though they were strangers to him, he concluded they were Israelites by their going into the temple at that time: asked an alms ; of them; prayed them to give him something for his relief and support. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 3:4

And Peter fastening his eyes upon him ,.... Or looking very wistly and intently at him, being, no doubt, under some uncommon impulse of the Spirit of God to take notice of him, and cure him of his disease: with John ; who was also under a like impulse at the same time; and who was equally concerned in this cure, as appears by the notice the man, when healed, took of the one, as well as the other; and by Peter's declaration, Acts 3:11 as also by the following words: said, look on us ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 3:5

And he gave heed unto them ,.... Or "he looked at them", as the Syriac version renders it, as they bid him: he was not only attentive to them in his mind, but he directed his eyes towards them, and looked wistly at them. This clause is left out in the Ethiopic version. Expecting to receive something of them ; not a cure for his lameness, which he little thought of, but some money, as an alms. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 3:2

A - man lame from his mother's womb - The case of this man must have been well known: from the long standing of his infirmity: from his being daily exposed in a place so public. It appears that he had no power to walk, and was what we term a cripple, for he was carried to the gate of the temple, and laid there in order to excite compassion. These circumstances are all marked by St. Luke, the more fully to show the greatness and incontestable nature of the miracle. The gate - which... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 3:4

Look on us - He wished to excite and engage his attention that he might see what was done to produce his miraculous cure, and, it is likely, took this occasion to direct his faith to Jesus Christ. See note on Acts 3:16 ; (note). Peter and John probably felt themselves suddenly drawn by the Holy Spirit to pronounce the healing name in behalf of this poor man. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 3:5

Expecting to receive something of them - Because it was a constant custom for all who entered the temple to carry money with them to give to the treasury, or to the poor, or to both. It was on this ground that the friends of the lame man laid him at the gate of the temple, as this was the most likely place to receive alms. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 3:3

Verse 3 3.He asketh an alms. We see how God restored this lame man to his limbs contrary to his expectation. Because he thought that his disease was incurable, he was only careful for maintenance. That is given him which he durst never have asked. In like sort God doth oftentimes prevent us, neither doth he stay until he be provoked. (168) And hence can we not gather any occasion of slothfulness, as if the Lord did therefore meet us of his own accord, that being idle and slothful we may suffer... read more

Group of Brands