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Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 3:1

Peter and John went up together - The words επι το αυτο , which we translate together, and which are the first words in this chapter in the Greek text, we have already seen, Acts 2:47 , are added by several MSS. and versions to the last verse of the preceding chapter. But they do not make so good a sense there as they do here; and should be translated, not together, which really makes no sense here, but at that time; intimating that this transaction occurred nearly about the same time... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 3:6

Silver and gold have I none - Though it was customary for all those who entered the temple to carry some money with them, for the purposes mentioned above, yet so poor were the apostles that their had nothing to give, either to the sacred treasury, or to the distressed. The popish writers are very dexterous at forming analogies between St. Peter and the pope; but it is worthy of note that they have not attempted any here. Even the judicious and generally liberal Calmet passes by this... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 3:7

Immediately his feet and ancle bones received strength - The suddenness of the cure was the proof of the miracle: his walking and leaping were the evidences of it. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 3:8

Walking and leaping, and praising God - These actions are very naturally described. He walked, in obedience to the command of the apostle, rise up and walk: he leaped, to try the strength of his limbs and to be convinced of the reality of the cure: he praised God, as a testimony of the gratitude he felt for the cure he had received. Now was fulfilled, in the most literal manner, the words of the Prophet Isaiah, Isaiah 35:6 ; : The lame man shall leap as a hart. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 3:9

And all the people saw him - The miracle was wrought in the most public manner, and in the most public place, and in a place where the best judgment could be formed of it; for, as it was a Divine operation, the priests, etc., were the most proper persons to judge of it; and under their notice it was now wrought. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 3:11

Held Peter and John - He felt the strongest affection for them, as the instruments by which the Divine influence was converted to his diseased body. In the porch that is called Solomon's - On this portico see Bp. Pearce's note, inserted in this work, John 10:23 ; (note). read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 3:12

As though by our own power - Δυναμει , Miraculous energy. Or holiness - Η ευσεβειᾳ , Meaning religious attachment to the worship of God. Do not think that we have wrought this miracle by any power of our own; or that any supereminent piety in us should have induced God thus to honor us, by enabling us to work it. Instead of ευσεβειᾳ , holiness, the Syriac of Erpen, Armenian, Vulgate, and some copies of the Itala, have εξουσιᾳ , power or authority; but the first appears to be... read more

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