B. The expansion of the church in Jerusalem 3:1-6:7Luke recorded the events of this section to document the continued expansion of the church and to identify the means God used to produce growth. In chapters 3-5 the emphasis is on how the Christians’ witness brought them into conflict with the Jewish leaders. read more
The healing of a lame Man 1:3-10Luke had just referred to the apostles’ teaching, to the awe that many of the Jews felt, to the apostles doing signs and wonders, and to the Christians meeting in the temple (Acts 2:43-44; Acts 2:46). Now he narrated a specific incident that included these elements. The Gospel writers also chose a healing to illustrate the nature of Jesus’ early ministry (Matthew 8:2-4; Mark 1:40-45; Luke 5:12-16; Luke 5:24; John 4:46-54). The healing of this man resulted in the... read more
1. External opposition 3:1-4:31Opposition to the Christians’ message first came from external sources, particularly the leaders of Judaism. read more
"In the East it was the custom for beggars to sit begging at the entrance to a temple or a shrine. Such a place was, and still is, considered the best of all stances because, when people are on their way to worship God, they are disposed to be generous to their fellow men." [Note: Barclay, p. 28.] Peter told the beggar to look at him and John so Peter could have his full attention. Peter than gave him a gift far better than the one he expected to receive. This is typical of how God deals with... read more
3:1 temple (d-10) Hieron , the general buildings. together (g-7) Some omit 'to the assembly,' ch. 2.47, and link 'together' with the end of ch. 2. Probably we should read 'the Lord added together daily such as should be saved. And Peter (or, 'Now Peter') and John went up into the temple.' read more
The Lame Man Healed1-26. Healing of the lame man. Speech of Peter. St. Luke here singles out from the multitude of ’wonders and signs done by the Apostles’ (Acts 2:43), the one which led to the first persecution.1. The ninth hour] The hours of prayer were the third (Acts 2:15), when the morning sacrifice was offered; the sixth (noon); and the ninth, the time of the evening sacrifice.2. Beautiful] This gate was of Corinthian brass. It faced the E., and its proper name was the Gate of Nicanor.... read more
III.(1) Now Peter and John went up.—Better, were going up. The union of the two brings the narratives of the Gospels into an interesting connection with the Acts. They were probably about the same age (the idea that Peter was some years older than John rests mainly on the pictures which artists have drawn from their imagination, and has no evidence in Scripture), and had been friends from their youth upward. They had been partners as fishermen on the Sea of Galilee (Luke 5:10). They had been... read more
(2) A certain man lame from his mother’s womb.—The careful record of the duration of his suffering is more or less characteristic of St. Luke (Luke 9:33; Luke 14:8). The minuteness in this narrative suggests the thought that St. Luke’s informant may have been the cripple himself.Was carried.—Better, was being carried.The gate of the temple which is called Beautiful.—Literally, door, though “gate” is used in Acts 3:10. No gate of this name is mentioned by other writers, but it was probably... read more
(4) Peter, fastening his eyes upon him . . .—See Notes on Luke 4:20, Acts 1:10, where the same characteristic word is used. The gaze was one which read character in the expression of the man’s face, and discerned that he had faith to be healed (Acts 3:16). And he, in his turn, was to look on them that he might read in their pitying looks, not only the wish to heal, but the consciousness of power to carry the wish into effect. read more
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Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 3:1-2
The John in view was undoubtedly the writer of the fourth Gospel, the brother of James. The temple was Herod’s temple, and the Jewish hour of prayer in view was 3:00 p.m., the other key prayer time for the Jews being 9:00 a.m. (cf. Acts 10:9; Acts 10:30; Daniel 6:10; Daniel 9:21; Judith 9:1). [Note: Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, 14:4:3.] The early Jewish Christians continued to follow their former habits of worship in Jerusalem. The lame man had been in his condition for over 40... read more