Why was the lame man sitting at the Beautiful gate of the temple?

The man had been lame from birth, so he could not work or walk into the temple on his own. Each day others carried him and laid him at the gate called Beautiful so he could ask for alms from people going in to pray. This spot was busy and religious people passing by might be more inclined to give. His daily begging shows how helpless and dependent he was. It also makes the miracle clear to everyone, because many people already knew him as the man who always sat there asking for help.

What did Peter mean by saying, "Silver and gold have I none"?

When Peter said, “Silver and gold have I none,” he was telling the beggar honestly that he had no money to give. But he also used this to point to something better. Peter and John did not rely on wealth or status. What they did have was authority from Jesus. So Peter added, “But such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” The point is that spiritual blessing and God’s power are more valuable than money, and they come through Jesus, not riches.

How did faith in the name of Jesus heal the lame man in this passage?

Peter explains that it was not his own power or holiness that healed the man. The man was made strong “through faith in his name.” This means the power belonged to Jesus, and that power was applied as his name was called on and trusted. The man responded to Peter’s words and took his hand, and God immediately strengthened his feet and ankles. Faith here is not a vague feeling but trust in the risen Jesus, whom God has glorified. The healing shows that Jesus is alive and still working.

Why does Peter tell the crowd to repent and be converted?

After the miracle, Peter reminds the crowd that they had denied and handed over Jesus, the Holy One and the Prince of life, even when Pilate wanted to let him go. Yet he also says they acted in ignorance, and that God had planned Christ’s suffering. Because of this, Peter urges them to repent and be converted so their sins may be blotted out. Turning to God in this way opens the way for “times of refreshing” from the Lord and prepares them for when Jesus will be sent again. Repentance is how they receive the blessing God offers.

What are the "times of refreshing" and "restitution of all things" mentioned here?

Peter speaks of “times of refreshing” coming from the presence of the Lord and of a future “restitution of all things.” Together, these phrases point to God’s promised renewal. The times of refreshing speak of God’s gracious relief and blessing that come when sins are forgiven and people turn back to Him. The restitution of all things looks ahead to the future when heaven keeps Jesus until God brings full restoration, just as His prophets spoke. It reminds the listeners that God’s plan includes both present mercy and a coming, larger renewal.

Why does Peter quote Moses about "a prophet like unto me"?

Peter quotes Moses saying that God would raise up a prophet from among the people, “like unto me,” whom they must hear in all things. He is showing that Jesus is the promised prophet Moses spoke about. By doing this, Peter connects Jesus to the law and the covenant the people already respected. He warns that every soul who will not hear that prophet will be destroyed from among the people. So listening to Jesus is not optional. To receive God’s blessing, they must hear and obey the one He has raised up.

What does this passage teach about God’s character and mercy?

This passage shows God as powerful, faithful, and merciful. He powerfully heals a man who had been lame from birth, proving that nothing is too hard for Him. He is faithful to His promises, since everything that happened to Christ and the coming blessing were spoken by the prophets, from Moses through Samuel and the others. At the same time, God is merciful. Even though the people denied and killed Jesus, God raised Him up and sent Him first to them, offering to bless them by turning them away from their sins rather than casting them off.

Who are the "children of the prophets" and of the covenant in this sermon?

When Peter says, “You are the children of the prophets and of the covenant,” he is speaking to the Jewish crowd in the temple. They were the physical descendants of Abraham and the other fathers to whom God made His promises. Being “children” here means they stood in a special place to receive what God had promised through the prophets, including the promise to Abraham that in his seed all families of the earth would be blessed. Peter is telling them that Jesus is that promised seed, and that the offer of blessing comes to them first.

How can this story of the lame man and Peter’s sermon apply to my life today?

This story reminds you that God sees your need, even when you are only asking for small things, like the man asking for alms. God can give far more than you expect, especially through Jesus. It also calls you to look to Christ, not human leaders, for hope and change. The healed man’s joy in walking and praising God shows how we should respond when God works in us. Peter’s sermon urges you to turn from sin, trust the risen Jesus, and let God’s promise of forgiveness and refreshing shape your daily life.

Acts.3.1

Acts 3:1

KJV

Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

A Lame Man Walks

1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.

4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ancle bones received strength.

8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:

10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.

Peter Speaks in Solomon’s Colonnade

11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.

12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.

14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;

15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

17 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.

18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.

19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:

21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.

23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.

24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.

25 Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.