Acts (Part 21) – Acts 3:1-5

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Acts (Part 21) – Acts 3:1-5

Acts 3:1 – Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

1. Now Peter and John went up together into the temple
   1. At this time, the Jerusalem Church was meeting for worship in the temple (Act 2:46).
   2. What a blessing it is to go into the house of God with brethren (Psa 122:1; Psa 42:4).
2. at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
   1. The ninth hour in Jewish time was 3pm.
   2. It was apparently an established custom to pray at the ninth hour (Act 10:30).
      1. This was probably considered the evening prayer, which was at the time of the evening sacrifice (Exo 29:39 c/w 1Ki 18:36 c/w Dan 9:21 c/w Luk 1:10 c/w Psa 141:2 c/w Rev 8:3).
      2. The Jews prayed three times per day: morning, noon, and evening (Psa 55:17; Dan 6:10; Act 10:9).
   3. Jesus made His impassioned prayer to God at the ninth hour (Mat 27:46).

Acts 3:2 – 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;

1. And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried,
   1. This man was over 40 years old (Act 4:22).
   2. Imagine being lame from birth and having to be carried everywhere you went.
   3. God uses caretakers and friends to bless His afflicted children (Mar 2:1-5, 11-12).
   4. This was not the only man that God allowed to be born afflicted and live for many years before healing him to show His mighty power (Joh 9:1-3).
2. whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful,
   1. God’s house is beautiful (Psa 48:2; Psa 50:2; Heb 12:22-23).
   2. The temple was beautiful (Isa 64:11).
   3. There was one gate of the temple which was especially beautiful, which came to be known by that name.
   4. “There are different opinions concerning this gate. Josephus observes, Bell. Jud. lib. v. cap. 5, sect. 3, that the temple had nine gates, which were on every side covered with gold and silver; but there was one gate which was without the holy house, and was of Corinthian brass, and greatly excelled those which were only covered with gold and silver. The magnitudes of the other gates were equal one to another; but that of the Corinthian gate, which opened on the east, over against the gate of the holy house itself, was much larger: for its height was fifty cubits, and its doors were forty cubits, and it was adorned after a most costly manner, as having much richer and thicker plates of silver and gold upon them than upon the other. This last was probably the gate which is here called Beautiful; because it was on the outside of the temple, to which there was an easy access, and because it was evidently the most costly, according to the account in Josephus; but it must be granted that the text of Josephus is by no means clear.” (Adam Clark’s Commentary on the Bible, Act 3:2)
3. to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
   1. The afflicted in those days had no choice but to beg (Joh 9:8).
   2. Alms n. – Charitable relief of the poor; charity; originally and especially as a religious duty, or good work; construed with do, make, work. Afterwards applied especially to the material substance of the relief, and construed with give, bestow, etc.
   3. Beg v. – 1. To ask alms or by way of alms. a. trans. To ask (bread, money, etc.) in alms or as a charitable gift; to procure (one’s living) by begging.
   4. Christians are known (or should be) as generous people (Gal 2:10; Rom 12:13; Pro 29:7), so the gate of the temple would be a good place to ask alms.

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

1. This man was humble, as it is humiliating to beg (Luk 16:3).
   1. “Those that need, and cannot work, must not be ashamed to beg.” (Matthew Henry)
   2. God gives grace unto the humble (Jam 4:6) and lifts them up (Jam 4:10).
   3. This humble man was about to be lifted up (literally) by God (Act 3:7).
2. He was going to get more than he asked for (Mat 7:7-8; Eph 3:20).

Acts 3:4 – And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

1. Peter made eye-contact with the crippled man and focused his attention on him.
2. Fasten – 1. To make firm or stable; to establish, settle, confirm. 4. To make fast to something else; to attach, more or less securely, by a tie or bond of any kind. 12. In various fig. applications of senses 4, 7, 10: To fix (something) upon (a person, etc.)  a. to direct (feelings, thoughts, attention, etc.) intently or keenly towards.
3. “Peter, instead of turning his eyes from him, as many do from objects of charity, turned his eyes to him, nay, he fastened his eyes upon him, that his eye might affect his heart with compassion towards him, Act 3:4.” (Matthew Henry)
4. Peter told the man to look at him and John, which suggests that he was not looking at them.
5. Practical takeaway: when you want to ensure that someone is going to hear and receive what you are saying, make sure you are looking him in the eye and that you both have each other’s undivided attention.

Acts 3:5 – And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

1. The crippled man gives Peter and John his attention.
2. He assumed that they were going to give him something, but he did not know what was in store for him.
3. Never forget that a blessing from God can be right around the corner when we least expect it.