The third chapter of the Book of Acts stands as a pivotal moment in the early Christian church. Following the dramatic events of Pentecost in Acts 2, Acts 3 presents the first specific account of a miracle performed by the apostles, signaling the tangible power of the Holy Spirit at work. This chapter is not merely a story of a miraculous healing; it is a profound theological discourse that establishes the authority of Jesus Christ and calls for a decisive response. This analysis will explore the narrative of the healing at the Beautiful Gate, unpack the layers of Peter’s subsequent sermon, and examine the enduring significance of this event for the early church and for believers today.
The Setting: Prayer, a Lame Man, and the Beautiful Gate
The chapter opens with a scene of routine devotion. Peter and John are ascending to the temple complex in Jerusalem for the afternoon prayer time, the ninth hour (approximately 3 PM). This detail is significant, highlighting that the earliest Christians, who were predominantly Jewish, continued to participate in the religious rhythms of the Temple. They had not abandoned their heritage but were reinterpreting it through the lens of Jesus as the Messiah.
A Man in Need: At the entrance known as the Beautiful Gate, they encounter a man who had been lame from birth. The text emphasizes his chronic condition—he was carried daily and laid at the gate to ask for alms from those entering the temple. This gate, believed by many scholars to be the magnificent Nicanor Gate made of Corinthian bronze, was a place of high traffic. The man’s position there was strategic, placing him in the path of devout worshippers who might be inclined to charitable giving as an act of piety. His existence was defined by dependency and limitation, a powerful symbol of spiritual brokenness without the power of Christ.
The Miracle: More Than Silver and Gold
The interaction between the apostles and the lame man is charged with dramatic intensity.
A Request for Alms, a Gift of Wholeness: The man asks Peter and John for money. Peter, fixing his eyes on him, delivers a line that echoes through history: “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” (Acts 3:6). This statement contrasts earthly wealth with spiritual power. The apostles lacked material riches but possessed something infinitely more valuable: the authority of the risen Jesus.
The Power of the Name: The healing is immediate and complete. Peter doesn’t just pray for the man; he commands him to walk, taking him by the right hand and raising him up. Instantly, the man’s feet and ankles become strong. He leaps up, begins to walk, and enters the temple courts with them, “walking and jumping, and praising God.” (Acts 3:8). The transformation is not just physical but emotional and spiritual. The one who begged for scraps is now leaping for joy and worshipping God publicly. The “name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth” is the active agent of the miracle, demonstrating that the power of Jesus did not end with his ascension but continues through his followers.
Peter’s Sermon: Explaining the Source of Power
The miraculous healing draws a crowd, filled with wonder and amazement. Seizing the opportunity, Peter delivers his second major sermon, a masterclass in evangelistic preaching directed specifically at a Jewish audience.
Addressing the Audience’s Amazement
Peter immediately redirects the crowd’s attention. He asks why they are staring at him and John as if they had performed the miracle by their own power or godliness. This is a crucial point: the apostles are merely conduits, not the source. They deflect glory from themselves to God.
Proclaiming the God of History
Peter identifies the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as the one who has glorified His servant, Jesus. He connects the miracle to the God of the Jewish covenant, showing continuity between their faith and the events they are witnessing. This God, the God of their fathers, is the one responsible for the healing.
The Core Accusation and Appeal: You Killed the Author of Life
In a bold and direct confrontation, Peter presents the gospel by first confronting their sin. He lays out the facts plainly:
- The God of their fathers glorified Jesus, whom they handed over to the authorities.
- They disowned Jesus before Pilate, even when Pilate had decided to release him.
- They disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be released instead.
- They killed the author of life.
The title “Author of Life” (or “Prince of Life”) is profoundly ironic. The one who is the very source and originator of life was put to death. This is the central paradox of the gospel. Yet, Peter immediately offers hope: “But God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.” (Acts 3:15). The resurrection is God’s definitive reversal of their verdict and the validation of Jesus’ identity.
The Mechanism of Faith in His Name
Peter explains that it is faith in the name of Jesus—the very one they killed but God raised—that has given the lame man this complete healing. The faith required is not necessarily the lame man’s faith (the text does not mention him believing beforehand), but the faith of the apostles acting in the name of Jesus. The name of Jesus, invested with His authority, is the channel of power.
A Call to Repentance and the Promise of Refreshment
Understanding their complicity in Jesus’ death could lead to despair. But Peter offers a gracious way forward. He acknowledges they acted in ignorance, as did their leaders. This does not excuse the sin but opens the door for mercy. He then issues a clear call to action:
“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” (Acts 3:19)
Repentance leads to two key outcomes:
- The wiping out of sins.
- Times of refreshing from the Lord’s presence.
The Eschatological Hope: The Restoration of All Things
Peter’s sermon then expands to a grand cosmic scale. He speaks of Jesus, who must remain in heaven “until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.” (Acts 3:21). This points to the ultimate fulfillment of God’s kingdom, the final restoration of creation from the curse of sin. Peter connects Jesus to the prophecy of Deuteronomy 18:15-19, presenting him as the prophet like Moses whom God would raise up and to whom they must listen. Failure to listen to this prophet will result in being cut off from God’s people.
The Aftermath and Enduring Significance
The chapter concludes by reinforcing the prophetic witness. Peter and John are speaking to the people when the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees come, greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. This sets the stage for the persecution that begins in Acts 4.
The healing in Acts 3 is a powerful demonstration of the gospel’s power to restore what is broken. It shows that the mission of the church is to offer not just temporary aid but transformative wholeness in the name of Jesus. Peter’s sermon provides the template for faithful preaching: it confronts sin, proclaims the death and resurrection of Jesus, and calls for repentance with the promise of forgiveness and ultimate restoration. For the modern reader, Acts 3 remains a compelling challenge to rely not on human resources but on the power of Jesus’ name and to boldly proclaim the full message of this new life.