Bible Glide

Acts 3 Summary, Context, and Full Chapter

Acts 3 records a public healing at the temple and Peter's response to the crowd. The chapter shows the man's instant recovery, the amazement it caused, and Peter's message that the power came through Jesus Christ. It then calls people to repent, turn back to God, and receive blessing.

What happens in Acts 3?

Peter and John meet a man who has been lame from birth at the temple gate. Instead of money, Peter gives healing in the name of Jesus Christ, and the man immediately walks, leaps, and praises God. The crowd gathers in wonder, and Peter explains that the miracle is not from human power but from Jesus, whom they had rejected and whom God raised from the dead. He then calls them to repent, turn back, and look for the promised renewal that comes from God.

Acts 3 follows the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2 and the growth of the first believers in Jerusalem. This chapter moves the story from shared worship and teaching to a public sign and a sermon centered on Jesus. It continues the book's focus on witness, healing, repentance, and the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem outward.

  • Healing in Jesus' nameThe man's cure shows that Jesus is still at work through His followers.
  • Witness to the resurrectionPeter connects the miracle to Jesus' death and God's raising Him from the dead.
  • Repentance and renewalThe sermon calls the listeners to turn back so their sins may be wiped away.
  • What stands out about Peter's response to the man at the temple gate?
  • How does Peter explain the meaning of the healing to the crowd?
  • What does this chapter teach about repentance and God's promise of renewal?

Read the full text of Acts 3 below, then open it in the reader to highlight, take notes, or ask follow-up Bible questions. No account is required to read.

Acts 3

A Lame Man Walks

1One afternoon Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.2And a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those entering the temple courts.3When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money.4Peter looked directly at him, as did John. “Look at us!” said Peter.5So the man gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.6But Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!”7Taking him by the right hand, Peter helped him up, and at once the man’s feet and ankles were made strong.8He sprang to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and leaping and praising God.9When all the people saw him walking and praising God,10they recognized him as the man who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Peter Speaks in Solomon’s Colonnade

11While the man clung to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and ran to them in the walkway called Solomon’s Colonnade.

12And when Peter saw this, he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why are you surprised by this? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?13The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus. You handed Him over and rejected Him before Pilate, even though he had decided to release Him.14You rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.15You killed the Author of life, but God raised Him from the dead, and we are witnesses of the fact.16By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know has been made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Him that has given him this complete healing in your presence.

17And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders.18But in this way God has fulfilled what He foretold through all the prophets, saying that His Christ would suffer.

19Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away,20that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus, the Christ, who has been appointed for you.21Heaven must take Him in until the time comes for the restoration of all things, which God announced long ago through His holy prophets.22For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to Him in everything He tells you.23Everyone who does not listen to Him will be completely cut off from among his people.’24Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have proclaimed these days.25And you are sons of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers when He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all the families of the earth will be blessed.’26When God raised up His Servant, He sent Him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”

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