Acts 3:3

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

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Benson Commentary

Acts 3:3-8. Who, seeing Peter and John, asked an alms — As it seems he did of all who entered in at the gate where he sat begging: an alms was the utmost he expected from them or any others. And Peter, fastening his eyes on him, with John — That is, looking steadfastly at him, feeling, doubtless, a strong emotion of soul, which intimated to him that the divine power would be exerted in working an illustrious miracle for the further confirmation of the gospel; said, Look on us — This the lame man readily did, expecting to receive something of them — Namely, for the relief of his temporal necessities. Little did he suppose that a much greater blessing was prepared for him. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none — How unlike was Peter to his supposed successor! Can the bishop of Rome either say this, or do what Peter now did? This, we may observe, was after the estates were sold, as mentioned Acts 2:45, and plainly shows how far the apostles were from enriching themselves by the treasures which passed through their hands. But such as I have give I thee — What is in my power, I willingly impart; and thou shalt find it not less valuable than money. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth — That is, by the power of him who, in contempt, is called, Jesus of Nazareth; rise up and walk —

Be immediately and perfectly healed of thy malady. And he took him by the hand — Thereby encouraging him to do as he had said; and lifted him up — In the same name in which he had bid him rise. Not that his doing this could contribute any thing to the lame man’s cure: it was but a sign, intimating the supernatural help that he should receive, if he exerted himself, as he was commanded. When God by his word enjoins us to rise, and walk in the ways of his commandments, if we mix faith with that word, and rely on the power of it, he will give us his Spirit, to take us by the hand, as it were, and lift us up. If we set ourselves to do what we can in dependance on the divine aid, God has promised us his grace to enable us to do what of ourselves we cannot; and by faith in that promise we receive a new nature productive of a new practice: for the grace of God thus received and used shall not be in vain; as it was not here: his feet and ankle-bones received strength — Which would not have been the case if he had not attempted to rise. And he, leaping up — From the place where he lay; stood — In an erect posture, which he had never before been able to do; and walked — Greek, περιεπατει, walked about, with strength and steadiness; and entered with them into the temple — Into the court of Israel, there to offer the first-fruits of his thanksgivings, sometimes walking, and sometimes leaping, for joy, and to show that he was perfectly healed; and praising God — In a rapture of astonishment and thankfulness for so wonderful a mercy bestowed upon him. Thus was the prophecy (Isaiah 35:6) remarkably fulfilled, Then shall the lame man leap as a hart. This man, being now newly cured, was in this excess of joy and thankfulness: all true converts walk and praise God; but young converts, perhaps, leap more, as it were, in his praises.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

3:1-11 The apostles and the first believers attended the temple worship at the hours of prayer. Peter and John seem to have been led by a Divine direction, to work a miracle on a man above forty years old, who had been a cripple from his birth. Peter, in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, bade him rise up and walk. Thus, if we would attempt to good purpose the healing of men's souls, we must go forth in the name and power of Jesus Christ, calling on helpless sinners to arise and walk in the way of holiness, by faith in Him. How sweet the thought to our souls, that in respect to all the crippled faculties of our fallen nature, the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth can make us whole! With what holy joy and rapture shall we tread the holy courts, when God the Spirit causes us to enter therein by his strength!

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Who, seeing Peter ... - There is no evidence that he was acquainted with them or knew who they were. He asked of them as he was accustomed to do of the multitude that entered the temple.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

2. a certain man lame from his mother's womb—and now "above forty years old" (Ac 4:22).

was carried—was wont to be carried.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Seeing, though lame: every one hath something that is truly valuable, and matter of praise and thanks unto God.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple,.... Just as they were entering through the gate at which he lay, he looked at them; and though they were strangers to him, he concluded they were Israelites by their going into the temple at that time:

asked an alms; of them; prayed them to give him something for his relief and support.

Geneva Study Bible

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

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Meyer's NT Commentary

Acts 3:3-5. Μέλλοντας εἰσιέναι εἰς τ. ἱερ.] For it was through this outermost gate that the temple proper was reached.

ἠρώτα ἐλεημοσ. λαβ.] he asked that he might receive an alms. Modes of expression used in such a case (Merere in me; In me benefac tibi, and the like) may he seen in Vajicra rabb. f. 20. 3, 4.

On λαβεῖν, which in itself might be dispensed with, see Winer, p. 565 [E. T. 760].

ἀτενίσας … βλέψον εἰς ἡμᾶς] They would read from his look, whether he was spiritually fitted for the benefit to be received. “Talis intuitus non caruit peculiar! Spiritus motu; hinc fit, ut tarn secure de miraculo pronuntiet,” Calvin. Comp. Acts 13:9.

ἐπεῖχεν αὐτοῖς] The supplying of τὸν νοῦν serves to make the sense clear. Comp. Luke 14:7; 1 Timothy 4:16. He was attentive, intent upon them. Comp. Schweigh. Lex. Herod. i. p. 241, and Lex. Polyb. p. 238.

Expositor's Greek Testament

Acts 3:3. ἠρώτα λαβεῖν: “asked to receive,” R.V., as other English versions except A.V. The expression is quite classical, αἰτῶν λαβεῖν, Aristoph., Plut., 240, cf. Mark 1:17, and LXX, Exodus 23:15, for similar instances of a redundant infinitive. The verb is in the imperfect, because the action of asking is imperfect until what is asked for is granted by another, Blass, in loco, and Grammatik des N. G., pp. 187, 236, and Salmon, Hermathena, xxi. p. 228.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

3. asked an alms] Alms is singular number, and was in early times spelt almesse, which is derived from the Greek ἐλεημοσύνη, which in German becomes Almosen = a gift of charity.

Bengel's Gnomen

Acts 3:3. Ἠρώτα ἐλεημοσύνην λαβεῖν, asked to receive alms) A very similar phrase occurs 1Ma 11:66, ἠξίωσαν αὐτὸν τοῦ δεξιὰς λαβεῖν. Many omit λαβεῖν here in Acts.[26]

[26] Dd Lucif. 109. omit λαβεῖν. But ABCE Vulg. Memph. retain it: and Syr. Theb. ut darent.—E. and T.

The Germ. Vers. of Beng. omits it, after the example of both his Greek Editions.—E. B.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 3. - To receive an alms for an alms, A.V. and T.R. The R.T. has ἐλεημοσύνην λαβεῖν. Acts 3:3