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 ankle 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.
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.
The fact is that Peter and John went to the temple at the hour of prayer because Israel had not yet been set aside and this was still God’s appointed house of prayer.
They were most faithful to their great commission, for under that commission (which was based upon the covenants and prophecies) the conversion of the nations must begin with the conversion of the nation — Israel (Zechariah 8:13; Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8; 3:25-26).
Nor were these men unspiritual for clinging to Judaism and its ceremonies, for no revelation had yet been given that because of the cross the Mosaic law could be set aside. — Stam, pages 126-127
ninth hour (v.1) — 3:00 pm — the hour for sacrifice and prayer
The lame man was more than 40 years old — Acts 4:22
lame from his birth (v.2) — Luke’s observation as a physician
Beautiful Gate (v.2) — We do not meet with this name elsewhere, and so it is difficult to identify the door in question. The most probable conjecture is that it is identical with the gate of Herod’s temple which was known as “the gate Nicanor.” This was on the east side of the “Court of the Israelites” and was reached by a flight of fourteen or fifteen steps from the “Court of the Women.” In other words, it was the main entrance from the east into the innermost court. All the temple gates to this innermost court had folding doors, covered with gold and silver; but Josephus tells us that this one was much larger than the rest, being fifty cubits high and forty cubits broad. It was made of Corinthian brass, “adorned after a most costly manner” with thicker and richer plates of gold than the other gates. Others have supposed the beautiful gate or door to be the gate “Shushan” (lily), which appears to have been on the east of the “Court of the Women;” through it ingress was had from the “Court of the Gentiles.” There is however considerable uncertainty as to its exact locality. Josephus’s description of the more handsome of the gates has been appropriated to this gate “Shushan,” erroneously, as it would seem. — Walker, page 65
alms (v.2) = lit. “pity” or “mercy” — by extension, the expression of mercy
fastening his eyes (v.4) — same verb as “looking steadfastly” in Acts 1:10
gave heed (v.5) — directed his mind, expectation
in the name of Jesus Christ (v.6) — by virtue of His power and authority
His feet and ankle bones (v.7) — The former of these two nouns means, literally, “the soles of the feet,” on which man steps. Both that and the following noun “ankle-bones” are peculiar to this one passage in the New Testament, and both are of a technical character and accord with the professional knowledge of the writer as a physician. — Walker, page 68
received strength (v.7) — so as to perform their proper functions — a medical term
The man stood for the first time in his life. He not only had the strength to walk, but knew how.
praising God (v.8) — The man followed Peter and John but gave credit to God.
amazement (v.10) = astonishment — a great disturbance of mind
held (v.11) = clung to
Solomon’s Porch (v.11) — The outer court of the temple, “the Court of the Gentiles,” was surrounded by porticoes, of which those on the north, west and east formed double cloisters, with two rows of white marble monolithic columns supporting a roof of carved cedar. Of these porticoes or cloisters, that on the east, as Josephus tells us, was called “Solomon’s Porch.” He attributes it to the time of Solomon, but we are rather to understand that it was the work of Herod, the name of Solomon being attached to it for traditional reasons unknown to us. It was a place of common resort for frequenters of the temple, and it is interesting to remember that our Lord delivered there. His beautiful discourse about the Good Shepherd (John 10:23). — Walker, page 70
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