ActsStudy Guide

Chapter 3

Themes, discussion questions, Christ connections, and denomination lenses.

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Scripture

KJV

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

2And 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;

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

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

5And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

6Then 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.

7And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

8And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

9And all the people saw him walking and praising God:

10And 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.

11And 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.

12And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

13The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.

14But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;

15And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

16And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

17And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.

18But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.

19Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

20And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:

21Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

22For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.

23And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.

24Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.

25Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

26Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

Key VerseActs 3:6

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.

Overview

Peter and John heal a man lame from birth at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, commanding him to rise in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. The healed man leaps and praises God, drawing a large crowd in Solomon's porch. Peter seizes the moment to preach, declaring that it is faith in the name of Jesus — the Prince of life whom God raised from the dead — that has made this man whole.

Key Themes

1

Healing in the Name of Jesus

The apostles demonstrate that the power to heal does not reside in themselves but flows entirely from the authority of the risen Christ.

2

Repentance and Restoration

Peter calls the people to repent and turn to God so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.

3

Jesus as the Promised Prophet

Peter identifies Jesus as the prophet like Moses whom God promised to raise up, connecting the gospel to the covenant promises given to Abraham.

Study Questions

1.

Why did Peter say 'Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee' (v. 6), and what does this reveal about the true riches of the gospel?

2.

How does the healing of the lame man serve as a picture of what Christ does spiritually for every believer?

3.

Why does Peter redirect the crowd's amazement away from himself and John and toward Jesus (vv. 12-16)?

4.

What does Peter mean by 'times of refreshing' that shall come from the presence of the Lord (v. 19)?

5.

How does Peter's identification of Jesus as the fulfillment of Moses' prophecy (v. 22) strengthen the case that Jesus is the Messiah?

Connection to Christ

Peter declares Jesus to be the Holy One, the Just, and the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead. The miracle itself testifies to the living power of Christ's name, proving that the One Israel rejected is alive and actively working through His people.

Personal Reflection

Take time to journal or meditate on what God is teaching you through Acts 3. How can these truths transform your thinking and actions today?

Acts

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