The Acts of the Apostles
Acts 3
Chapter III · Vol. IV, p. 257
1 Peter preaching to the people that came to see a lame man restored to his feet, 12 professeth the cure not to have been wrought by his or John's own power, or holiness, but by God, and his Son Jesus, and through faith in his name: 13 withal reprehending them for crucifying Jesus. 17 Which, because they did it through ignorance, and that thereby were fulfilled God's determinate counsel, and the scriptures: 19 he exhorteth them by repentance and faith to seek remission of their sins, and salvation in the same Jesus.
1 Now aPeter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.1
2 And a certain man blame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful,2 to askc alms of them that entered into the temple;
b ch.4.22; 14.8.
2 This gate was added to the court of the Gentiles by Herod the Great; and was, according to Josephus, thirty cubits high, and fifteen broad.—C.
c Jn.9.8. ver.10.
3 Who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked an alms.
5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
6 Then Peter said, eSilver 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.3
e Mat.10.9. 1 Pe.4.10. Mat.7.22. Mar.16.17. ch.4.7,10.
3 'In the name of Jesus'—by the power inherent in that name, the power delegated to me his apostle that I may evidence my apostleship, and the truth of that gospel which I am commissioned by Jesus to preach. This was a wondrous testimony to Christ. It was, when fairly considered, irresistible.—P.
7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and gimmediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
g Mat.8.3,13,15; 9.22; 12.13; 15.28.
8 And hhe, leaping up, stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
h Is.35.6. Mar.2.11,12. Jn.5.8,9.
10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and jthey were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
j ch.2.7,12; 4.13.
11 And, as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them, in lthe porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.
l ch.5.12. Jn.10.23.
12 And 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, asn though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?
13 Theo God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath pglorified his Son Jesus; whom qye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate,4 when he was determined to let him go.
o ch.5.30,31. Mat.22.32. Ex.3.6,15. Lu.20.37,38.
p Jn.7.39; 12.16; 13.31,32; 17.1,5. ch.2.36; 5.31. Ep.1.20. Phi.2.9-11. He.2.9. Re.1.5,18.
q Mat.27.2,17-25. Mar.15.1,9. Jn.18.40; 19.15. Lu.23.1,16-23. ch.2.23; 4.26-28; 5.30.
4 In the presence of Pilate. 'Against the face of Pilate'—in opposition to his expressed wishes and reasonings in favour of his innocence.—C.
14 Butr ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;Cited in WLC 56
15 And killed the Prince5 of life, swhom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.Cited in WLC 56
16 And his name,6 through tfaith 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.
17 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance7 ye did it, as did also your rulers.
u Lu.23.34. Jn.7.26,48; 16.3. ch.13.27. 1 Ti.1.13. 1 Co.2.8. 2 Co.3.14.
7 See note * in first column.
* Can it be said to have denied Jesus 'through ignorance,' in face of all his miracles? Their eyes were blinded through prejudice in favour of a temporal king and conqueror, and therefore the meek and lowly Jesus they could not acknowledge. Their ignorance was highly criminal, for it was prejudice against evidence—still it was ignorance, and therefore the apostle adduces it, not as an excuse for former sin, but as an argument for present repentance.—C.
18 Butu those things, which God before had showed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
u Lu.24.44. ch.26.22,23. Jn.1.45. Ps.xxii. lxix. Is.l. liii.
8 See note † in first column.
† Being announced in the first prophecy (Ge.3.15) as the 'seed of the woman,' he was thus under a broken law, and so liable to its penalty—sorrow, labour, and death—before he could accomplish the work of salvation. Subsequently every sacrifice pointed to him as a sufferer, while all the prophets, but especially David, Isaiah, and Daniel, describe him in the plainest terms as sold, scourged, wounded, and crucified.—C.
19 Repentv ye therefore, and be xconverted, that your sins may be blotted out, when ythe times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;Cited in WCF 33.2 · HC 47
v Mat.3.2; 4.17. Is.43.25; 44.22; 55.7. ch.2.38. Ne.1.4. Ps.51.1,2,9; 103.14.
x Is.1.16-20. Joel 2.13.
y Je.31.23-25. Zep.3.14-20. Re.21.4. 2 Ti.1.18. Ps.17.15. Lu.16.25. Re.17.14,15. Ro.11.25. 2 Th.1.7,10.
21 Whomb the heaven must receive until the times of crestitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.Cited in WLC 42, 53, 86, 170 · WCF 29.6, 32.1 · HC 47, 76
22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, dA prophet shall the Lord your God eraise up unto you of your brethren, glike unto me; him shall hye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.Cited in WSC 23 · WLC 42 · WCF 8.1 · HC 31
23 And it shall come to pass, ithat every soul, which will not hear that Prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.Cited in WSC 23
24 Yeaj and all the prophets from Samuel, and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.8Cited in WLC 34
j Lu.24.25,27,44. Jn.1.45. ch.10.43; 13.27; 26.22,23.
8 These days of Messiah, specially characterized by the outpouring of the Spirit foretold by Joel, and the working of the miracles described by Isaiah, Joel 2.28. Is.29.18.—C.
25 Yek are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, lAnd in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
26 Unton you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to obless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.9
n Mat.10.5,6; 15.24. Lu.24.47. ch.13.23,26,38,46. 2 Pe.3.9.
o Ps.72.17. Ep.1.3. Ga.3.9,13,14,22.
9 Is.59.20. Da.9.24. Mal.3.1-3. Mat.1.21. Tit.2.11-14. 1 Jn.3.5,8. ver.19.
Notes
Ver. 19. Repent. Change your minds.—Be converted. Change your conduct—doing both, not in order to believing, but as the necessary consequences of believing the gospel. The times of restitution. The times when all promises have been accomplished in the restoration of the Jews and the conversion of the Gentiles;—when Christ shall be acknowledged as King in Zion, and head over all things to the church.—Even so, come, Lord Jesus—come quickly! C. most amazing miracles have been wrought. Marvellous is the wisdom and power of God in making even the most daring wickedness of men the great means of bringing about our salvation! And extensive is the instruction, ample the pardons, gracious the reformation, and abundant the blessings which Jesus Christ bestows on the chief of sinners. What delightful encouragement is this to faith and repentance, that, in his seasons of mercy, we may find rest and refreshment to our souls! What excitement to rejoice in his exaltation, and to wait for his return to judgment!