Acts 3
Vincent's Word Studies
Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
Went up (ἀνέβαινον)

The imperfect: were going up. So Rev., ascending the terraces, on the highest of which the temple stood.

Ninth hour

The time of the evening sacrifice; or, as the words of prayer indicate, half an hour later, for the prayer which accompanied the offering of incense.

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;
That was (ὑπάρχων)

Lit., being. See on James 2:15.

Was carried (ἐβαστάζετο)

Imperfect: "was being carried as they were going up (Acts 3:1).

They laid (ἐτίθουν)

Imperfect: "they were wont to lay."

Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
Fastening his eyes (ἀτενἵσας)

See on Luke 4:20; and compare Acts 1:10.

Look (βλέψον)

Attentively. See on Matthew 7:3.

And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
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.
Silver and gold (ἀργύριον καὶ χρυσίον)

Properly, silver and gold money. See on 1 Peter 1:18.

And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ancle bones received strength.
He took (πιάσας)

The verb means originally to press or squeeze; and hence implies taking hold with a firm grasp.

Feet (βάσεις)

A peculiar, technical word, used by Luke only, and described by Galen as the part of the foot lying beneath the leg, upon which the leg directly rests, as distinguished from the ταρσὸς, the flat of the foot between the toes and heel, and πεδίον, the part next the toes.

Ankle-bones (σφυρά)

Only here in New Testament. Also technical. Some of the best texts read σφυδρά, but the meaning is the same.

Received strength (ἐστερεώθησαν)

Used by Luke only. Compare "the churches were established (Acts 16:5), and the kindred noun στερέωμα, steadfastness (Colossians 2:5). In medical language applied to the bones in particular.

And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
Leaping up (ἐξαλλόμενος)

Strictly, leaping forth. Only here in New Testament. Used in medical language of the sudden starting of a bone from the socket, of starting from sleep, or of the sudden bound of the pulse.

Walked (περιεπάτει)

The imperfect. Correctly, as Rev., began to walk; or, perhaps, continued walking about, testing his newly acquired power.

The medical notes of the case are, that the disease was congenital, had lasted over forty years (Acts 4:22), and the progressive steps of the recovery - leaped up, stood, walked.

And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
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.
They knew (ἐπεγίνωσκον)

Or recognized. Rev., took knowledge.

Wonder (θάμβους)

Used by Luke only. See on Luke 4:36.

Amazement (ἐκστάσεως)

See on Mark 5:42; and compare Luke 5:26.

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 lame man which was healed

The best texts omit. Render as he held.

Held (κρατοῦντος)

Held them firmly, took fast hold. The verb from κράτος, strength.

Greatly wondering (ἔκθαμβοι)

Wondering out of measure (ἐκ). Compare wonder (Acts 3:10).

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, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?
He answered

The question expressed in the people's explanations of surprise.

Men of Israel

Lit., men, Israelites. An honorable and conciliatory form of address. The term Israelite gradually gave place to that of Jew; but Israel was the sacred name for the Jews, as the nation of the theocracy, the people under God's covenant, and hence was for the Jew his especial badge and title of honor. "To be descendants of Abraham, this honor they must share with the Ishmaelites; of Abraham and Isaac, with the Edomites; but none except themselves were the seed of Jacob, such as in this name of Israelite they were declared to be. Nor was this all, but more gloriously still, their descent was herein traced up to him, not as he was Jacob, but as he was Israel, who, as a prince, had power with God and with men, and had prevailed" (Trench, "Synonyms"). So Paul, in enumerating to the Philippians his claims to have confidence in the flesh, says he was "of the stock of Israel." It is said that the modern Jews in the East still delight in this title.

Our own (ἰδίᾳ)

See on Acts 1:7.

The 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.
His son (παῖδα)

Rightly, servant, as Rev. See on Luke 1:54. The A. V. renders, in Matthew 12:18, servant, quoting from Isaiah 42:1; but elsewhere, where applied to Jesus, son or child, which Rev. in every case has changed to servant. The word is continually used, like the Latin puer, in the sense of servant, and in the Septuagint as the servant of God. See 2 Samuel 7:5, 2 Samuel 7:8, 2 Samuel 7:19, 2 Samuel 7:20, 2 Samuel 7:21, 2 Samuel 7:25, 2 Samuel 7:26. Compare Luke 1:69. The term servant of Jehovah, or servant of the Lord, is applied in the Old Testament (1) to a worshipper of God, Nehemiah 1:10; Daniel 6:21; so to Abraham, Psalm 105:6, Psalm 105:42; to Joshua, Joshua 24:29; to Job, Job 1:8. (2) To a minister or ambassador of God called to any service, Isaiah 49:6; of Nebuchadnezzar, Jeremiah 27:6; of the prophets, Amos 3:7; of Moses, Deuteronomy 34:5. (3) Peculiarly of the Messiah, Isaiah 42:1; Isaiah 52:13; as God's chosen servant for accomplishing the work of redemption. "Unless we render servant in the passages where the phrase παῖς Θεοῦ occurs in the New Testament, there will be no allusion throughout it all to that group of prophecies which designate the Messiah as the servant of Jehovah, who learned obedience by the things which he suffered" (Trench, "On the Authorized Version of the New Testament").

When he

He is ἐκείνου, the pronoun of more definite and emphatic reference, the latter, Pilate, "in order to make the contrast felt between what Pilate judged and what they did." This is further emphasized in the next verse.

But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
Desired (ᾐτήσασθε)

Or demanded. See on Luke 11:9.

A murderer (ἄνδρα φονέα)

Lit., a man who was a murderer.

To be granted (χαρισθῆναι)

By way of favor (χάρις).

And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
The Prince of life (ἀρχηγὸν τῆς ζωῆς)

The Greek brings out by the position of these words what Bengel calls "the magnificent antithesis" between a murderer and the Prince of life. "Ye demanded a murderer, but the Prince of life ye killed." This is the only place where the phrase occurs. Ἀρχηγός, though sometimes rendered prince, means, primarily, beginning, and thence originator, author. Better here as Rev., in margin, author, and so by Rev. at Hebrews 2:10; Hebrews 12:2.

And 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.
Through faith (ἐπὶ τῇ πίστει)

Note the article: the faith which we had; not the cripple's faith, which was not demanded as a condition of his cure. Through faith (ἐπί) is rather on account of, or on the basis of. Rev., by. Compare Acts 2:38; and see on Matthew 28:19.

Made strong (ἐστερέωσε)

See on Acts 3:7.

Ye see (θεωρεῖτε)

See on Luke 10:18.

Perfect soundness (ὁλοκληρίαν)

Only here in New Testament. From ὅλος, entire, and κλῆρος, a lot. Denoting, therefore, the condition of one who has his entire allotment.

And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.
But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
Repent 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;
Be converted (ἐπιστρέψατε)

Not a good rendering, because the verb is in the active voice. Better as Rev., turn again. See on Luke 22:32.

Blotted out (ἐξαλειφθῆναι)

Forgiveness of sins under the figure of the erasure of hand-writing. The word is used thus in Psalm 51:1. (Sept. 50), Psalm 51:1; Isaiah 43:25. Also at Colossians 2:14. In classical Greek the verb is opposed to ἐγγράφειν, to enter a name. So Aristophanes: "They do things not to be borne, entering (ἐγγράφοντες) some of us, and others, erasing (ἐξαλείφοντες) up and down, twice or thrice" ("Peace," 1180). More especially with reference to an item in an account.

When (ὅπως ἄν)

Wrong. Render in order that, or that (so there may come), as Rev.

Times (καιροὶ)

Better, seasons. See on Acts 1:7.

Of refreshing (ἀναψύξως)

Only here in New Testament. The word means cooling, or reviving with fresh air. Compare the kindred verb, to wax cold, Matthew 24:12, and see note.

Presence (προσώπου)

Lit., the face.

And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
Which before was preached (τὸν προκεκηρυγμένον)

But the best texts read προκεχειρισμένον, appointed. Compare Acts 22:14. Used by Luke only, Acts 22:14; Acts 26:16. The verb originally means to take in hand.

Whom 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.
Of restitution (ἀποκαταστάσεως)

Only here in New Testament. The kindred verb, to restore, occurs Matthew 17:11; Acts 1:6, etc. As a technical medical term, it denotes complete restoration of health; the restoring to its place of a dislocated joint, etc.

Since the world began (ἀπ' αἰῶνος)

The American Revisers insist on from of old.

For 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.
And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.
Shall be destroyed (ἐξολοθρευθήσεται)

Only here in New Testament. Rev., "utterly destroyed," giving the force of ἐξ, out.

Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.
Ye 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.
Covenant (διαθήκης)

See on Matthew 26:28.

Made (διέθετο)

The Rev. gives covenanted in margin. The noun covenant is derived from the verb διατίθημι, originally to distribute or arrange. Hence to arrange or settle mutually; to make a covenant with.

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

The best texts omit Jesus. Render servant for son, and see on Acts 3:13.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886].
Text Courtesy of Internet Sacred Texts Archive.

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