Acts 3

1 One afternoon [late in the day, around 3 p.m.] Peter [a rock or stone, a name given by Jesus] and John [one of Jesus’ twelve apostles] were going up [ascending, to ascend] to the temple [a sacred place, the Temple in Jerusalem] at the hour [a specific time, a sea of time] of prayer [a place for prayer, talking to God], the ninth [3 pm, late afternoon] hour. word study 2 And a man [a certain individual, one] who was lame [crippled, without the power to walk] from birth [from his mother’s womb, since conception] was being carried [lifted, borne] to the temple gate [door, entrance] called Beautiful [flourishing, ornate], where he was put [laid, placed] every day [daily, each day] to beg [ask, request] from those entering [going into, coming into] the temple courts [the sacred area, the temple grounds]. word study 3 When he saw [perceived, took notice of] Peter [the rock, a disciple of Jesus] and John [the beloved apostle] about to enter [go into, approach], he asked [requested, begged] them for money [charity, alms, financial help]. word study 4 Peter looked directly [gazing intently, with focused attention] at him, as did John [with him, in close association]. “Look at us [toward us, with attention]!” said Peter [the rock, Jesus’ apostle]. word study 5 So the man [the lame individual] gave them his attention [looking directly at them, expecting something], expecting [looking forward to, anticipating] to receive [take, get] something [a gift, money] from [out of, beside] them [these people]. word study 6 But Peter [the apostle, a rock] said, “Silver [argent, a valuable metal] or gold [a precious commodity] I do not have, but what I have [spiritual gifts, divine authority] I give you: In the name [character, reputation] of Jesus Christ [the Messiah, God’s anointed] of Nazareth [a city, a place of humble origin], get up [arise, stand] and walk [live, follow]! ” word study 7 Taking him by the right [deemed most honorable] hand, Peter helped him up, and at once [immediately, without delay] the man’s feet [the base or foundation] and ankles [the joints connecting the leg to the foot] were made [to be strengthened, to receive power] strong [firm, steadfast]. word study 8 He sprang [leaping up, jumped to his feet] to his feet and began to walk [to live a certain way, following]. Then he went with them into the temple [sacred place, the entire area] courts, walking [peripatetically, in a certain manner] and leaping [springing, jumping] and praising [giving thanks to, honoring] God [the one true deity]. word study 9 When [at that moment, then] all [every single one, the entire crowd] the people [a multitude, a gathering] saw [perceived, noticed] him [the man, the individual] walking [proceeding, moving forward] and [also, in addition] praising [glorifying, giving thanks to] God [the one true deity, Almighty], word study 10 they recognized [knew deeply, understood] him as the man who used to sit [was seated, remained] begging [asking for charity, seeking alms] at the Beautiful [lovely, elegant] Gate of the temple, and they were filled [completely fulfilled, made full] with wonder [awe, amazement] and amazement [astonishment, shock] at what had happened [occurred, taken place] to him. word study 11 While the man [who had been lame, crippled] clung [held tightly, grasping] to Peter [the rock, a disciple of Jesus] and John, all [every single one, the entire crowd] the people were astonished [utterly amazed, greatly wondering] and ran [flocked, rushed together] to them in the walkway [portico, covered colonnade] called [named, known as] Solomon’s [belonging to Solomon, the king] Colonnade [a covered walkway, a porch]. word study 12 And when Peter [the rock, a disciple of Jesus] saw this, he addressed the people: “Men of Israel [descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people], why are you surprised [marveling, astonished] by this? Why do you stare at us as if by our own [private, personal] power [ability, strength] or godliness [piety, reverence for God] we had made this man walk [to walk, to live a certain way, to follow]? word study 13 The God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God [the one true deity] of our fathers, has glorified [given praise and honor to] His servant [child, minister] Jesus [God is salvation]. You handed Him over [delivered up, surrendered] and rejected [denied, said no to] Him before Pilate [the Roman leader], even though he had decided [judged, formed an opinion] to release [set free, let go] Him. word study 14 You [rejecting, denied] rejected the Holy [set apart, dedicated to God] and Righteous [just, fair, innocent] One and asked [requested, desired] that a murderer [a man who kills, one who takes life] be released [set free, granted] to you [as a favor, with kindness]. word study 15 You killed [the Prince of life, Lord of life] the Author [founder, originator] of life, but God [the one true deity] raised Him from the dead [out from the state of being lifeless], and we [as eyewitnesses] are witnesses [testifiers, those who have seen] of the fact. word study 16 By faith [trust, confidence] in the name [character, authority] of Jesus, this man whom you see [perceive, behold] and know [are aware of, recognize] has been made strong [strengthened, empowered]. It is Jesus’ name [reputation, influence] and the faith [trust, reliance] that comes through Him [by means of, because of] that has given him this complete [perfect, whole] healing [restoration, wholeness] in your presence [before your eyes, in your sight]. word study 17 And now [at this present time], brothers [fellow believers, brethren], I know [am aware, perceive] that you acted [did, performed] in ignorance [lack of knowledge, unawareness], as did [just like] your leaders [rulers, those in authority]. word study 18 But in this way [through the fulfillment of prophecy] God [the one true deity] has fulfilled [completed, brought to pass] what He foretold [prophesied, declared beforehand] through [by means of, because of] all the prophets [messengers of God], saying [declaring, announcing] that His Christ [anointed one, Messiah] would suffer [experience pain, endure hardship, be afflicted]. word study 19 Repent [turn away from sin, change your mind], then, and turn back [be converted, revert to God], so that your sins [transgressions, missing the mark] may be wiped away [blotted out, completely erased], word study 20 that times of refreshing [periods of spiritual renewal] may come from the presence [face, manifest presence] of the Lord [the Supreme Ruler], and that He may send [dispatch, appoint] Jesus [Joshua, God is salvation], the Christ [Anointed One, Messiah], who has been appointed [predestined, chosen] for you [as your Savior]. word study 21 Heaven [the sky and God’s dwelling place] must take Him in [receive and welcome] until the time [a period of restoration] comes for the restoration [renewal and reconstitution] of all things [everything in the universe], which God [the supreme deity] announced [spoken and proclaimed] long ago [from the beginning of time] through His holy [set apart and dedicated] prophets [messengers of God’s will]. word study 22 For Moses [the Hebrew lawgiver] said, ‘The Lord [God, the supreme ruler] your God [the one true deity] will raise up [bring forth, appoint] for you a prophet [one who speaks on behalf of God] like me [similar to Moses, a leader and guide] from among your brothers [fellow Israelites, brethren]. You must listen to [obey, heed] Him in everything [all things, whatsoever] He tells [speaks, commands] you. word study 23 Everyone [every soul, all people] who does not [will not, refuses to] listen [hear and obey, give heed to] to Him [the Prophet, Jesus Christ] will be [shall be, is destined to be] completely [utterly, totally] cut off [destroyed, rooted out] from among [out from, removed from] his people [the nation, God’s people].’ word study 24 Indeed, all [every single one] the prophets [messengers of God, proclaimers of His will] from Samuel [the Israelite leader and prophet] on, as many as have spoken [uttered words, proclaimed messages], have proclaimed [declared, announced publicly] these days [this period of time, these specific events]. word study 25 And you [as sons and daughters, children of the prophets] are sons of the prophets [messengers of God, spokespersons for the divine] and of the covenant [formal agreement, promise] God made with your fathers [ancestors, patriarchs] when He said to Abraham [the father of faith, a Hebrew patriarch], ‘Through your offspring [seed, descendants, family line] all the families [nations, kindreds, people groups] of the earth [the world, the globe] will be blessed [receive divine favor, experience God’s goodness].’ word study 26 When God [the one true deity, Creator of all] raised up His Servant [child, Jesus, the one who always obeys Him], He sent Him first [before others, in time and importance] to you [Israelites, as a chosen people] to bless you [to praise, speak well of, and bring joy to] by turning each of you [every one, individually] from your wicked ways [evil, depraved, and malicious actions].” word study