Acts 3:1

THE MESSAGE

One day at three o'clock in the afternoon, Peter and John were on their way into the Temple for prayer meeting. At the same time there was a man crippled from birth being carried up. Every day he was set down at the Temple gate, the one named Beautiful, to beg from those going into the Temple. When he saw Peter and John about to enter the Temple, he asked for a handout. Peter, with John at his side, looked him straight in the eye and said, "Look here." He looked up, expecting to get something from them.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Now Peter and John were going up to the temple for the time of prayer at three in the afternoon.

King James Version (1611)
Nowe Peter and Iohn went vp together into the Temple at the houre of prayer, beeing the ninth houre.

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

English Standard Version
Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.

New American Standard Bible
Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer.

New Century Version
One day Peter and John went to the Temple at three o'clock, the time set each day for the afternoon prayer service.

Amplified Bible
Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour (3:00 p.m.),

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer.

Berean Standard Bible
One afternoon Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.

Contemporary English Version
The time of prayer was about three o'clock in the afternoon, and Peter and John were going into the temple.

Complete Jewish Bible
One afternoon at three o'clock, the hour of minchah prayers, as Kefa and Yochanan were going up to the Temple,

Darby Translation
And Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, [which is] the ninth [hour];

Easy-to-Read Version
One day Peter and John went to the Temple area. It was three o'clock in the afternoon, which was the time for the daily Temple prayer service.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Nowe Peter and Iohn went vp together into the Temple, at the ninth houre of prayer.

George Lamsa Translation
IT came to pass as Simon Peter and John were going up together to the temple at the time of prayer, at the ninth hour, *

Good News Translation
One day Peter and John went to the Temple at three o'clock in the afternoon, the hour for prayer.

Lexham English Bible
Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.

Literal Translation
And Peter and John were going up on the same day into the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth.

American Standard Version
Now Peter and John were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

Bible in Basic English
Now Peter and John were going up to the Temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer;

Hebrew Names Version
Kefa and Yochanan were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.

International Standard Version
Peter and John were going up to the temple for the hour of prayer at three in the afternoon.at the ninth hour">[fn]Psalm 55:17; Acts 2:46;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
AND it was that as Shemun Kipha and Juhanon ascended together to the temple at the time of prayer, which is the ninth hour,

Murdock Translation
And it occurred, as Simon Cephas and John went together up to the temple, at the time of prayer, being the ninth hour,

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Nowe Peter and Iohn went vp together into the temple at the nynth houre of prayer.

English Revised Version
Now Peter and John were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

World English Bible
Peter and John were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Now Peter and John went up together into the temple, at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.

Weymouth's New Testament
One day Peter and John were going up to the Temple for the hour of prayer--the ninth hour--and, just then,

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Petre and Joon wenten vp in to the temple, at the nynthe our of preiyng.

Update Bible Version
Now Peter and John were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, [being] the ninth [hour].

Webster's Bible Translation
Now Peter and John went up together into the temple, at the hour of prayer, [being] the ninth [hour].

New English Translation
Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time for prayer, at three o'clock in the afternoon.

New King James Version
Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.

New Living Translation
Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o'clock prayer service.

New Life Bible
Peter and John were going to the house of God about three o'clock. It was the time for prayer.

New Revised Standard
One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o'clock in the afternoon.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Now, Peter and John, were going up into the temple, for the hour of prayer - the ninth;

Douay-Rheims Bible
Now Peter and John went up into the temple at the ninth hour of prayer.

Revised Standard Version
Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Peter and Iohn went up togedder into the teple at the nynthe houre of prayer.

Young's Literal Translation
And Peter and John were going up at the same time to the temple, at the hour of the prayer, the ninth [hour],

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Peter and Ihon wente vp together in to the temple aboute the nyenth houre to praye.

Mace New Testament (1729)
One day as Peter and John were going together to the temple, at the ninth hour, which was the hour of prayer,

Simplified Cowboy Version
Pete and John showed up at the main church one day for the three o'clock prayer.

Contextual Overview

¹One day at three o'clock in the afternoon, Peter and John were on their way into the Temple for prayer meeting. At the same time there was a man crippled from birth being carried up. Every day he was set down at the Temple gate, the one named Beautiful, to beg from those going into the Temple. When he saw Peter and John about to enter the Temple, he asked for a handout. Peter, with John at his side, looked him straight in the eye and said, "Look here." He looked up, expecting to get something from them. ⁶Peter said, "I don't have a nickel to my name, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!" He grabbed him by the right hand and pulled him up. In an instant his feet and ankles became firm. He jumped to his feet and walked. The man went into the Temple with them, walking back and forth, dancing and praising God. Everybody there saw him walking around and praising God. They recognized him as the one who sat begging at the Temple's Gate Beautiful and rubbed their eyes, astonished, scarcely believing what they were seeing. The man threw his arms around Peter and John, ecstatic. All the people ran up to where they were at Solomon's Porch to see it for themselves. When Peter saw he had a congregation, he addressed the people: "Oh, Israelites, why does this take you by such complete surprise, and why stare at us as if our power or piety made him walk? The God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified his Son Jesus. The very One that Pilate called innocent, you repudiated. You repudiated the Holy One, the Just One, and asked for a murderer in his place. You no sooner killed the Author of Life than God raised him from the dead—and we're the witnesses. Faith in Jesus' name put this man, whose condition you know so well, on his feet—yes, faith and nothing but faith put this man healed and whole right before your eyes. "And now, friends, I know you had no idea what you were doing when you killed Jesus, and neither did your leaders. But God, who through the preaching of all the prophets had said all along that his Messiah would be killed, knew exactly what you were doing and used it to fulfill his plans. "Now it's time to change your ways! Turn to face God so he can wipe away your sins, pour out showers of blessing to refresh you, and send you the Messiah he prepared for you, namely, Jesus. For the time being he must remain out of sight in heaven until everything is restored to order again just the way God, through the preaching of his holy prophets of old, said it would be. Moses, for instance, said, ‘Your God will raise up for you a prophet just like me from your family. Listen to every word he speaks to you. Every last living soul who refuses to listen to that prophet will be wiped out from the people.' "All the prophets from Samuel on down said the same thing, said most emphatically that these days would come. These prophets, along with the covenant God made with your ancestors, are your family tree. God's covenant-word to Abraham provides the text: ‘By your offspring all the families of the earth will be blessed.' But you are first in line: God, having raised up his Son, sent him to bless you as you turn, one by one, from your evil ways." ⁹ One day at three o'clock in the afternoon, Peter and John were on their way into the Temple for prayer meeting. At the same time there was a man crippled from birth being carried up. Every day he was set down at the Temple gate, the one named Beautiful, to beg from those going into the Temple. When he saw Peter and John about to enter the Temple, he asked for a handout. Peter, with John at his side, looked him straight in the eye and said, "Look here." He looked up, expecting to get something from them. Peter said, "I don't have a nickel to my name, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!" He grabbed him by the right hand and pulled him up. In an instant his feet and ankles became firm. He jumped to his feet and walked. The man went into the Temple with them, walking back and forth, dancing and praising God. Everybody there saw him walking around and praising God. They recognized him as the one who sat begging at the Temple's Gate Beautiful and rubbed their eyes, astonished, scarcely believing what they were seeing. The man threw his arms around Peter and John, ecstatic. All the people ran up to where they were at Solomon's Porch to see it for themselves. When Peter saw he had a congregation, he addressed the people: "Oh, Israelites, why does this take you by such complete surprise, and why stare at us as if our power or piety made him walk? The God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified his Son Jesus. The very One that Pilate called innocent, you repudiated. You repudiated the Holy One, the Just One, and asked for a murderer in his place. You no sooner killed the Author of Life than God raised him from the dead—and we're the witnesses. Faith in Jesus' name put this man, whose condition you know so well, on his feet—yes, faith and nothing but faith put this man healed and whole right before your eyes. "And now, friends, I know you had no idea what you were doing when you killed Jesus, and neither did your leaders. But God, who through the preaching of all the prophets had said all along that his Messiah would be killed, knew exactly what you were doing and used it to fulfill his plans. "Now it's time to change your ways! Turn to face God so he can wipe away your sins, pour out showers of blessing to refresh you, and send you the Messiah he prepared for you, namely, Jesus. For the time being he must remain out of sight in heaven until everything is restored to order again just the way God, through the preaching of his holy prophets of old, said it would be. Moses, for instance, said, ‘Your God will raise up for you a prophet just like me from your family. Listen to every word he speaks to you. Every last living soul who refuses to listen to that prophet will be wiped out from the people.' "All the prophets from Samuel on down said the same thing, said most emphatically that these days would come. These prophets, along with the covenant God made with your ancestors, are your family tree. God's covenant-word to Abraham provides the text: ‘By your offspring all the families of the earth will be blessed.' But you are first in line: God, having raised up his Son, sent him to bless you as you turn, one by one, from your evil ways." ¹⁰ One day at three o'clock in the afternoon, Peter and John were on their way into the Temple for prayer meeting. At the same time there was a man crippled from birth being carried up. Every day he was set down at the Temple gate, the one named Beautiful, to beg from those going into the Temple. When he saw Peter and John about to enter the Temple, he asked for a handout. Peter, with John at his side, looked him straight in the eye and said, "Look here." He looked up, expecting to get something from them. Peter said, "I don't have a nickel to my name, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!" He grabbed him by the right hand and pulled him up. In an instant his feet and ankles became firm. He jumped to his feet and walked. The man went into the Temple with them, walking back and forth, dancing and praising God. Everybody there saw him walking around and praising God. They recognized him as the one who sat begging at the Temple's Gate Beautiful and rubbed their eyes, astonished, scarcely believing what they were seeing. ¹¹ The man threw his arms around Peter and John, ecstatic. All the people ran up to where they were at Solomon's Porch to see it for themselves.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Peter: Acts 4:13, Acts 8:14, Matthew 17:1, Matthew 26:37, John 13:23-25, John 20:2-9, John 21:7, John 21:18-22, Galatians 2:9

went: Acts 2:46, Acts 5:25, Luke 24:53

the hour: Acts 10:3, Acts 10:30, Exodus 29:39, Numbers 28:4, 1 Kings 18:36, Psalms 55:17, Daniel 6:10, Daniel 9:21, Luke 1:10, Luke 23:44-46

Reciprocal: Ezra 9:4 - until Psalms 141:2 - the evening Matthew 10:2 - John Matthew 20:5 - sixth Matthew 21:14 - General Luke 18:10 - into Acts 1:13 - Peter Acts 5:42 - daily

Cross-References

Genesis 3:13
"The serpent seduced me," she said, "and I ate."

Isaiah 27:1
At that time God will unsheathe his sword, his merciless, massive, mighty sword. He'll punish the serpent Leviathan as it flees, the serpent Leviathan thrashing in flight. He'll kill that old dragon that lives in the sea.

Matthew 10:16
"Stay alert. This is hazardous work I'm assigning you. You're going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don't call attention to yourselves. Be as cunning as a snake, inoffensive as a dove.

2 Corinthians 11:14
Pseudo-Servants of God Will you put up with a little foolish aside from me? Please, just for a moment. The thing that has me so upset is that I care about you so much—this is the passion of God burning inside me! I promised your hand in marriage to Christ, presented you as a pure virgin to her husband. And now I'm afraid that exactly as the Snake seduced Eve with his smooth patter, you are being lured away from the simple purity of your love for Christ. It seems that if someone shows up preaching quite another Jesus than we preached—different spirit, different message—you put up with him quite nicely. But if you put up with these big-shot "apostles," why can't you put up with simple me? I'm as good as they are. It's true that I don't have their voice, haven't mastered that smooth eloquence that impresses you so much. But when I do open my mouth, I at least know what I'm talking about. We haven't kept anything back. We let you in on everything. I wonder, did I make a bad mistake in proclaiming God's Message to you without asking for something in return, serving you free of charge so that you wouldn't be inconvenienced by me? It turns out that the other churches paid my way so that you could have a free ride. Not once during the time I lived among you did anyone have to lift a finger to help me out. My needs were always supplied by the believers from Macedonia province. I was careful never to be a burden to you, and I never will be, you can count on it. With Christ as my witness, it's a point of honor with me, and I'm not going to keep it quiet just to protect you from what the neighbors will think. It's not that I don't love you; God knows I do. I'm just trying to keep things open and honest between us. And I'm not changing my position on this. I'd die before taking your money. I'm giving nobody grounds for lumping me in with those money-grubbing "preachers," vaunting themselves as something special. They're a sorry bunch—pseudo-apostles, lying preachers, crooked workers—posing as Christ's agents but sham to the core. And no wonder! Satan does it all the time, dressing up as a beautiful angel of light. So it shouldn't surprise us when his servants masquerade as servants of God. But they're not getting by with anything. They'll pay for it in the end. Let me come back to where I started—and don't hold it against me if I continue to sound a little foolish. Or if you'd rather, just accept that I am a fool and let me rant on a little. I didn't learn this kind of talk from Christ. Oh, no, it's a bad habit I picked up from the three-ring preachers that are so popular these days. Since you sit there in the judgment seat observing all these shenanigans, you can afford to humor an occasional fool who happens along. You have such admirable tolerance for impostors who rob your freedom, rip you off, steal you blind, put you down—even slap your face! I shouldn't admit it to you, but our stomachs aren't strong enough to tolerate that kind of stuff. Since you admire the egomaniacs of the pulpit so much (remember, this is your old friend, the fool, talking), let me try my hand at it. Do they brag of being Hebrews, Israelites, the pure race of Abraham? I'm their match. Are they servants of Christ? I can go them one better. (I can't believe I'm saying these things. It's crazy to talk this way! But I started, and I'm going to finish.) I've worked much harder, been jailed more often, beaten up more times than I can count, and at death's door time after time. I've been flogged five times with the Jews' thirty-nine lashes, beaten by Roman rods three times, pummeled with rocks once. I've been shipwrecked three times, and immersed in the open sea for a night and a day. In hard traveling year in and year out, I've had to ford rivers, fend off robbers, struggle with friends, struggle with foes. I've been at risk in the city, at risk in the country, endangered by desert sun and sea storm, and betrayed by those I thought were my brothers. I've known drudgery and hard labor, many a long and lonely night without sleep, many a missed meal, blasted by the cold, naked to the weather. And that's not the half of it, when you throw in the daily pressures and anxieties of all the churches. When someone gets to the end of his rope, I feel the desperation in my bones. When someone is duped into sin, an angry fire burns in my gut. If I have to "brag" about myself, I'll brag about the humiliations that make me like Jesus. The eternal and blessed God and Father of our Master Jesus knows I'm not lying. Remember the time I was in Damascus and the governor of King Aretas posted guards at the city gates to arrest me? I crawled through a window in the wall, was let down in a basket, and had to run for my life.

1 Peter 3:7
The same goes for you husbands: Be good husbands to your wives. Honor them, delight in them. As women they lack some of your advantages. But in the new life of God's grace, you're equals. Treat your wives, then, as equals so your prayers don't run aground.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Now Peter and John went up together into the temple,.... These two disciples were intimate companions, and great lovers of each other; they were often together: they are thought, by some, to have been together in the high priest's palace at the trial of Christ; and they ran together to his sepulchre, John 18:15 and they now went together to the temple, not to attend the daily sacrifice, which was now abolished by the sacrifice of Christ, but to attend to the duty of prayer, which was still in force, and that they might have an opportunity of preaching Christ, where there was a number of people together:

at the hour of prayer; being the ninth hour, or three o'clock in the afternoon. This was one of their hours of prayer; it was customary with the Jews to pray three times a day, Daniel 6:10 which, according to the Psalmist in Psalms 55:17 were evening, morning, and at noon; to which seems to answer the three times that are taken notice of by Luke in this history: that in the morning was at the third hour, as in Acts 2:15 or nine o'clock in the morning; that at noon was at the sixth hour, as in Acts 10:9 or twelve o'clock at noon; and that in the evening at the ninth hour, as here, or three o'clock in the afternoon. Not that these were times of divine appointment. The Jews o themselves say,

"there is no number of prayers from the law, and there is no repetition of this or that prayer from the law, and there is no זמן קבוע, "fixed time" for prayer from the law.''

But according to the traditions of the elders,

"the morning prayer was to the end of the fourth hour, which is the third part of the day--the prayer of the "Minchah", (or evening prayer,) they fixed the time of it to answer to the evening daily sacrifice; and because the daily sacrifice was offered up every day from the ninth hour and a half, they ordered the time of it to be from the ninth hour and a half, and it is called the lesser "Minchah"; and because in the evening of the passover, which falls upon the evening of the sabbath, they slay the daily sacrifice at the sixth hour and a half, they say, that he that prays after the sixth hour and a half is excused; and after this time is come, the time to which he is obliged is come, and this is called the great "Minchah"---lo, you learn, that the time of the great "Minchah" is from the sixth hour and a half, to the ninth hour and a half; and the time of the lesser "Minchah" is from the ninth hour and a half, until there remains of the day an hour and a quarter; and it is lawful to pray it until the sun sets.''

So that it was at the time of the lesser "Minchah" that Peter and John went up to the temple; which seems to be not on the same day of Pentecost, but on some day, or days after; it may be the sabbath following, when there was a great number of people got together.

o Maimon. Hilch. Tephilla, c. 1. sect. 1. Ib. c. 3. sect. 1, 2, 4. Vid. T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 26. 2.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Peter and John went up ... - In Luke 24:53, it is said that the apostles were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. From Acts 2:46, it is clear that all the disciples were accustomed daily to resort to the temple for devotion. Whether they joined in the sacrifices of the temple-service is not said; but the thing is not improbable. This was the place and the manner in which they and their fathers had worshipped. They came slowly to the conclusion that they were to leave the temple, and they would naturally resort there with their countrymen to worship the God of their fathers. In the previous chapter Acts 2:43 we are told in general that many wonders and signs were done by the hands of the apostles. From the many miracles which were performed, Luke selects one of which he gives a more full account, and especially as it gives him occasion to record another of the addresses of Peter to the Jews. An impostor would have been satisfied with the general statement that many miracles were performed. The sacred writers descend to particulars, and tell us where, and in relation to whom, they were performed. This is a proof that they were honest people, and did not intend to deceive.

Into the temple - Not into the edifice properly called the temple, but into the court of the temple, where prayer was accustomed to be made. See the notes on Matthew 21:12.

At the hour of prayer ... - The Jewish day was divided into twelve equal parts; of course, the ninth hour would be about three o’clock p. m. This was the hour of evening prayer. Morning prayer was offered at nine o’clock. Compare Psalms 55:17; Daniel 6:10.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER III.

Peter and John go to the temple at the hour of prayer, and heal

a man who had been lame from his mother's womb, 1-8.

The people are astonished, and the apostles inform them that it

was not by their own power they had healed the man, but through

the power of Jesus of Nazareth, whom they had crucified, 9-16.

Peter both excuses and reproves them, and exhorts them to

repentance, 17-21.

Shows that in Jesus Christ the prophecy of Moses was fulfilled;

and that all the prophets testified of Jesus and his salvation,

22-24;

and that, in him, the covenant made with Abraham is fulfilled;

and that Christ came to bless them by turning them away from

their iniquities, 25, 26.

NOTES ON CHAP. III.

Verse Acts 3:1. Peter and John went up together — The words επιτοαυτο, which we translate together, and which are the first words in this chapter in the Greek text, we have already seen, Acts 2:47, are added by several MSS. and versions to the last verse of the preceding chapter. But they do not make so good a sense there as they do here; and should be translated, not together, which really makes no sense here, but at that time; intimating that this transaction occurred nearly about the same time that those took place which are mentioned at the close of the former chapter.

At the hour of prayer — This, as is immediately added, was the ninth hour, which answers, in a general way, to our three o'clock in the afternoon. The third hour, which was the other grand time of public prayer among the Jews, answered, in a general way, to our nine in the morning. Acts 2:15.

It appears that there were three hours of the day destined by the Jews to public prayer; perhaps they are referred to by David, Psalms 55:17: EVENING and MORNING, and at NOON, will I pray and cry aloud. There are three distinct times marked in the book of the Acts. The THIRD hour, Acts 2:15, answering, as we have already seen, to nearly our nine o'clock in the morning; the SIXTH hour, Acts 10:9, answering to about twelve with us; and the NINTH hour, mentioned in this verse, and answering to our three in the afternoon.

The rabbins believed that Abraham instituted the time of morning prayer; Isaac, that at noon; and Jacob, that of the evening: for which they quote several scriptures, which have little reference to the subject in behalf of which they are produced. Others of the rabbins, particularly Tanchum, made a more natural division. Men should pray,

1. When the sun rises;

2. when the sun has gained the meridian;

3. when the sun has set, or passed just under the horizon.

At each of these three times they required men to offer prayer to God; and I should be glad to know that every Christian in the universe observed the same rule: it is the most natural division of the day; and he who conscientiously observes these three stated times of prayer will infallibly grow in grace, and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord.