BIBLE STUDY GUIDE ACTS 3

ACTS 3:1-5 1 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of
prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mothers womb was carried,
whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from
those who entered the temple; 3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the
temple, asked for alms.
A prayer service accompanied each of the two daily sacrifices, one in the morning and
one in the afternoon. The ninth hour would have been about 3 pm. Peter and John went
together to the temple. This gate served as the front door to the temple. A lame man
was laid at the gate called Beautiful. This was a good position to be at when people
would go through the gate. They possibly felt guilty and difficult to worship if they did not
help someone there begging or in need. Also, as people left the temple, they would be
more apt to give to someone waiting there for help. Josephus, the Jewish historian,
described this gate, which separated the inner court from the outer Court of the Gentiles
on the east, as the gate that greatly excelled those that were only covered over with
silver and gold. This gate was about 75 feet high and its huge double doors would have
been opened wide at this hour to accommodate the foot traffic.
Discussion: What feelings do you have when you pass by someone who is ringing the
bell to receive a donation in a red bucket for the Salvation Army?
What time did Peter and John go up to the temple in Jerusalem? ________________
Where were they about to go through? _____________________________________
What was so beautiful about this gate? _____________________________________
What was the lame man's strategy? ________________________________________
ACTS 3:4-10 4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, Look at us. 5 So he
gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said,
Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus
Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk. 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him
up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 So he, leaping up,
stood and walked and entered the temple with them - walking, leaping, and praising
God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 Then they knew that it
was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled
with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Because of the Name of Jesus, this man would be healed. A persons name
represented their authority and influence. They did not lay hands on him. But through
Resources: NKJV Study Bible and Bible Verse Study.com. created by Jeanne McIntosh, 2016

the powerful Name of Jesus told him to get up and walk. Instant healing happened. The
blood supply increased, the brain sending signals to the nerve endings of the ankles
and feet, the fluid between the joints were softened, the muscles and ligaments
regained flexibility all to where the mans feet could bear his weight. He was healed in
the Name of Jesus.
How did Peter heal the man? ___________________________________________
Did Peter have any doubt that the man would be healed? ____________________
How quickly was the man healed? _____________________________________
What did he do next? ___________________________________________________
What was the reaction of the crowd? _______________________________________
Discussion: How does healing serve Gods purpose?
ACTS 3:11-16 11 Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all
the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomons, greatly amazed.
12 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: Men of Israel, why do you
marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness
we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our
fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence
of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. 14 But you denied the Holy One and
the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and killed the Prince of life,
whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. 16 And His name, through
faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith
which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you
all.
Jesus is the Servant of God because He gave His life for the sins of all mankind. Pilate
did not see any wrong in Jesus and sought to release Him, however, this was not what
the people wanted. We know it was Gods plan to redeem the world. The Father raised
Jesus from the dead as a confirmation that His sacrifice was accepted. Peter pointed to
the healing of the beggar as a sign of the glorification of Christ. The people had handed
Jesus over to Pilate to be crucified, but God raised Him up from the dead. It was at this
Name that this beggar was healed. The porch was a double row of wood-roofed marble
columns that lined the eastern wall of the temples outer court. The crowd was readily
quick to give glory to Peter and John.
To whom did the crowd attribute the miracle? _______________________________
To whom does Peter attribute it? ____________________________________
Is it true that Pilate had been "determined to let" Jesus go? ________________
Resources: NKJV Study Bible and Bible Verse Study.com. created by Jeanne McIntosh, 2016

Discussion: Why do you think Peter went into such detail and depth about Jesus death
and resurrection, after simply healing the lame man.
ACTS 3:17-21 17 Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also
your rulers. 18 But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets,
that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore and be converted,
that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the
presence of the Lord, 20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you
before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which
God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.
The Sanhedrins were rulers who of the council of Israel that include the chief priests
and Pharisees. They were wicked leaders who pierced the Savior and brought death
upon Him. They were not able to break one bone of His, according to prophecy. He was
ridiculed, spit on, whipped, and a crown of thorns set upon his head. They drove nail in
his hands and feet and pierced His side. All of His prophets including David, described
in precise detail 1000 years in advance how Christ would suffer on the cross. He arose
from the grave and ascended into Heaven until His Second Return.
What had they done "in ignorance"? ________________________________________
Which "rulers" is Peter referring to in Acts 3:17? _______________________________
Who "had foretold... that Christ would suffer"? _________________________________
Where will Jesus be until His Second Coming? ________________________________
Discussion: In what ways do people crucify Jesus today?
ACTS 3:22-26 22 For Moses truly said to the fathers, The Lord your God will raise up
for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever
He says to you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be
utterly destroyed from among the people. 24 Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel
and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. 25 You
are sons of the prophets (their ancestors included the Jewish prophets of the O.T.), and
of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, And in your seed
all the families of the earth shall be blessed. 26 To you first, God, having raised up His
Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your
iniquities.
What is Peter challenging the people to do? __________________________________
What does Peter mean by, "You are sons of the prophets"? ______________________
Discussion: How applicable is this sermon of Peters today?
Resources: NKJV Study Bible and Bible Verse Study.com. created by Jeanne McIntosh, 2016