Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 3:9
And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
9. all the people saw him ] There was abundance of testimony to the reality of the cure, and that by many persons who had seen the cripple for years. This the Jewish authorities (Act 4:16) admit.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And all the people … – The people who had been accustomed to see him sit in a public place.
And they knew … – In this they could not be deceived; they had seen him a long time, and now they saw the same man expressing his praise to God for complete recovery. The particulars in this miracle are the following, and they are as far as possible from any appearance of imposture:
1. The man had been afficated from a child. This was known to all the people. At this time he was 40 years of age, Act 4:22.
2. He was not an impostor. If he had pretended lameness, it is wonderful that he had not been detected before, and not have been suffered to occupy a place thus in the temple.
3. The apostles had no agency in placing him there. They had not seen him before. There was manifestly no collusion or agreement with him to attempt to impose on the people.
4. The man himself was convinced of the miracle, and did not doubt that the power by which he had been healed was of God.
5. The people were convinced of the same thing. They saw the effects; they had known him well; they had had every opportunity to know that he was diseased, and they were now satisfied that he was restored. There was no possibility of deception in the case. It was not merely the friends of Jesus that saw this; not those who had an interest in the miracle, but those who had been his enemies, and who had just before been engaged in putting him to death. Let this miracle be compared, in these particulars, with those pretended miracles which have been affirmed to have been performed in defense of other systems of religion, and it will be seen at once that in these there is every appearance of sincerity, honesty, and truth; in them, every mark of deception, fraud, and imposition. (See Paleys Evidences of Christianity, proposition ii. chapter ii.)
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 9. And all the people saw him] The miracle was wrought in the most public manner, and in the most public place, and in a place where the best judgment could be formed of it; for, as it was a Divine operation, the priests, c., were the most proper persons to judge of it and under their notice it was now wrought.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
This miracle was so publicly done, that none could deny the matter of fact; which the enemies of the gospel are forced to confess, Act 4:16.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
9. all the people saw him, c.asthey assembled at the hour of public prayer, in the temple courts sothat the miracle had the utmost publicity.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And all the people,…. That were in the temple,
saw him walking; who before lay on a couch, or on the ground, and was so lame, that he was obliged to be carried;
and praising God; for this miraculous cure. The Arabic version renders it, “saw him walking to praise God”: that is, entering into the temple with the apostles, in order to offer up the sacrifice of praise to God there.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
1) “And all the people saw him,” (kai eiden pas ho laos auton) “And all the people (the masses) recognized or perceived him (who he was),” who had been laid for so long at the gate Beautiful near the temple entrance to Solomon’s Porch where teaching and public preaching and exhortation were permitted, Act 4:10; Act 4:16; Act 4:21. They could not deny that a supernatural change had come over him, physically and spiritually, Act 4:1-2.
2) “Walking and praising God:” (peripatounta kai ainounta ton theon) “Walking about (in the temple) and praising God repeatedly, continually,” just as he had entered the temple after being made whole, and after he was saved, Act 3:8; Psa 107:2; Mat 5:15-16; Eph 2:10.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
9. And all the people saw. He beginneth now to declare the fruit of the miracle, to wit, that the cripple began to show his thankfulness by praising God, and that all the people were brought into great wondering. And here is a double fruit. For he which was healed doth acknowledge and set forth the benefit of God; on the other side, the people is moved, and the fame is spread abroad, many come to see it. And whereas Luke saith that they were filled with wondering, it doth only declare a preparation, which a more full proceeding (172) (and going forward) did at length follow. For it was necessary that they should go forward, because this their wondering had served to no end of itself, but did rather make them astonied and amazed, than bring them (from their own proceedings) unto God.
Therefore it was, as it were, the foundation of the building which was to come, in that the people was touched with amazedness. For if we pass over the works of God contemptibly or carelessly, we shall never be able to profit by them. Furthermore, this place cloth teach us what miracles do work of themselves in men; to wit, that they breed a confused amazedness. For although the Lord doth call us straightway unto himself, by showing plainly his goodness and power there, yet such is the weakness of our nature, that we stumble or faint in the midway, until such time as we be holpen by doctrine.
Let us, therefore, learn reverently to consider the works of God, that the wondering at them may make an entrance for doctrine. For when doctrine is cold and unprofitable with us, God doth justly punish our unthankfulness by this means, because we have despised the glory of his works. Again, because we are not so quick of sight, that we can see so much in the works of God alone, as is sufficient, let us learn to join therewithal the help of doctrine. (173) To be brief, the one ought not to be separated from the other. Which thing experience doth sufficiently teach us. For hereby it came to pass that the world did so wickedly abuse miracles.
The Papists do object unto us miracles again and again. Let us suppose that they be true, whereof they make such boast, yet do they greatly err in this, that they wrest them to a wrong end; to wit, that they may darken the name of God, and infect the pure truth of the gospel with their inventions. For whence come so many superstitious worshippings of saints, save only from the abuse of miracles? For when any miracle is wrought, men must needs be moved. And because they are deaf when they should hear the Word, and do not mark what God cloth mean, Satan doth craftily take an occasion of superstition by our amazedness. (174) As, for example, I will acknowledge the power of God in a miracle. If it were wrought by Peter, Satan will by and by put this in my head, and will say thus: (175) Dost thou not see that this is a man of God? (176) therefore thou dost owe unto him divine honor. The same thing had befallen the Jews when they were amazed, unless Peter’s sermon had called them back into the right way. But in Popery, where none did call them back or reprove them, (177) the preposterous wondering of men did easily get the upper hand. Wherefore, we must so much the more (178) seek for medicine out of the Word, that doctrine may direct us unto the right end, being lifted up (179) with the miracles.
(172) “ Profectus,” progress, or profiting.
(173) “ Si volumus ad scopum pervenire,” if we would attain to the mark, omitted.
(174) “ Ex nostro stupore,” from our stupor, or stupidity.
(175) “ Suggeret mihi,” will suggest to me.
(176) “ Divinum hominem,” a divine man.
(177) “ Ubi nullus ecarguebat superstitionem,” where none condemned the superstition.
(178) “ Magis sollicite,” the more anxiously.
(179) “ Erectos,” when we are lifted up, or aroused by.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
9. All the people Even within the holy court a general attention, not of a disorderly populace, but of the worshippers in Jerusalem, rests upon the happy, restless shouter.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and they took knowledge of him, that it was he who sat for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.’
When the people saw him they were filled with ‘wonder and amazement’ at what had happened to him, for they recognised who he was. They recognised him as the lame man who had for so long begged for alms at one of the gates of the Temple. And now here he was walking and praising God within the Temple. The one who had been outside was now in.
Note the implication behind these words. The man and the Beautiful gate were linked together. Yet he had sat there, the very opposite of what the Beautiful gate represented. But now he was no longer tied to the Beautiful gate. He was free. He had life.
‘All the people.’ The representatives of the whole of Israel were receiving God’s witness, and they were all amazed. But the question was, would they see that they too were lame and needed to be healed? Would they see that here was evidence that the new age had come?
‘And they took knowledge of him.’ Compare Act 4:13. Here the crowds took knowledge of this man that he was the lame one. In Act 4:13 the court would take knowledge of the Apostles that they had been with Jesus because the lame one was standing there, healed
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
And all the people saw him walking and praising God: (10) 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.
There is somewhat particularly affecting, in what is said, of the healed cripple holding fast the garments of his benefactors: clinging to them, as we may suppose, not only to manifest his attachment to their persons, for the mercy he had received, through their hands; but also to hear more of Him, by whose sovereign and Almighty name he had found a cure! But, Reader! with what holy ardor doth a soul, truly saved in Christ, follow Jesus in the regeneration, and cleave to Him, because he then knows him to be his life. He feels, and is conscious, of his daily need of Jesus; he is convinced that every act of faith, and love, can only be kept alive, by the grace that is in Christ Jesus. See Deu 10:20 ; Psa 89:16 ; Hos 14:8 ; Psa 71:15-16 ; Act 11:23 .
Perhaps the Reader will think with me, what a wonderful effect also, was wrought upon the minds of the whole neighbourhood who knew this cripple from his birth, or at least for a long time; when they saw him, after forty years total infirmity, now leaping and walking. What views must they have had of the poor Apostles! And what greater apprehensions of the person and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ! But, Reader! cannot you and I, bear testimony to the word of the Lord’s grace, in a much greater demonstration of the sovereign power of Jesus; in a spiritual recovery, to the crippled, yea, the dead faculties of our souls? Yes! if so be the Lord himself hath opened the eyes of our understanding, or our deaf ears to discipline: hath given strength to the feet and ankle-bones of our spirits, in enabling us to run the way of his commandments, having set our souls at liberty! Here is a subject of still greater astonishment, when grace hath passed upon the heart, and that gracious prophecy concerning the Lord Jesus, is fulfilled: Behold, your God will come and save you! then the eyes of the blind shall he opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped: the lame man shall leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing, Isa 35:1-6 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
Ver. 9. Praising God ] Not the apostles. We may pay the messenger, but return thanks chiefly to the sender.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
people. See Act 2:47.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Act 14:11, Mar 2:11, Mar 2:12, Luk 13:17
Reciprocal: Act 4:16 – a notable
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
9
Act 3:9. The whole event was so evident and public that all the people saw it, and that means there were a great many who witnessed it, for it was in a prominent spot, and there were thousands of Jews in the city at that time.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 3:9-10. And all the people saw him walking. The crowds in the temple-court knew him as he walked among them for that helpless beggar whom they had seen so many times lying by the Beautiful Gate; they saw, him now, who had never walked before, full of life and power, praising God, and were struck with amazement and wonder at the greatness of the miracle.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Observe here, 1. As soon as ever the poor cripple received strength, all the people beheld him praising and blessing God.-
Learn hence, That the very first appearances of the power and mercy of God, towards ourselves or any of ours, should put us upon the works of praise and rejoicing. We truly say, “Better late than never;” but it is best to be early in every good work, especially in the noblest and most angelical work; namely, that of thanksgiving and praise. My voice shalt thou hear, says David, betimes in the morning: my praying voice, my praising voice.
Observe, 2. The influence and effect that this miracle had upon the minds of the multitude. ; it occasioned wonder, but did not produce faith. They wondered, but not believed. Miracles will confirm faith, but not alone beget it. The Spirit’s extraordinary works may produce astonishment; but it is the work of the Spirit that must produce faith.
Observe, 3. How the apostle abaseth himself and his fellow disciples, that he might exalt Christ; he will not suffer the least part of the praise and glory of this miracle to stick to their own fingers, but gives it all to Christ. Think not that we by pure power and holiness have made this man to walk. The Jews had a conceit, that extraordinary holiness would enable a man to work miracles: The apostle denies it: For though there be a great difference betwixt miraculous faith and justifying faith, ye true justifying faith has a miracle in it, though not so obvious to sense, requiring the same power to work it in us, which raised up Christ from the dead, Eph 1:20.
Learn hence, That Christ’s power, not is apostles’ holiness, was the cause of all the miracles that were wrought by them. Why look you so earnestly upon us, as though by our holiness we had made this man to walk? Through faith in his name, is this man made strong, Act 3:16.
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
Act 3:9-11. And all the people Who were there present; saw him walking In the court of the temple; and heard him praising God In this uncommon ecstasy of delight; and they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate, &c. He had sat there so long, that they all knew him; and for that reason he was chosen to be a vessel of mercy. Now they were not so perverse as to make any doubt whether he was the same man that had sat begging, as the Pharisees had questioned concerning the blind man that Christ cured, Joh 9:18; for they saw him walking and praising God, and probably took notice of a change in his mind, for he was now as loud in praising God, as he had used to be in begging relief. And they were filled with wonder and amazement Greek, , with astonishment and ecstasy; they felt emotions, resembling those of the person healed; at that which had happened to him At the miracle wrought for him. It is worth observing here, that this effect appears to have been produced by the late effusion of the Spirit; the people, at least those in Jerusalem, were more affected with the miracles which the apostles wrought, than they had been with those of the same kind that had been performed by Christ himself. And as the lame man held Peter and John Full of gratitude for the great blessing he had received through their instrumentality; and while he walked on between them, sometimes, probably, taking hold of them by the hand; and sometimes embracing them as his great benefactors; all the people In the neighbouring parts; ran together unto them Some only to gratify their curiosity with the sight of men that had such power; others, perhaps, with a desire to hear them preach, concluding that the doctrine must needs be of divine origin, which had thus a divine confirmation: in the porch that is called Solomons A spacious and celebrated portico of the temple. See note on Joh 10:23. Hither the people flocked to see this great sight.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
See notes on verse 1
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
Almost everyone in Jerusalem would have known this beggar since he had sat for so long at an entrance to the temple. Jesus may have passed this man many times as He walked in and out of the temple. There would have been no doubt about the genuineness of his healing. Peter performed this sign (a miracle with significance) as Jesus had healed lame people before His crucifixion. By doing it in Jesus’ name it would have been evident to all that the power of Jesus was now at work through His apostles. Isaiah had predicted that in Israel’s future "the lame will leap like a deer" (Isa 35:6). The healing of this lame man, as well as the healing of other lame people in the Gospels and Acts, indicated to the Jews present that the Messiah had come. Peter claimed that Jesus was that Messiah.
". . . the similarity between Jesus’ healing of the paralytic and Peter’s healing of the lame man lies less in the healing itself than in the function of these scenes in the larger narrative. In both cases the healing becomes the occasion for a fundamental claim about Jesus’ saving power, emphasizing its importance and general scope (’on earth,’ Luk 5:24; ’under heaven,’ Act 4:12). In both cases the healing leads to proclamation of a saving power that goes beyond physical healing. In both cases the claim is made in the face of new opposition and is directly related to the mission announced in the Scripture quotation in the inaugural speech." [Note: Tannehill, 2:51-52.]
This incident and the other miracles recorded in Acts have led readers of this book to wonder if God is still working miracles today. He is. God can and does perform miracles whenever and wherever He chooses. Regeneration is one of God’s greatest miracles. Perhaps a better question would be, does God still give the gift of working miracles to believers today as He gave this ability to Peter, Paul, and other first-century apostles? Significantly each of the three periods in biblical history when God manifested this gift dramatically to selected servants was a time when God was giving new revelation through prophets. These three periods are the times of Moses and Joshua, Elijah and Elisha, and Jesus and the apostles. However, God has performed miracles throughout history. Each period of miraculous activity was brief, spanning no more than two generations of people. When the miraculous gift was present not even those who had it healed everyone who could have benefited from it (e.g., Mar 6:5-6; Php 2:27; 2Ti 4:20; et al.).