Acts 3 | Daily Bible Reading & Reflection

Acts 3 Devotional: Witness the miraculous healing of the lame man at the Beautiful Gate. Explore Peter’s bold sermon in Solomon’s Colonnade and the power of the name of Jesus to bring healing and repentance.

Dear brothers and sisters, peace in Christ. Welcome to Acts Chapter 3. Following the fire of Pentecost, we now see the Holy Spirit in action through the everyday lives of the apostles. As Peter and John head to the temple for prayer, they encounter a man who had been broken from birth. Let us watch as "silver and gold" are bypassed for something far more eternal: the restoring power of the Living Christ.

Acts Chapter 3 Introduction:

The Power of the Name and the Call to Refreshment

Acts 3 centers on a miracle and the message that follows it. A man lame from birth sits at the "Beautiful Gate," begging for alms. Instead of money, Peter offers him healing in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. As the man leaps and praises God, a crowd gathers in amazement at Solomon’s Colonnade. Peter immediately turns the focus away from himself and onto Jesus, preaching a searing and hopeful sermon that identifies Jesus as the "Author of Life" whom God raised from the dead.

What can we learn from this today? In this chapter, we see that Salvation is a gift of God’s grace. As your Statement of Faith affirms, through Christ’s death and resurrection, believers are justified and born again. The healing of the lame man’s legs is a physical picture of what the Gospel does for our souls—it enables those who were "spiritually lame" to stand and walk with God. Peter’s message highlights that "repentance" is the key to experiencing "times of refreshing." We learn that the name of Jesus is not a magic formula, but a declaration of His sovereign authority over every broken part of creation. When we turn to Him, we don't just get a temporary fix; we get a place in His eternal Kingdom.

Bible Verse - Acts 3

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

2 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;

3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.

4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

6 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.

7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

9 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.

11 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.

12 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?

13 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.

14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;

15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

16 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.

17 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.

18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.

19 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.

20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:

21 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.

22 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.

23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.

24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.

25 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.

26 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.

Prayer

Peter told the man, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." As we enter into prayer, let us come in that same Name, believing in His power to restore what is broken in our lives and our world.

Prayer Theme: "Times of Refreshing"

Dear Heavenly Father, We praise You as the Creator and sovereign Lord of all things. We believe, as Your Word declares in Acts, that You raised Jesus from the dead and have given Him the name that is above every name. Thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit, who empowers us for service and brings the reality of Jesus into our daily lives.

Lord, I ask that You would bring "times of refreshing" to my soul today. Where I have grown weary or where my heart has become "lame" through doubt or sin, I ask for Your restoring touch. Help me to look past the "silver and gold" of worldly solutions and put my total trust in the power of Jesus. Grant me the boldness of Peter to speak of Your wonders to those around me, always pointing the glory back to You.

We pray for those in our community who are physically or spiritually broken. For the "beggars at the gate" who feel overlooked by the world, may they encounter the life-changing power of the Gospel through Your people. We lift up the Church, asking that we would be a community that moves in the power of the Holy Spirit to bring healing and hope. We pray for a world that is searching for restoration in all the wrong places; may many turn in repentance today so that their sins may be wiped out and they may find true life in the Author of Life. Amen.

Daily Application Question

The lame man was looking for a small coin, but God gave him a whole new life. Is there a "small" request you are bringing to God today where He might be wanting to do something much "bigger" for your soul or your faith?

Frequently Asked Questions about Acts 3

What is the significance of "Solomon’s Colonnade"? This was a covered walkway in the Temple area where people gathered for teaching. By preaching there, Peter was speaking in the very heart of the religious establishment, showing that Jesus is the fulfillment of all Jewish prophecy.
Why did Peter call Jesus the "Author of Life"? This title emphasizes Jesus' divinity (Article 3). It creates a powerful irony: the people put to death the very One who created and sustains all life, yet God's sovereignty turned that death into the source of salvation for all.
What does it mean for "sins to be wiped out"? In the ancient world, ink had no acid and could be literally wiped away with a wet sponge. Peter is saying that when we repent, God doesn't just "cover" our sins; He erases the record entirely through the grace of Christ.

Thank you for joining us for Acts 3. May you walk—and perhaps even leap—in the joy of the Lord today, knowing that His name is your strength. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow for the trial and boldness found in Acts Chapter 4.

Navigate the Journey

Previous: ← Acts Chapter 2 | Next: Acts Chapter 4 →

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