Acts 3 10

Acts 3:10 kjv

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.

Acts 3:10 nkjv

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.

Acts 3:10 niv

they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Acts 3:10 esv

and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Acts 3:10 nlt

When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded!

Acts 3 verses

Acts 3 10 Meaning

Acts 3:10 describes the public reaction to the miraculous healing of the lame man at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple. Having witnessed the man who was formerly crippled now walking and leaping, the crowd instantly recognized him as the beggar they had seen daily. This recognition led to an overwhelming response of wonder and amazement, highlighting the profound impact of God's power made manifest through His apostles. The verse underscores the undeniable and public nature of the miracle, validating the divine source behind Peter and John's actions and drawing attention to Jesus Christ.

Acts 3 10 Context

Acts 3:10 occurs immediately following Peter and John's miraculous healing of a man who had been lame from birth. This man was a familiar figure, daily placed at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple to beg for alms (Acts 3:2). Peter, empowered by the Holy Spirit and invoking the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, commanded the man to rise and walk (Acts 3:6). Instantly healed, the man stood, walked, and leaped, praising God (Acts 3:8-9). This verse captures the direct impact of this dramatic, public transformation on the onlookers. They recognized him from his former condition, and their response was not mere surprise, but a profound sense of wonder and amazement, paving the way for Peter's subsequent sermon (Acts 3:11-26) which connected the miracle directly to Jesus as the Messiah, establishing the foundation of the early Christian witness in Jerusalem.

Acts 3 10 Word analysis

• And they recognized him (καὶ ἐπεγίνωσκον αὐτὸν - kai epeginōskon auton):

  • ἐπεγίνωσκον (epeginōskon): Imperfect tense of epiginoskō, meaning "to fully know," "to acknowledge," "to discern clearly" or "recognize." It implies a knowledge that comes through experience or previous acquaintance, indicating a profound and certain recognition, not just a casual glance.
  • Significance: The familiarity of the man to the public is crucial. His healing could not be dismissed as a trick, as many had seen him in his former state daily for a long time. This validates the miracle.

• as the one who sat (ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ καθήμενος - hoti houtos estin ho kathēmenos):

  • Highlights his former, familiar, and dependent identity as a beggar. This sharp contrast underscores the magnitude of the transformation.
  • καθήμενος (kathēmenos): "the one sitting," present participle, emphasizing his habitual posture as a beggar.

• for alms (πρὸς τὴν ἐλεημοσύνην - pros tēn eleēmosunēn):

  • Refers to his previous occupation: begging for charity. Almsgiving was a common and important act of piety in Jewish society (Deut 15:7, Tobit 12:8-9). This detail paints a vivid picture of his previous life of dependency.

• at the Beautiful Gate (ἐπὶ τῇ Ὡραίᾳ Πύλῃ - epi tē Hōraia Pylē):

  • Ὡραίᾳ (Hōraia): "Beautiful." A specific and well-known prominent gate of the Jerusalem Temple. Likely an outer gate made of costly Corinthian bronze.
  • Significance: The gate's beauty contrasts with the man's suffering. The location ensures public visibility; many people, going to and from the temple for worship and prayer, would have seen him regularly. This public setting magnifies the miracle's impact.

• of the temple (τοῦ ἱεροῦ - tou hierou):

  • ἱεροῦ (hierou): Refers to the whole temple complex, including its courts and porticoes, not just the sanctuary.
  • Significance: The temple was the center of Jewish religious and national life. The miracle occurred in a sacred and prominent space, giving it greater authority and public resonance. It points to a divine act within God's own house.

• and they were filled (καὶ ἐπλήσθησαν - kai eplēsthēsan):

  • ἐπλήσθησαν (eplēsthēsan): "They were filled." Indicates a complete and overwhelming emotional saturation, not just a passing feeling.

• with wonder (θάμβους - thambous):

  • θάμβους (thambous): "Wonder," "astonishment," "awe," sometimes mixed with fear. It describes an overwhelming state of amazement or bewilderment. Often associated with divine manifestations in the New Testament (Luke 5:26, Acts 9:6).

• and amazement (καὶ ἐκστάσεως - kai ekstaseōs):

  • ἐκστάσεως (ekstaseōs): "Ecstasy," "a trance-like state," "being beside oneself," "being out of one's mind." It denotes a profound state of being profoundly moved, an overwhelming sense of shock and wonder that disrupts normal thought processes. This deep level of emotional impact surpasses mere surprise.
  • Significance: The coupling of thambos and ekstasis conveys an intense, almost overpowering emotional response from the crowd. They were utterly overcome.

• at what had happened to him (ἐπὶ τῷ γεγονότι αὐτῷ - epi tō gegonoti autō):

  • Focuses on the concrete event, the tangible reality of the transformation. It wasn't merely the healing itself, but the entire extraordinary "happening"—the man's instant recovery, walking, leaping, and praising God—that evoked such a reaction.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "And they recognized him as the one who sat for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple": This phrase establishes the undeniable veracity of the miracle by contrasting the man's long-standing public disability with his sudden, radical recovery. It emphasizes collective public knowledge and observation, critical for authenticating a divine sign. This recognition served as an undeniable public validation.
  • "and they were filled with wonder and amazement": This highlights the overwhelming and profound emotional impact the miracle had on the onlookers. It suggests a divine visitation that transcends ordinary experience, eliciting not just surprise but an almost incapacitating awe. This collective emotional state opened the door for Peter's gospel presentation, demonstrating the power of God.

Acts 3 10 Bonus section

• The overwhelming reaction of wonder and amazement (θάμβους and ἐκστάσεως) served a theological purpose: to highlight the discontinuity between the former reality (the man's lameness, relying on alms, the familiar temple routines) and the new reality inaugurated by the power of the resurrected Christ.
• This scene parallels the public miracles performed by Jesus Himself (e.g., healing the paralytic in Mark 2), reinforcing the idea that Peter and John were operating with Christ's authority and power, thereby connecting the burgeoning Christian movement directly to the work of Jesus.
• The polemical undertone, though subtle in this verse, arises when juxtaposed with the reliance on human piety or traditional practices (like almsgiving or temple sacrifices) as means of approaching God. The miracle asserts a direct, divine intervention by the power of Jesus' name, transcending the conventional religious efforts to which the lame man's daily presence and the temple setting pointed.

Acts 3 10 Commentary

Acts 3:10 marks the crucial point where the crowd processes the miracle performed by Peter and John. The recognition of the formerly lame man signifies the indisputable nature of the healing. He was not a stranger but a daily fixture, whose plight was well-known by those frequenting the temple. This public authentication prevents any notion of deceit or illusion. The people's reaction—being "filled with wonder and amazement"—demonstrates a profound impact, moving beyond simple observation to an overwhelming awe at a truly divine event. This intense emotional response signifies the perception of God's direct intervention, creating an open heart among the observers for the message that follows. It underscores how genuine displays of God's power validate the message of the Gospel and demonstrate that the resurrected Christ continues to work through His followers. The public display ensures a broad witness, forming the foundation for evangelism.