Acts 3 16

Acts 3:16 kjv

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.

Acts 3:16 nkjv

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.

Acts 3:16 niv

By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.

Acts 3:16 esv

And his name ? by faith in his name ? has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

Acts 3:16 nlt

"Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed ? and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus' name has healed him before your very eyes.

Acts 3 verses

Acts 3 16 Meaning

Acts 3:16 explains that the astounding healing of the lame man at the Beautiful Gate was not performed by human power or piety, but by the authoritative "Name" of Jesus Christ, accessed through faith directed toward Him. The verse reiterates that it is "the faith which comes through Him" that granted the man his complete restoration, emphasizing Jesus as both the object and ultimate source of the miracle and the faith required to receive it. This demonstrated Jesus's living power and divine approval in a tangible, public way, providing irrefutable evidence of His resurrection and messianic identity.

Acts 3 16 Context

Acts 3:16 is a pivotal verse within Peter's sermon to the bewildered Jewish crowd following the miraculous healing of a man lame from birth, a daily beggar at the Temple's Beautiful Gate. The man, a familiar figure in Jerusalem, had been instantly and completely restored when Peter invoked the "Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth" (Acts 3:6). This unprecedented miracle drew a large, astonished crowd to Solomon's Colonnade within the Temple precincts (Acts 3:11).

In the broader chapter, Peter quickly preempts any credit being given to himself or John, immediately redirecting the crowd's focus to Jesus Christ. He confronts them with their rejection and crucifixion of Jesus, whom God resurrected and glorified. Peter links this miracle directly to Jesus's post-resurrection power, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies and demanding repentance and belief. Acts 3:16 specifically addresses the mechanism of the healing, emphasizing that it was neither magic nor apostolic power, but the person of Jesus Himself, activated by faith in Him. The historical context is crucial: Jerusalem's religious landscape, where God's "Name" was sacred and invoked, but Jewish authorities rejected Jesus as Messiah. Peter's sermon, buttressed by this undeniable public miracle, stands as a bold, early proclamation of the resurrected Christ's sovereignty and salvific power. It is a polemic against the notion that human rituals or self-effort can bring such divine results, contrasting the limited power of the Law with the unlimited power residing in Christ's Name.

Acts 3 16 Word analysis

• And (καὶ - kai): A simple conjunction, connecting the immediate cause (the healing) with the preceding declaration that Peter and John did not perform it by their own power. It introduces the explanation.
• His name (τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ - to onoma autou): Refers explicitly to Jesus Christ's name. In ancient Jewish and Near Eastern thought, a "name" was not just a label but encapsulated the essence, character, authority, reputation, and presence of the person. To act in a name was to act with the power and authority of that person. For Jesus, this signifies His divine authority, His resurrected power, and His very being. This directly parallels the Old Testament concept of Yahweh's Name signifying His presence and power (e.g., Ex 3:13-15; Deut 12:5).
• through faith (διὰ πίστεως - dia pisteōs): "Through" denotes instrumentality. The faith here acts as the conduit or means by which the power of Jesus' Name is accessed and channeled. It's not faith in the name as a magic word, but faith directed to the person of Jesus.
• in His name (ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ - en tō onomati autou): This second phrase involving "name" emphasizes the object of the faith. The faith is not a general belief in God, but specifically directed "in," "on," or "toward" Jesus's authoritative Name/Person. The repetition of "name" underscores its central role.
• has made this man strong (ἐστερέωσεν τοῦτον - estereōsen touton): Estereōsen is from stereō, meaning "to make firm, solid, or strong." The aorist indicative verb emphasizes a completed action with lasting effect—the man was not merely improved but fully restored to soundness.
• whom you see and know (ὃν θεωρεῖτε καὶ οἴδατε - hon theōreite kai oidate): A direct appeal to the witnesses. Theōreite implies a prolonged, observing gaze; oidate means "to know from experience." This emphasizes the undeniable, public, and verifiable nature of the miracle, as the man was a known figure in the Temple vicinity. This leaves no room for doubt or denial.
• yes, the faith (καὶ ἡ πίστις - kai hē pistis): "And the faith." This repetition, introduced by "kai," functions emphatically, drawing attention back to the essential element of faith, almost as an explanation or clarification of the prior statement.
• which comes through Him (ἡ δι’ αὐτοῦ - hē di’ autou): "The faith that is through Him." This clarifies the origin of the operative faith. This "faith" is not something the healed man generated by himself or that Peter alone possessed as a private endowment. It is a divinely enabled faith that has Jesus as its source and medium. Some interpretations suggest it could refer to Jesus's own perfect faith (His faithfulness) which enacted the healing, while others see it as the faith of Peter (and perhaps the healed man) that originates from Jesus. The common understanding points to Jesus as the enablement or Giver of this saving/healing faith.
• has given him this perfect soundness (δέδωκεν αὐτῷ τὴν ὁλοκληρίαν ταύτην - dedōken autō tēn holoklērian tautēn): Dedōken (perfect tense of didōmi, "to give") signifies a completed action with enduring results—the gift of wholeness. Holoklēria (perfect soundness, complete well-being, wholeness, integrity) signifies a comprehensive restoration beyond mere healing, touching physical, mental, and possibly spiritual dimensions. It contrasts with his lifelong deformity, underscoring the completeness of Christ's work.
• in the presence of you all (ἐνώπιον πάντων ὑμῶν - enōpion pantōn hymōn): "Before the face of all of you." This reiterates the public and undeniable nature of the miracle. It was an open demonstration witnessed by many, a compelling testament to Christ's power, allowing no discrediting by the opponents.

Words-group Analysis:

• "And His name through faith in His name": This phrasing highlights the profound power intrinsic to Jesus' person ("His name") and the unique channel for accessing it, namely, active trust ("faith") specifically directed towards Him ("in His name"). The double mention of "His name" places ultimate emphasis on Jesus himself as the source and recipient of faith, underscoring His sovereignty over healing and indeed over all life. It implies that power doesn't come from mere pronouncement, but from relationship and trust in the One named.
• "whom you see and know": This phrase confirms the public authenticity and undeniable reality of the miracle. It appeals to the crowd's personal knowledge and direct observation of the once-lame man, making it impossible for anyone present to refute the dramatic transformation. This was God's immediate evidence.
• "yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness": This crucial explanatory clause clarifies that the faith involved is not humanly initiated or meritorious. Instead, it is a faith that originates from, is empowered by, or is enabled through Jesus Christ. This "perfect soundness" signifies a holistic and complete restoration, emphasizing the quality and completeness of what Jesus alone provides, not just a partial or temporary recovery.

Acts 3 16 Bonus section

• The strategic use of the term "perfect soundness" (holoklēria) not only describes the physical completeness of the healing but also alludes to the ultimate wholeness that Christ brings to the human condition, spiritually and physically, anticipating the full restoration in His kingdom.
• The repetition of "name" and "faith" within this single verse serves as a rhetorical device to emphasize the singularity of Christ as the source of all divine power and the critical role of faith as the sole conduit. This teaching laid foundational principles for the early church concerning miraculous works and the nature of God's interaction with humanity through Christ.
• The immediate, public, and verifiable nature of this miracle ensured it could not be easily dismissed or explained away, providing compelling evidence for the gospel message and a springboard for apostolic preaching, even in the face of subsequent persecution.
• This verse counters both Jewish reliance on traditional law/ritual for righteousness and pagan belief in magic or incantations; instead, it centers the locus of divine power on the person of Jesus Christ.

Acts 3 16 Commentary

Acts 3:16 serves as Peter's theological linchpin in explaining the incredible miracle performed just moments before. He vehemently denies any personal power, redirecting all credit to Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ whom they crucified but God raised. The core message is that healing—and by extension, salvation—is found exclusively in "His Name," meaning in the very person, character, and authority of Jesus. This power is accessed "through faith" which is directed "in His name." The redundancy in phrasing emphasizes this critical point: the power is not from the apostles, nor is it from a formula, but solely from Christ, activated by faith in Him.

Crucially, Peter adds that this faith comes through Him, indicating that faith itself is not a human work or accomplishment that merits healing, but a divine enablement originating from Jesus. This concept elevates Jesus as both the ultimate source of the power and the fount of the faith required to tap into it. The result, "perfect soundness" (holoklēria), underscores the complete and lasting nature of Christ's restorative work, mirroring the holistic salvation (spiritual, emotional, physical) that His finished work on the cross offers. This public, verifiable, and undeniable miracle, achieved by the power of Jesus' Name and mediated by faith from Him, stands as an irrefutable sign validating Jesus' resurrection, His messianic claims, and the divine endorsement of Peter's gospel message. It prompts an immediate decision from the audience: repent and believe in this resurrected Lord.