Acts 3 5

Acts 3:5 kjv

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

Acts 3:5 nkjv

So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.

Acts 3:5 niv

So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

Acts 3:5 esv

And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.

Acts 3:5 nlt

The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money.

Acts 3 verses

Acts 3 5 Meaning

The man who was lame from birth fixed his complete attention on Peter and John. His singular expectation was to receive monetary alms from them, as was the custom for beggars positioned at the temple's gate.

Acts 3 5 Context

Acts chapter 3 opens with Peter and John proceeding to the Temple for the customary ninth-hour prayer (around 3 PM). As they neared the Beautiful Gate, a man, lame since birth, who was daily carried there to beg, solicited alms from them. Acts 3:5 directly details the beggar's focused attention and expectation, which stemmed from his consistent experience of receiving financial assistance from those entering the temple. This setting profoundly contrasts his limited human desire for temporary material relief with the subsequent divine intervention of healing and transformation granted through Peter, demonstrating the superior power found in the name of Jesus Christ.

Acts 3 5 Word analysis

• And: (kai - G2532) Connects the lame man's action as a direct response to his interaction with Peter and John. It signals the continuity of the narrative, following his request.
• he gave heed: (proseichen - προσείχεν - G4337, imperfect indicative of pros-echō) Denotes continuous, intentional attention. This was not a casual glance but a sustained, fixed gaze, demonstrating his earnestness and determination to secure a donation. It suggests he fully directed his mind and senses towards them. In a broader biblical context, "giving heed" implies diligent attention, often to spiritual truths or warnings (e.g., Pr 4:20). Here, his attention was solely for material gain.
• to them: (autois - αὐτοῖς - G846) Specifically identifies Peter and John as the recipients of his intense focus. It underlines his perception of them as potential benefactors, reinforcing his limited, human-centric view of potential assistance.
• expecting: (prosdokōn - προσδοκῶν - G4327, present participle of pros-dokao) Conveys a strong, active anticipation and looking forward to something specific. It implies a firm belief that his customary request would be met with an equally customary monetary handout.
• to receive: (labein - λαβεῖν - G2983, aorist infinitive of lambanō) Signifies the act of obtaining or acquiring something physically. It was a tangible "take" that he sought.
• something: (ti - τι - G5100) An indefinite pronoun, referring to 'any (material) thing'. For this beggar, "something" was always, unequivocally, a monetary alms offering—coins for daily survival.
• of them: (par' autōn - παρ' αὐτῶν - G3844 + G846) From their immediate possession. This highlights the human source from which he expected relief, a crucial detail contrasting with the divine source of his actual healing.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "And he gave heed to them": This phrase underlines the beggar's sharp, calculating focus on Peter and John. For a daily beggar, "giving heed" to potential alms-givers was a critical survival skill, requiring keen observation and engagement. It signifies his full engagement, positioning himself optimally for what he presumed was coming: a financial transaction.
• "expecting to receive something of them": This phrase precisely defines the nature and source of his anticipation. His entire life experience as a beggar had trained him to expect only one kind of "something" from passersby at the temple: a handout of money. This group of words sets up a profound narrative tension between the beggar's limited, materialistic hope and the boundless, spiritual power that was about to transform his life, demonstrating that God's ways far transcend human expectations.

Acts 3 5 Bonus section

• The Power of Limited Expectation: The beggar's expectation was perfectly rational and human, given his circumstances. Yet, it highlights how human limitation can prevent us from anticipating the truly divine. His human request for "something" (money) met a divine "something greater" (healing and walking).
• A Lesson in Divine Giving: This verse underscores that God does not always give what we ask for, but rather what we truly need, or what He knows is best, which often far surpasses our initial scope of expectation. The man wanted coins, but he received the use of his limbs, enabling self-sufficiency, praise to God, and entry into the Temple (a privilege likely difficult for him to enjoy previously).
• From External Focus to Internal Transformation: The man's "gave heed" was outwardly directed at Peter and John for external relief. After the miracle, his transformation begins internally, leading to joyous, spontaneous worship and an ultimate reorientation of his attention to God (Acts 3:8).

Acts 3 5 Commentary

Acts 3:5 powerfully encapsulates the beggar's condition and expectation. His focused "heeding" was not born of idle curiosity but of a pressing need, trained by years of daily mendicancy at the Beautiful Gate. His expectation of "something" was explicitly material – money, the immediate currency of survival for a man reliant on charity. This concise verse forms a crucial narrative hinge. It starkly contrasts the beggar's profound but limited human anticipation of temporary physical relief with the impending, extraordinary divine act. By clearly defining the beggar's mindset, the passage emphasizes that God's intervention, manifested through Peter in Jesus' name, was far greater, fundamentally different, and eternally more valuable than anything the man could have conceived or requested. It sets the stage for a dramatic display of divine power triumphing over worldly limitations, inviting both the man and the onlookers to redirect their expectations and praise toward the true Giver of life.