Acts 3 9

Acts 3:9 kjv

And all the people saw him walking and praising God:

Acts 3:9 nkjv

And all the people saw him walking and praising God.

Acts 3:9 niv

When all the people saw him walking and praising God,

Acts 3:9 esv

And all the people saw him walking and praising God,

Acts 3:9 nlt

All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God.

Acts 3 verses

Acts 3 9 Meaning

Acts 3:9 concisely records the widespread public observation and joyful, continuous response of the man healed at the Beautiful Gate. It describes how the onlookers in the Temple courts immediately saw him not only performing the long-impossible act of walking but also spontaneously and persistently praising God for the miraculous healing, signifying an undeniable validation of the divine power at work.

Acts 3 9 Context

Acts chapter 3 details the first recorded miracle performed by the apostles, Peter and John, after Pentecost. They were entering the Temple to pray at the ninth hour (3 PM), a customary time for prayer. At the "gate called Beautiful," they encountered a man who had been lame from birth, begging for alms daily. Instead of money, Peter, invoking the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, commanded him to walk (Acts 3:1-8). The man was instantly healed and, full of joy, entered the Temple with them, walking, leaping, and praising God. Acts 3:9 specifically describes the broad public reaction: all the people in the Temple area witnessed this dramatic transformation and the healed man's exuberant worship. This public, undeniable event set the stage for Peter's subsequent sermon, where he explained the miracle through faith in the crucified and resurrected Jesus (Acts 3:11-26). The historical context places this miracle within a bustling Jewish Temple, where such a public display would capture immense attention and provide irrefutable evidence for the power of Jesus' name.

Acts 3 9 Word analysis

• And all: (Greek: καὶ πᾶς, kai pas). The conjunction "And" connects this observation to the immediate previous event. "All" (πᾶς) emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the witnessing; it wasn't just a few people, but the entire gathering in that part of the Temple, making the miracle publicly verifiable and undeniable. This universality of witness adds significant weight to the event's credibility.
• the people: (Greek: ὁ λαός, ho laos). Refers to the collective body of people, specifically implying the Jewish people present at the Temple. Their collective observation underscores the widespread nature of this miracle's impact on the very community most steeped in expectations of divine signs.
• saw him: (Greek: ἐθεώρουν αὐτόν, etheōroun auton). "Saw" is from the Greek verb θεάομαι (theaomai), meaning "to gaze at," "behold attentively," "contemplate." The imperfect tense signifies a continuous and deliberate observation, not just a casual glance. People weren't merely aware; they were intently watching the man, verifying his ability to walk and leap.
• walking: (Greek: περιπατοῦντα, peripatounta). This is a present active participle from περιπατέω (peripateō), meaning "to walk about," "go about." The present tense denotes continuous action. Before, he was unable to walk; now he was not only walking but continuing to do so, a stark visual confirmation of his complete healing and the radical change in his condition.
• and praising: (Greek: καὶ αἰνοῦντα, kai ainounta). This is also a present active participle from αἰνέω (aineō), meaning "to praise," "commend." Like "walking," its continuous tense indicates an ongoing, spontaneous outpouring of gratitude and worship.
• God: (Greek: τὸν Θεόν, ton Theon). The praise is directed precisely to the source of the healing power. This shows that the man, and by implication, the apostles, attributed the miracle not to human ability, but to the living God through the power of Jesus' name, establishing a clear theological point about the ultimate source of divine intervention.

• "And all the people saw him walking and praising God": This complete phrase highlights the confluence of visible evidence and fervent worship. The public witness (all the people saw) of a profound physical restoration (walking for the first time in his life) immediately led to undeniable spiritual gratitude (praising God). This demonstrated, beyond doubt, the divine origin and reality of the miracle. It was a clear, unambiguous sign, designed by God to draw attention to His Son, Jesus Christ.

Acts 3 9 Bonus section

The "Beautiful Gate" itself might carry symbolic weight. It was an eastern gate of the Temple, adorned with Corinthian brass, signifying something externally grand. Yet, a man crippled from birth lay there daily, representing humanity's inability to enter into God's presence and fullness under its own power. The healing at this gateway underscores that access to God's glory and true restoration comes not through external beauty or human effort (begging for alms) but through the power of Jesus Christ. The lame man's immediate entry into the Temple "walking and leaping and praising God" after his healing highlights his newfound spiritual and physical access, contrasting sharply with his previous state of exclusion and immobility. This transformation served as a direct polemic against the limitations of religious tradition without divine power, signaling that God was actively at work through Jesus and His followers.

Acts 3 9 Commentary

Acts 3:9 provides the critical pivot point after the miracle's performance, transitioning from the event itself to its public impact. The verse emphasizes that the healing of the lame man was no private affair but a widely observed phenomenon, performed in a prominent public space—the Temple—ensuring that "all the people" became immediate witnesses. Their "seeing" was not cursory but attentive, suggesting that the dramatic sight of a well-known beggar now freely walking and leaping was irrefutable. Moreover, the man's immediate and continuous act of "praising God" cemented the divine origin of his transformation in the public mind. This praise demonstrated authentic joy and profound gratitude, implicitly inviting others to recognize God's hand in what had occurred. This public verification and uninhibited worship were essential in paving the way for Peter's subsequent sermon, where he would articulate the significance of this sign as an act performed through the resurrected Jesus' power. The event showcased the Kingdom of God visibly impacting earthly lives, transforming brokenness into wholeness, and silence into shouts of praise.