Acts 3:1

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

Now {G1161} Peter {G4074} and {G2532} John {G2491} went up {G305} together {G1909}{G846} into {G1519} the temple {G2411} at the hour {G5610} of prayer {G4335}, being the ninth {G1766} hour.

Complete Jewish Bible

One afternoon at three o’clock, the hour of minchah prayers, as Kefa and Yochanan were going up to the Temple,

Berean Standard Bible

One afternoon Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.

American Standard Version

Now Peter and John were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, beingthe ninth hour.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Acts 3:1 serves as a pivotal transitional verse, detailing the seemingly routine journey of Peter and John to the Jerusalem Temple for the customary ninth-hour prayer. Far from an insignificant detail, this precise setting and timing establish the immediate context for a miraculous healing and a powerful evangelistic sermon, demonstrating the early church's continued engagement with Jewish religious life while simultaneously ushering in a new era of divine power and proclamation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the dramatic outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost in [Acts 2](/acts/2 "Acts 2 - The Day of Pentecost and the Birth of the Church"), which resulted in the conversion of thousands and the formation of the nascent Christian community in Jerusalem. The preceding chapter details the apostles' bold proclamation, the Spirit's manifestation, and the communal life of the early believers, characterized by teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer ([Acts 2:42](/acts/2-42 "Acts 2:42 - The Devotion of the Early Church")). Acts 3:1 thus transitions from the general description of the church's early activities to a specific event, highlighting the apostles' continued participation in Jewish religious customs even as they ministered under the New Covenant. It sets the stage for the healing of the lame man at the Beautiful Gate, which then leads to Peter's second major sermon in the book of Acts.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Jerusalem Temple was the epicenter of Jewish religious life, a place of worship, sacrifice, and communal prayer. Despite the inauguration of the New Covenant through Jesus Christ, the early Jewish believers, including the apostles, did not immediately abandon their long-held traditions. They continued to frequent the Temple, especially at the established hours of prayer. The "ninth hour" (approximately 3:00 PM) was one of three traditional times for Jewish communal prayer, alongside the third hour (9:00 AM) and the sixth hour (12:00 PM), often coinciding with the daily sacrifices. This practice underscored their identity as devout Jews, providing a natural bridge for evangelism to other Jews who also observed these customs. Their presence in this sacred, public space at a customary time positioned them for divine encounters and opportunities to proclaim the Gospel.
* **Key Themes:** Acts 3:1 introduces several significant themes that resonate throughout the book of Acts. Firstly, it illustrates the theme of **Continuity and Transition**, showing how the early church maintained ties with Jewish religious practices even as it embraced the new reality of Christ's resurrection and the Spirit's indwelling. This approach allowed for a natural bridge to present the Gospel to devout Jews, rather than an abrupt break. Secondly, the phrase "Peter and John went up together" emphasizes **Apostolic Unity and Fellowship**, highlighting the collaborative nature of their ministry, a theme consistently seen in their shared experiences, such as their joint defense before the Sanhedrin in [Acts 4:13](/acts/4-13 "Acts 4:13 - Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin"). Thirdly, their going "at the hour of prayer" underscores the **Discipline and Importance of Prayer** in the life of believers, positioning them for divine intervention. Finally, this seemingly ordinary act of religious observance was, in fact, an instance of **Divine Timing**, as their presence at that specific moment led directly to the miraculous healing of the lame man, as detailed in [Acts 3:2-10](/acts/3-2-10 "Acts 3:2-10 - The Healing of the Lame Man").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Temple (Greek, _hierón'_):** This term refers to the entire sacred precinct of the Temple in Jerusalem, including its courtyards and porticoes, not just the inner sanctuary (ναός, _naos_). Peter and John's destination was the public area accessible to all Jews, emphasizing their continued participation in communal Jewish life and their desire to engage with the broader Jewish population where they gathered for worship and social interaction.
* **Prayer (Greek, _proseuchḗ'_):** Derived from a verb meaning "to pray," this noun signifies an act of worship, supplication, or devotion. Its use here highlights a specific, established time for communal prayer, indicating a disciplined and regular practice within Jewish religious life. For the apostles, this was not merely a ritualistic observance but a genuine expression of their spiritual devotion, even as their understanding of prayer was being transformed by the Spirit.
* **Ninth (Greek, _énnatos'_):** This ordinal number specifies the exact hour of the day. In the Jewish reckoning, where the day began at sunrise (around 6:00 AM), the ninth hour corresponds to approximately 3:00 PM. This was a customary time for the evening sacrifice and accompanying prayers in the Temple, making it a period of high attendance and religious activity. The specificity of the hour underscores the historical accuracy and the precise divine timing of the events that follow.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Now Peter and John went up together":** This clause introduces the two prominent apostles, Peter and John, highlighting their joint activity and unity in ministry. The verb "went up" (ἀναβαίνω, _anabainō_) suggests a deliberate ascent, likely referring to the elevated nature of the Temple mount or simply the act of going up from their dwelling place. Their shared purpose and companionship are emphasized, setting the stage for their collaborative work.
* **"into the temple":** This phrase specifies their destination, the Jerusalem Temple. As discussed in the key word analysis, this was the central place of Jewish worship and communal gathering. Their presence there signifies their continued adherence to Jewish customs and their strategic engagement with the Jewish community, providing a natural setting for the subsequent miracle and sermon.
* **"at the hour of prayer, [being] the ninth [hour]":** This final clause provides the precise timing of their visit. "The hour of prayer" refers to a well-established Jewish custom of communal prayer at specific times of the day. The parenthetical "being the ninth hour" clarifies this time as approximately 3:00 PM, a period of significant religious activity in the Temple. This precise timing is crucial, as it places Peter and John in the right place at the right time for the divine appointment that unfolds next.

#### Literary Devices
Acts 3:1 employs several literary devices to set the scene and prepare the reader for the unfolding narrative. **Narrative Setup** is primary, as the verse efficiently establishes the protagonists (Peter and John), their destination (the Temple), and the timing (the ninth hour of prayer), all crucial elements for the subsequent events. This detailed setting creates a sense of realism and immediacy. There is also an element of **Foreshadowing**, as this seemingly ordinary act of devotion leads directly to an extraordinary miracle, subtly hinting at the divine intervention to come. The Temple itself functions as a **Symbol** of the continuity between the old covenant practices and the new covenant realities, as the apostles, empowered by the Holy Spirit, continue to engage with the traditional structures of Judaism. Finally, the verse subtly highlights the theme of **Continuity**, showing the early church's rootedness in Jewish tradition even as it embarks on a new, Spirit-led mission.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Acts 3:1, though brief, is rich with theological implications, serving as a powerful bridge between the initial outpouring of the Spirit and the ongoing mission of the early church. It underscores the profound truth that God often uses the ordinary disciplines of faith to accomplish extraordinary purposes. The apostles' commitment to a regular, communal prayer life, rooted in their Jewish heritage, positioned them precisely where God intended to display His power. This highlights not only the importance of personal spiritual disciplines but also the significance of corporate worship and engagement within the community. Furthermore, the scene demonstrates the early church's strategic wisdom in maintaining connections with existing cultural and religious frameworks, allowing for natural points of contact to proclaim the radical message of Jesus Christ to those still operating within the old covenant system. Their presence in the Temple at a customary hour was not a regression, but a Spirit-led strategy for evangelism and demonstration of God's power.

* [Psalm 55:17](/psalms/55-17 "Psalm 55:17 - Evening, Morning, and Noon")
* [Daniel 6:10](/daniel/6-10 "Daniel 6:10 - Daniel's Prayer Discipline")
* [Luke 24:53](/luke/24-53 "Luke 24:53 - Continually in the Temple")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Acts 3:1 offers profound insights for contemporary believers, reminding us that faithfulness in the seemingly mundane can lead to divinely orchestrated encounters. Peter and John were simply engaging in a routine act of worship, yet their consistent discipline in prayer positioned them for a powerful demonstration of God's healing power and an opportunity to preach the Gospel. This challenges us to consider our own spiritual rhythms and disciplines. Are we consistently engaging in prayer, fellowship, and worship, even when it feels routine? God often works through our availability and faithfulness in the ordinary, transforming our daily practices into platforms for His extraordinary work. Furthermore, the apostles' willingness to meet people where they were, within the established cultural and religious framework of the Temple, encourages us to seek bridges, not just barriers, in sharing the Gospel, discerning how to connect with our communities in ways that are both culturally relevant and biblically faithful.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "ordinary" spiritual disciplines in your life might God be preparing to use for extraordinary purposes?**
* **How does your consistent practice of prayer or corporate worship position you to be used by God?**
* **In what ways can you, like Peter and John, engage with your community's existing structures or customs to build bridges for the Gospel, rather than creating immediate separation?**

### FAQ
**Why were Peter and John still going to the Temple after Pentecost?**

Answer: After the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the early believers, including Peter and John, were still devout Jews. They did not immediately abandon their long-held religious customs, such as attending the Temple for prayer and worship. Their continued presence in the Temple served several purposes: it demonstrated a continuity with their Jewish heritage, allowed them to connect with other Jews who frequented the Temple, and provided a natural public forum for proclaiming the message of Jesus Christ. It was a strategic bridge-building approach, rather than an abrupt break, enabling them to share the Gospel within a familiar context, as seen in Peter's subsequent sermon in [Acts 3:12-26](/acts/3-12-26 "Acts 3:12-26 - Peter's Second Sermon").

**What was the significance of "the ninth hour" for prayer?**

Answer: The "ninth hour" (approximately 3:00 PM) was one of the three traditional daily hours for Jewish communal prayer, along with the third hour (9:00 AM) and the sixth hour (12:00 PM). These times often coincided with the daily sacrifices in the Temple. For devout Jews, these were established times for corporate worship, personal devotion, and reflection. By specifying the ninth hour, [Acts 3:1](/acts/3-1 "Acts 3:1 - Peter and John Go to the Temple") highlights that Peter and John were adhering to a recognized and respected religious custom, placing them in a public and spiritually receptive environment where God could bring about the miraculous healing of the lame man.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Acts 3:1, while seemingly a simple narrative detail, subtly points to Christ in its broader context of the apostles' ministry. Peter and John's continued presence in the Temple, a place central to Old Covenant worship and sacrifice, underscores the truth that Christ did not abolish the law but fulfilled it ([Matthew 5:17](/matthew/5-17 "Matthew 5:17 - Jesus Fulfilled the Law")). Their mission, empowered by the Spirit given by the ascended Christ ([Acts 2:33](/acts/2-33 "Acts 2:33 - Peter's Sermon on the Holy Spirit")), was to proclaim Jesus as the Messiah, the one to whom all the Temple rituals and prophecies pointed. The healing that immediately follows this verse is performed "in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth" ([Acts 3:6](/acts/3-6 "Acts 3:6 - Peter Heals the Lame Man")), demonstrating that the power once symbolized by the Temple sacrifices now resided fully and actively in the person of Christ. The apostles, as Christ's witnesses, were extending His redemptive work, bringing healing and salvation not through animal sacrifices, but through the living Lord, Jesus, the ultimate sacrifice and the true Temple where God dwells among His people ([John 2:19-21](/john/2-19-21 "John 2:19-21 - Jesus Predicts His Resurrection as the Temple")). Thus, this routine visit to the physical temple becomes a stage for the manifestation of the spiritual reality of Christ's ongoing, powerful presence through His church.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 55:17

Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

Acts 10:3

He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.

Acts 4:13

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

Luke 1:10

And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

Acts 5:25

Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.

Luke 24:53

And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

Daniel 6:10

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.