Acts 3:10

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.

And {G5037} they knew {G1921} that {G3754} it {G846} was {G2258} he {G3778} which {G3588} sat {G2521} for {G4314} alms {G1654} at {G1909} the Beautiful {G5611} gate {G4439} of the temple {G2411}: and {G2532} they were filled {G4130} with wonder {G2285} and {G2532} amazement {G1611} at {G1909} that which had happened {G4819} unto him {G846}.

They recognized him as the same man who had formerly sat begging at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple, and they were utterly amazed and confounded at what had happened to him.

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

and they took knowledge of him, that it was he that 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 vividly captures the public's profound reaction to the miraculous healing of the man who had been lame from birth, a familiar figure at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. This verse underscores the undeniable authenticity of the miracle and its powerful impact on the eyewitnesses.

Context of Acts 3:10

This verse is the culmination of the immediate aftermath of a significant event in the early church. Peter and John, on their way to the temple for prayer, encountered a man who had been lame from birth and was routinely carried to the Beautiful Gate to beg. Rather than offering money, Peter, empowered by the Holy Spirit, commanded the man to "rise up and walk" in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. The healing was instantaneous and complete, leading the man to immediately stand, leap, and praise God as he entered the temple with Peter and John. Acts 3:9 describes people seeing him walking and praising God; verse 10 confirms their recognition of him as the known beggar, leading to widespread astonishment.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Undeniable Authenticity: The fact that the healed man was a well-known figure, recognized by many who passed through the Beautiful Gate daily, made the miracle irrefutable. This public recognition served as powerful validation for the apostles' authority and the transformative power of Jesus' name.
  • Divine Power Manifested: The crowd's reaction of "wonder and amazement" highlights the extraordinary nature of God's power at work. This was not a gradual recovery but an instant, complete restoration, clearly beyond human capability, leading to awe and glorification of God.
  • Catalyst for Witness: The public spectacle and the profound astonishment of the crowd directly set the stage for Peter's powerful sermon that followed (Acts 3:12-26). The miracle served as an undeniable sign, prompting people to listen to the message about the resurrected Christ.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses the terms "wonder" (Greek: thaumatos) and "amazement" (Greek: ekstasis). Thaumatos denotes a sense of admiration or astonishment, often evoked by something extraordinary or unexpected. Ekstasis, from which we get the English word "ecstasy," literally means "a standing outside oneself." It conveys a profound state of being overwhelmed, utterly beside oneself with awe, astonishment, or even fear. The combination of these two words powerfully conveys the deep, emotional, and overwhelming reaction of the crowd to witnessing God's supernatural intervention through the apostles.

Practical Application

Acts 3:10 reminds us that God's power is real and capable of extraordinary acts. Just as the crowd was filled with wonder, we too should cultivate a heart of awe and readiness to recognize God's work in our lives and in the world. This verse also emphasizes the importance of public witness; when God acts powerfully, it often serves not only to bless individuals but also to draw attention to His glory and message, compelling others to consider the truth of the Gospel. It encourages believers to boldly proclaim the transformative power of Jesus Christ, knowing that God can confirm His word with signs and wonders as He sees fit (Hebrews 2:4).

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Acts 3:2

    And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

  • John 5:20

    For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.

  • John 9:3

    Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

  • Luke 9:43

    ¶ And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples,

  • Luke 4:36

    And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word [is] this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.

  • Acts 4:21

    So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all [men] glorified God for that which was done.

  • Acts 4:22

    For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.

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