Acts 3:11

KJV

And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G1161} as the lame man {G5560} which was healed {G2390} held {G2902} Peter {G4074} and {G2532} John {G2491}, all {G3956} the people {G2992} ran together {G4936} unto {G4314} them {G846} in {G1909} the porch {G4745} that is called {G2564} Solomon's {G4672}, greatly wondering {G1569}.

Complete Jewish Bible

While he clung to Kefa and Yochanan, all the people came running in astonishment toward them in Shlomo’s Colonnade.

Berean Standard Bible

While the man clung to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and ran to them in the walkway called Solomon’s Colonnade.

American Standard Version

And as he held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Acts 3:11 vividly captures the immediate aftermath of the miraculous healing of a man lame from birth, depicting the profound astonishment and eager convergence of the Jerusalem populace around Peter and John in Solomon's Porch. This pivotal moment not only validates the divine power at work through the apostles but also sets the stage for Peter's powerful evangelistic sermon, demonstrating how God uses extraordinary signs to gather an audience for the proclamation of the Gospel.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as a crucial transition point in the narrative of Acts 3. It directly follows the dramatic healing of the lame man at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple, an event described in [Acts 3:1-10](/acts/3-1-10 "Acts 3:1-10 - The Healing of the Lame Man"). The man, having been lame from birth, was instantly and completely restored, leading him to walk, leap, and praise God publicly. His continued presence, holding onto Peter and John, and his joyful entry into the Temple with them, provided undeniable evidence of the miracle. Verse 11 details the crowd's reaction to this public spectacle, setting the scene for Peter's subsequent sermon in [Acts 3:12-26](/acts/3-12-26 "Acts 3:12-26 - Peter's Sermon in Solomon's Porch"), where he explains the source of the healing power and calls the people to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting, "Solomon's Porch," was a prominent, covered colonnade on the eastern side of the Temple courts in Jerusalem. This area was a well-known public gathering place, often frequented by pilgrims, teachers, and debaters, making it an ideal location for public discourse and religious instruction. It was a place where people naturally congregated, especially during hours of prayer or sacrifice, which aligns with the apostles' presence at the Temple. The crowd's "greatly wondering" reaction is culturally significant; in a society where divine intervention was understood through signs and wonders, such a public miracle would immediately draw immense attention and provoke deep reflection on its source and meaning. This public, undeniable miracle in a central location ensured widespread witness and discussion.
* **Key Themes:** [Acts 3:11](/acts/3-11 "Acts 3:11 - The Crowd's Reaction to the Healing") powerfully reinforces several key themes prevalent in the book of Acts. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Divine Power and Miracles**, demonstrating that the resurrected Christ continues to work powerfully through His apostles, validating their message. The healing is not a human feat but a manifestation of God's power. Secondly, the verse underscores **Public Witness and Evangelistic Opportunity**. The crowd's astonishment and convergence create a captive audience, illustrating how God uses extraordinary events to open doors for the proclamation of the Gospel. This public reaction is essential for the spread of the early church's message, as seen throughout [the book of Acts](/acts/1 "The Book of Acts - The Acts of the Apostles"). Lastly, it subtly points to **Apostolic Authority and God's Instruments**, as the people run to Peter and John, recognizing them as the conduits of this divine work, thereby affirming their God-given role in the nascent Christian community.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **held (Greek, _kratéō'_):** From the root meaning "to use strength," this word signifies more than a casual grasp; it implies seizing or retaining with force or determination. The healed man "held" Peter and John, indicating not only physical proximity but also a clinging, perhaps out of gratitude, wonder, or a desire to remain connected to the source of his healing. This tenacious grip underscores the reality and impact of the miracle on his life.
* **ran together (Greek, _syntréchō'_):** This compound verb, formed from "together" (syn-) and "to run" (trechō), describes a rapid, collective movement. It paints a vivid picture of the crowd rushing en masse, converging quickly and eagerly upon Peter, John, and the healed man. This spontaneous, unified movement highlights the immediate and widespread impact of the miracle, drawing a large, curious, and astonished audience.
* **greatly wondering (Greek, _ékthambos'_):** This powerful adjective, derived from "out of" (ek-) and "amazement" (thambos), denotes a state of profound astonishment, utter bewilderment, or even awe-struck terror. It is a stronger term than mere curiosity, signifying that the people were completely overwhelmed and deeply moved by what they had witnessed. This intense emotional response indicates a readiness to hear an explanation for such an extraordinary event.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John":** This clause establishes the immediate context, emphasizing the healed man's continued presence and his close association with the apostles. His physical act of holding onto them serves as a living, undeniable testament to the miracle, making him a central figure in drawing the crowd's attention.
* **"all the people ran together unto them":** This phrase describes the collective, spontaneous, and eager response of the crowd. The miracle's public nature and the man's visible transformation caused a rapid convergence of "all the people," indicating a large, diverse assembly drawn by curiosity and wonder.
* **"in the porch that is called Solomon's":** This specifies the location of the event, a well-known public area within the Temple precincts. This setting ensures that the miracle and the subsequent gathering were highly visible and accessible, maximizing the number of witnesses and the impact of the event.
* **"greatly wondering":** This final phrase encapsulates the emotional state of the assembled crowd. Their reaction was not just simple curiosity but profound astonishment and awe, signaling their recognition of something extraordinary and supernatural. This state of wonder primed them to receive Peter's explanation and the Gospel message.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several effective literary devices. **Vivid Imagery** is prominent, painting a clear picture of the healed man clinging to the apostles and the crowd rushing towards them. The phrase "ran together" (syntréchō) uses **Dynamic Verbs** to convey the immediacy and energy of the crowd's response. The description of the crowd as "all the people" uses **Hyperbole** to emphasize the widespread attention the miracle garnered, suggesting a vast multitude. The culminating phrase "greatly wondering" (ékthambos) is a powerful **Emotional Descriptor**, highlighting the profound impact of the event and the collective awe it inspired. This intense emotional state serves as a narrative bridge, preparing the reader for the subsequent sermon by indicating the crowd's receptiveness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Acts 3:11 serves as a powerful illustration of how God uses undeniable signs and wonders to create a platform for the proclamation of His Word. The public, visible, and enduring nature of the miracle, embodied by the healed man's presence, compelled a large crowd to gather, not out of mere curiosity, but out of profound astonishment. This divine orchestration ensured that a significant audience was present and emotionally prepared to hear Peter's explanation, which would inevitably point to Jesus as the source of this power. The miracle itself was not the end goal, but a means to an end: the evangelization of Israel and the expansion of the Kingdom of God. It underscores the principle that God often validates His messengers and His message through supernatural acts, drawing people to Himself.

* [John 6:2](/john/6-2 "John 6:2 - Large Crowd Follows Jesus for Miracles")
* [Luke 5:26](/luke/5-26 "Luke 5:26 - People Amazed and Glorify God")
* [Mark 1:27](/mark/1-27 "Mark 1:27 - People Amazed by Jesus' Authority")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The scene in Acts 3:11 offers profound insights for contemporary believers. It reminds us that authentic encounters with God's power, whether through miraculous intervention or transformed lives, possess an inherent magnetism that draws attention and creates opportunities for witness. The healed man's continued presence, his joyful testimony, and his association with Peter and John were more eloquent than any initial sermon could have been. For us, this means that our transformed lives, our genuine joy in Christ, and our willingness to stand with those who proclaim the Gospel can be powerful testimonies that cause others to "greatly wonder" and inquire about the hope within us. We are called to live lives that reflect God's power and grace, making us living epistles that are known and read by all. When God opens a door through a visible work, whether small or great, we must be ready, like Peter, to seize the moment and articulate the truth of Jesus Christ as the source of all healing and salvation.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the "greatly wondering" reaction of the crowd challenge or encourage your own faith in God's power today?**
* **In what ways can your personal testimony of God's work in your life create a "Solomon's Porch" moment for others to inquire about Christ?**
* **Are you prepared, like Peter and John, to explain the source of God's power when people are drawn to something extraordinary they witness in or through you?**

### FAQ
**Why was Solomon's Porch a significant location for this event?**

Answer: Solomon's Porch was a prominent, covered colonnade on the eastern side of the Temple courts in Jerusalem. It was a well-known public gathering place, frequently used for teaching, discussion, and assembly. Its significance lies in its high visibility and accessibility, ensuring that the miraculous healing and the subsequent sermon reached a large, diverse audience. The fact that the crowd "ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's" underscores its role as a natural hub for public interaction, making it an ideal stage for God to display His power and for the apostles to proclaim the Gospel to a multitude.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Acts 3:11, while describing a physical healing through the apostles, points profoundly to the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "lame man which was healed" is a living testament to the power of the resurrected Christ, for Peter explicitly states in his subsequent sermon that the healing occurred "by faith in His name" ([Acts 3:16](/acts/3-16 "Acts 3:16 - Healing by Faith in Jesus' Name")). This miracle, like all signs performed by the apostles, served to authenticate Jesus as the promised Messiah, the source of all true healing and restoration. Just as the physical lameness was overcome, so too does Christ offer spiritual healing from the crippling effects of sin. The crowd's "greatly wondering" reaction mirrors the astonishment often evoked by Jesus' own miracles during His earthly ministry ([Mark 1:27](/mark/1-27 "Mark 1:27 - People Amazed by Jesus' Authority")). Ultimately, the gathering in Solomon's Porch, initiated by a physical healing, foreshadows the greater spiritual gathering of all nations to Christ, the true "Lamb of God" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), who offers complete redemption and new life to all who believe. The miracle was a sign, pointing beyond itself to the ultimate Healer and Savior, Jesus Christ, through whom all things are made new ([Revelation 21:5](/revelation/21-5 "Revelation 21:5 - Behold, I Make All Things New")).

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

Acts 5:12

¶ And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.

Luke 8:38

Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying,

John 10:23

And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.

Acts 2:6

Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

Luke 22:8

And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.