Acts 3:12

¶ And when Peter saw [it], he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

And {G1161} when Peter {G4074} saw {G1492} it, he answered {G611} unto {G4314} the people {G2992}, Ye men {G435} of Israel {G2475}, why {G5101} marvel ye {G2296} at {G1909} this {G5129}? or {G2228} why {G5101} look ye so earnestly {G816} on us {G2254}, as though {G5613} by our own {G2398} power {G1411} or {G2228} holiness {G2150} we had made {G4160} this man {G846} to walk {G4043}?

Seeing this, Kefa addressed the people: “Men of Isra’el! Why are you amazed at this? Or why do you stare at us as if we had made this man walk through some power or godliness of our own?

And when Peter saw this, he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why are you surprised by this? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?

And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this man? or why fasten ye your eyes on us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him to walk?

In Acts 3:12, Peter immediately addresses the crowd that has gathered, astonished by the miraculous healing of the lame man at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple. This verse marks the beginning of Peter's second major public sermon recorded in the Book of Acts, following the powerful events of Pentecost.

Context

This verse directly follows the dramatic healing of a man lame from birth, who had been begging at the Temple's Beautiful Gate (Acts 3:1-10). The miracle caused a sensation, drawing a large, marveling crowd to Solomon's Porch, a covered colonnade on the east side of the Jerusalem Temple (Acts 3:11). Peter, seeing the people's astonishment and their intense focus on him and John, quickly seizes the opportunity to correct their misconception and point them toward the true source of power. This sets the stage for a powerful proclamation of the Gospel.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Power, Not Human Merit: The central message is Peter's immediate and emphatic denial that the miracle occurred through his or John's personal "power" (Greek: dunamis) or "holiness" (Greek: eusebeia). He redirects all credit to God and Jesus Christ. This highlights a fundamental principle of Christian faith: miracles and spiritual works are a result of God's action, not human ability or righteousness.
  • Humility and Deflection of Glory: Peter and John exemplify profound humility. Instead of basking in the admiration, they immediately deflect praise and glory away from themselves. This aligns with the biblical principle of giving all glory to God. Their immediate response prevents the crowd from attributing divine status to the apostles.
  • Opportunity for Evangelism: The miracle serves as a compelling sign, creating an ideal platform for Peter to preach the Gospel. He uses the crowd's astonishment as a natural bridge to explain the true power at work and to introduce them to Jesus Christ, setting the stage for his powerful sermon in the subsequent verses.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses "power" for the Greek word dunamis (δύναμις), which refers to inherent strength, ability, or miraculous power. Peter denies that this power originates from them. Similarly, "holiness" translates eusebeia (εὐσέβεια), meaning piety, godliness, or reverence. Peter makes it clear that their personal righteousness is not the source of the healing. The people's "marveling" (Greek: thaumazō) indicates their deep astonishment and wonder at what they witnessed, making them receptive to Peter's explanation.

Practical Application

This verse offers timeless lessons for believers today. Firstly, it reminds us to always attribute any good works, successes, or spiritual breakthroughs to God, not to our own talents, efforts, or piety. True humility acknowledges that all blessings and abilities come from Him. Secondly, it teaches us to be prepared to leverage unique opportunities—whether a striking event or a moment of curiosity—to share the truth of the Gospel. Like Peter, we are called to be conduits of God's power and truth, not recipients of human adulation. The focus should always remain on Christ, who enables us to do even greater works through faith in His name.

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.

  • 2 Corinthians 3:5

    Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency [is] of God;

  • John 3:27

    John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

  • John 3:28

    Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.

  • Genesis 41:16

    And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, [It is] not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.

  • Acts 14:11

    And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.

  • Acts 14:15

    And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:

  • Daniel 2:28

    But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;

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