Acts 3:16

And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

And {G2532} his {G846} name {G3686} through {G1909} faith {G4102} in his {G846} name {G3686} hath made {G4732} this man {G5026} strong {G4732}, whom {G3739} ye see {G2334} and {G2532} know {G1492}: yea {G2532}, the faith {G4102} which is {G1325} by {G1223} him {G846} hath given {G1325} him {G846} this {G5126} perfect soundness {G3647} in the presence {G561} of you {G5216} all {G3956}.

And it is through putting trust in his name that his name has given strength to this man whom you see and know. Yes, it is the trust that comes through Yeshua which has given him this perfect healing in the presence of you all.

By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know has been made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Him that has given him this complete healing in your presence.

And by faith in his name hath his name made this man strong, whom ye behold and know: yea, the faith which is through him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

Acts 3:16 is a pivotal statement by the Apostle Peter, explaining the miraculous healing of the lame man at the Beautiful Gate. It unequivocally attributes the power behind the miracle not to Peter or John, but to the authority and person of Jesus Christ, activated by faith. This verse serves as a powerful declaration of Christ's continued work and presence through His disciples after His ascension.

Context

This verse is part of Peter's sermon to the astonished crowd that gathered after witnessing the instantaneous healing of a man who had been lame from birth. Peter and John encountered the man begging at the Temple gate. Instead of money, Peter had previously commanded the man to rise up and walk in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. The man was immediately healed and began walking, leaping, and praising God, causing a stir among those who knew him. Peter then seized this opportunity to preach the Gospel, explaining that the miracle was not by their own power or holiness, but by the power of Jesus, whom they had crucified but God had raised from the dead. This public miracle served as a powerful sign, leading into Peter's call for repentance and refreshing from the presence of the Lord.

Key Themes

  • The Power of Jesus' Name: The central message is that the healing occurred "through faith in his name." The name of Jesus represents His entire person, authority, and divine power. It signifies that the ascended Christ is still active and sovereign.
  • Faith as the Catalyst: Peter emphasizes that it was not human ability but "faith in his name" and "the faith which is by him" that brought about the healing. This highlights that faith is crucial for experiencing God's power, and that this faith itself is ultimately sourced from Christ.
  • Divine Healing and Wholeness: The phrase "perfect soundness" (Greek: holoklēria) underscores the complete and undeniable nature of the miracle. It was not a partial recovery but full restoration, demonstrating God's transformative power.
  • Witness and Validation: The healing took place "in the presence of you all," making it an undeniable public testimony to Jesus' resurrection and power. This miracle validated the apostles' message and served as an invitation for the crowd to believe. Peter later reiterates this point when facing the Sanhedrin, declaring, "Be it known unto you all... that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth... doth this man stand here before you whole."

Linguistic Insights

The repetition of "his name through faith in his name" in the KJV translation emphasizes the singular focus on Jesus. The original Greek for "faith in his name" (pistis en tō onomati autou) clearly points to the object of faith being Jesus' person and authority. Furthermore, "the faith which is by him" (hē pistis hē di' autou) can be understood as faith that comes from Him or faith that is through Him, reinforcing that both the power and the enabling faith originate from Christ himself. The term "perfect soundness" (holoklēria) literally means "entire wholeness" or "completeness," leaving no ambiguity about the miraculous and thorough nature of the man's healing.

Practical Application

Acts 3:16 reminds believers today that the power to accomplish God's will resides in Jesus Christ, not in human strength or wisdom. We are called to exercise genuine faith in His name, trusting in His authority and character. This applies not only to miraculous physical healing but also to spiritual transformation, overcoming sin, and effective prayer. The significance of Jesus' exalted name, before which every knee shall bow, is a consistent theme in Scripture. Any good work or spiritual victory achieved through us is ultimately His work, for His glory. This verse encourages us to boldly proclaim Jesus, knowing that His power and presence validate His message and bring about true wholeness.

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.

  • Matthew 21:21

    Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this [which is done] to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

  • Matthew 21:22

    And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

  • Acts 14:9

    The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,

  • Acts 4:10

    Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, [even] by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

  • Acts 3:6

    Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

  • Mark 16:17

    And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

  • Mark 16:18

    They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

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