Why was the man laid at the "Beautiful Gate" specifically?

The "Beautiful Gate" was likely a prominent and ornate entrance to the Temple courts, attracting a high volume of worshippers and visitors. For a beggar, this location offered the best opportunity to solicit alms from a large number of people who were entering the Temple for prayer or worship and were often inclined to acts of charity as part of their religious devotion. Its beauty also serves as a stark contrast to the man's physical brokenness, highlighting the dramatic nature of the impending miracle.

What is the significance of the man being lame "from his mother's womb"?

The detail "lame from his mother's womb" emphasizes that his condition was congenital, meaning he was born with it and had suffered from it his entire life. This detail is crucial because it highlights the incurable nature of his disability by conventional human means, making the subsequent healing by Peter and John an undeniable miracle of divine power. It removes any possibility that his lameness was temporary, psychosomatic, or a result of injury, thus magnifying the glory of God in his restoration. This echoes similar accounts in the Gospels, such as the healing of the man born blind in John 9:1, where congenital conditions serve to showcase God's power.

3:1 3:1

Acts 3:2

3:3 3:3

Bible Versions

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;

And {G2532} a certain {G5100} man {G435} lame {G5225}{G5560} from {G1537} his {G846} mother's {G3384} womb {G2836} was carried {G941}, whom {G3739} they laid {G5087} daily {G2250}{G2596} at {G4314} the gate {G2374} of the temple {G2411} which {G3588} is called {G3004} Beautiful {G5611}, to ask {G154} alms {G1654} of {G3844} them that entered {G1531} into {G1519} the temple {G2411};

a man crippled since birth was being carried in. Every day people used to put him at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple, so that he could beg from those going into the Temple court.

And a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those entering the temple courts.

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

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.

Verse Lookup

Cross-References

Acts 14:8

¶ And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:
John 9:8

¶ The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?
Luke 16:20

And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
Luke 18:35

¶ And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:
Acts 10:31

And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
Acts 4:22

For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.
Acts 10:4

And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

Bible Versions

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