Acts 3:9

KJV

And all the people saw him walking and praising God:

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} all {G3956} the people {G2992} saw {G1492} him {G846} walking {G4043} and {G2532} praising {G134} God {G2316}:

Complete Jewish Bible

Everyone saw him walking and praising God.

Berean Standard Bible

When all the people saw him walking and praising God,

American Standard Version

And all the people saw him walking and praising God:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Acts 3:9 vividly captures the immediate and widespread public reaction to the miraculous healing of the man lame from birth at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple. This concise verse underscores the undeniable evidence of the miracle, as "all the people" witnessed the man, previously known for his disability, now walking and spontaneously erupting in praise to God. It serves as a pivotal moment, validating the apostolic ministry and setting the stage for Peter's subsequent powerful sermon to the astonished crowd.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is the climactic moment of public recognition following the dramatic healing account in [Acts 3:1-8](/acts/3-1-8 "Acts 3:1-8 - The Healing of the Lame Man"). Peter, empowered by the Holy Spirit and invoking the name of Jesus Christ, commanded the man to walk, resulting in an instantaneous and complete restoration of strength to his feet and ankles. Verse 9 then shifts the focus from the miracle itself to its profound impact on the onlookers, emphasizing that the man's newfound mobility and joyous worship were not private but a widely observed phenomenon. This public display directly precipitates the crowd's astonishment and the subsequent gathering at Solomon's Portico, leading to Peter's evangelistic address in [Acts 3:11-26](/acts/3-11-26 "Acts 3:11-26 - Peter's Sermon at Solomon's Portico"). The immediate public verification of the miracle lays the groundwork for the powerful theological message that follows.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is the Temple in Jerusalem, a central hub of Jewish religious and social life. Daily prayer times (like the ninth hour, or 3 PM, mentioned in [Acts 3:1](/acts/3-1 "Acts 3:1 - Peter and John go to the Temple")) drew large crowds, making the Temple gates common places for beggars to seek alms. A man lame from birth would have been a familiar sight, his condition a well-known fact to many regular Temple-goers. Miracles, particularly healings, were understood within Jewish tradition as signs of divine favor and the coming of the Messiah, as prophesied in passages like [Isaiah 35:5-6](/isaiah/35-5-6 "Isaiah 35:5-6 - The Desolate Land Transformed"). The public nature of this healing, therefore, was not merely a spectacle but a profound theological statement, challenging the onlookers to consider the source of such power and its implications for the identity of Jesus.

* **Key Themes:** Acts 3:9 powerfully contributes to several key themes within the book of Acts and the broader New Testament narrative. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Divine Power and Healing**, showcasing God's active presence and ability to intervene miraculously through His apostles, confirming their message and authority. Secondly, the phrase "all the people saw him" underscores the theme of **Public Witness and Verification**, emphasizing that the gospel's claims are not based on private revelation but on observable, undeniable events designed to elicit faith. This public display served as a powerful testimony, creating an undeniable platform for the apostles' preaching. Finally, the man's immediate response of "praising God" exemplifies the theme of **Spontaneous Worship and Gratitude**, demonstrating that a genuine encounter with God's grace naturally leads to adoration and glorification of His name, a pattern seen throughout the biblical narrative, as in the response to Jesus's miracles in [Luke 5:25-26](/luke/5-25-26 "Luke 5:25-26 - The Paralytic Healed and Praising God").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **saw (Greek, _eídō'_):** From G1492, this verb signifies not merely a casual glance but a perception that leads to understanding or knowing. In this context, "all the people saw him" implies that their observation was clear, undeniable, and led to a recognition of the miraculous nature of what had occurred. It denotes an eyewitness account that leaves no room for doubt about the man's transformation.
* **walking (Greek, _peripatéō'_):** From G4043, this word means "to tread all around" or "to walk at large." For a man lame from birth, this act was a profound demonstration of restored ability and freedom. It was not just a tentative step but a confident, uninhibited movement, serving as irrefutable proof of his complete healing and new physical capacity. Figuratively, it can also imply a new way of life or conduct, which, in this case, is immediately expressed through praise.
* **praising (Greek, _ainéō'_):** From G134, this term means "to praise (God)." It indicates a strong, outward, and often vocal expression of adoration and glorification. The man's praise was not a quiet, internal thankfulness but a public, joyous acclamation, likely accompanied by leaping and exultation, as described in [Acts 3:8](/acts/3-8 "Acts 3:8 - The Man Leaps and Praises God"). This spontaneous, uninhibited worship was a natural overflow of gratitude for the divine intervention he had experienced.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And all the people saw him":** This clause emphasizes the public and undeniable nature of the miracle. The healing was not a private event but occurred in a prominent public space, witnessed by a large, diverse crowd. The phrase "all the people" highlights the collective, widespread observation, ensuring that the authenticity of the miracle could not be disputed. This public verification was crucial for the subsequent impact of Peter's sermon.
* **"walking":** This simple word carries immense weight, describing the physical manifestation of the miracle. For a man who had been lame from birth, the act of walking was irrefutable proof of divine power. It was the visible, tangible evidence that God had intervened, transforming his long-standing disability into complete mobility. This action directly contrasted with his former state as a beggar confined to the Temple gate.
* **"and praising God":** This final clause reveals the man's immediate and appropriate spiritual response to his healing. His praise was a spontaneous overflow of gratitude and adoration, attributing the miraculous work directly to God. This public act of worship not only glorified God but also served as a powerful testimony to the crowd, directing their attention to the divine source of the healing rather than merely the apostles as agents.

#### Literary Devices
Acts 3:9 effectively employs several literary devices to convey its powerful message. **Eyewitness Testimony** is central, as the phrase "all the people saw him" establishes the credibility and undeniable nature of the miracle. This collective witness leaves no room for skepticism regarding the man's transformation. Furthermore, there is a clear **Juxtaposition** between the man's former state of lameness and his new reality of walking and praising. This stark contrast highlights the magnitude of the divine intervention. The verse also uses **Emphasis** through repetition of the idea of public observation and the man's outward actions (walking, praising), reinforcing the impact and visibility of the event. The man's actions serve as a **Symbolism** of spiritual liberation and the natural response of a heart transformed by God's grace, moving from a state of spiritual paralysis to vibrant, active worship.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The public witnessing of the healed man walking and praising God in Acts 3:9 is profoundly significant. It underscores the biblical principle that genuine divine intervention produces undeniable evidence, intended not merely for individual benefit but for corporate witness and the glorification of God. Miracles in the New Testament often serve as "signs" (σημεῖα, _sēmeia_) that authenticate the message and the messenger, drawing attention to God's power and validating the claims made about Jesus Christ. The man's immediate and public praise demonstrates that a true encounter with God's grace should naturally lead to a joyful and outward expression of worship, directing all glory back to the divine source. This event is a powerful demonstration of God's active presence in the early church, confirming the authority of the apostles and preparing the hearts of the people to receive the gospel message.

* [John 9:1-3](/john/9-1-3 "John 9:1-3 - Jesus Heals the Man Born Blind")
* [Luke 17:15-16](/luke/17-15-16 "Luke 17:15-16 - The Grateful Samaritan Leper")
* [Isaiah 35:6](/isaiah/35-6 "Isaiah 35:6 - The Lame Will Leap Like a Deer")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Acts 3:9 offers a compelling model for believers today, emphasizing the profound connection between experiencing God's power and offering public praise. Just as the formerly lame man's transformation was undeniable and led to immediate worship, our own lives, when touched by God's grace, should bear visible fruit that testifies to His goodness. This verse challenges us to consider how openly and joyfully we acknowledge God's work in our lives, whether it be through physical healing, spiritual transformation, or daily provision. Our transformed lives, marked by gratitude and active worship, become powerful witnesses to a watching world, drawing attention not to ourselves but to the God who performs wonders. It reminds us that true faith is not a private matter but often manifests in public declarations of God's glory, inspiring others and validating the truth of the gospel.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways has God's power been evident in your life, and how have you responded with praise?**
* **How can your personal experiences of God's grace serve as a public witness to others, just as the healed man's actions did?**
* **What does "praising God" look like in your daily life, and is it a spontaneous, joyful expression of gratitude?**

### FAQ
**Why is it significant that "all the people saw him" walking and praising God?**

Answer: The phrase "all the people saw him" is crucial because it establishes the public and undeniable nature of the miracle. In a culture where signs and wonders were often scrutinized, having a large, diverse group of eyewitnesses to the healing of a man known to be lame from birth left no room for doubt or deception. This widespread public verification authenticated the miracle, validated the apostles' ministry, and created a powerful platform for Peter's subsequent sermon, making the crowd receptive to the message about Jesus Christ. It ensured that the event was not a private claim but a publicly observable fact.

**Why did the man immediately begin "praising God" publicly?**

Answer: The man's immediate and public praise was a spontaneous overflow of profound gratitude and joy for his miraculous healing. His response was a natural, uninhibited expression of worship, attributing the divine intervention directly to God. This act of praise also served as a powerful testimony to the onlookers, directing their attention to the divine source of the healing rather than merely the apostles. It aligns with biblical patterns where those who experience God's mighty acts respond with adoration, as seen when Jesus healed the paralytic, and the crowd "glorified God" ([Luke 5:25-26](/luke/5-25-26 "Luke 5:25-26 - The Paralytic Healed")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The healing of the lame man and his subsequent public praise in Acts 3:9 finds its ultimate fulfillment and deeper meaning in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While this miracle was performed through the apostles, it was done "in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth" ([Acts 3:6](/acts/3-6 "Acts 3:6 - Peter Heals the Lame Man in Jesus' Name")), demonstrating that the power resided not in Peter and John, but in the resurrected Christ. Jesus himself performed countless physical healings during His earthly ministry, often eliciting praise and wonder from the crowds, as when He healed the paralytic and the people "glorified God" ([Matthew 9:6-8](/matthew/9-6-8 "Matthew 9:6-8 - Jesus Heals a Paralytic")). More profoundly, Christ's work extends beyond physical healing to offer the ultimate spiritual healing from the paralysis of sin. Just as the lame man was given the ability to walk and praise, Christ frees humanity from spiritual bondage, enabling us to "walk in newness of life" ([Romans 6:4](/romans/6-4 "Romans 6:4 - Walking in Newness of Life")) and to offer true worship to God. The man's leaping and praising foreshadow the eternal joy and worship that will be offered to the Lamb of God, who through His sacrifice, has made it possible for all who believe to be spiritually restored and to stand before God in perfect health, praising Him forever ([Revelation 5:12-13](/revelation/5-12-13 "Revelation 5:12-13 - Worthy is the Lamb")).

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 4:16

Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them [is] manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny [it].

Mark 2:11

I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

Mark 2:12

And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

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 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.

Luke 13:17

And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.