Acts 4:22

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

For {G1063} the man {G444} was {G2258} above {G4119} forty {G5062} years old {G2094}, on {G1909} whom {G3739} this {G5124} miracle {G4592} of healing {G2392} was shewed {G1096}.

Complete Jewish Bible

since the man who had been miraculously healed was more than forty years old.

Berean Standard Bible

For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

American Standard Version

For the man was more than forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was wrought.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Acts 4:22 provides a crucial detail regarding the miraculous healing of the lame man at the Beautiful Gate, emphasizing his advanced age of over forty years. This seemingly simple detail serves to underscore the undeniable nature and profound impact of the miracle, validating the apostles' message and leaving the Jewish authorities without a credible counter-argument against the divine power at work through Peter and John.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within the narrative of Peter and John's arrest and subsequent interrogation by the Sanhedrin, as recorded in [Acts 4](/acts/4 "Acts 4 - Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin"). The healing of the lame man, detailed in [Acts 3:1-10](/acts/3-1-10 "Acts 3:1-10 - The Healing at the Beautiful Gate"), served as the immediate catalyst for their apprehension. Following Peter's powerful sermon in [Acts 3:11-26](/acts/3-11-26 "Acts 3:11-26 - Peter's Second Sermon"), the religious authorities, particularly the Sadducees who denied the resurrection, were greatly disturbed by the apostles' bold proclamation of Jesus' resurrection and the accompanying signs. Acts 4:22 acts as a parenthetical explanation, providing a critical piece of evidence that solidifies the irrefutability of the miracle, directly influencing the Sanhedrin's dilemma in [Acts 4:16](/acts/4-16 "Acts 4:16 - The Sanhedrin's Dilemma").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is Jerusalem, specifically the Temple precincts and the Sanhedrin's chambers. The Sanhedrin was the supreme Jewish judicial and administrative council, composed of chief priests (mostly Sadducees), elders, and scribes (mostly Pharisees). The Sadducees, a prominent group among the Jewish elite, rejected the concept of a bodily resurrection, angels, and spirits, which put them in direct theological conflict with the apostles' message of Jesus' resurrection. The man's long-term lameness would have been publicly known to many who frequented the Temple, where he begged daily (cf. [Acts 3:2](/acts/3-2 "Acts 3:2 - The Lame Man at the Temple Gate")). His age of "above forty years old" would have signified a condition of chronic, incurable disability, making his instantaneous healing an extraordinary event that defied natural explanation and was impossible to dismiss as a mere trick or psychosomatic cure.
* **Key Themes:** Acts 4:22 contributes significantly to several key themes within the book of Acts. Firstly, it highlights the **undeniable evidence** of God's power at work through the apostles. The man's age ensures that his healing was not a minor or recent ailment but a lifelong, well-known condition, making the miracle irrefutable and publicly verifiable. This irrefutability is explicitly acknowledged by the Sanhedrin in [Acts 4:16](/acts/4-16 "Acts 4:16 - The Sanhedrin's Acknowledgment"). Secondly, the verse underscores the **validation of the Gospel message**. The miracle serves as a powerful "sign" (Greek: *semeion*) that authenticates the apostles' claims about Jesus' resurrection and His ongoing power, demonstrating divine approval for their ministry. Thirdly, it powerfully illustrates the **sovereignty and transformative power of God**, demonstrating that the early church's ministry was accompanied by supernatural manifestations that confirmed the truth of their message, even in the face of intense opposition (cf. [Acts 2:43](/acts/2-43 "Acts 2:43 - Signs and Wonders in the Early Church")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **gár (Greek, _gár'_):** This particle, translated "For," introduces a causal explanation. It signals that the following statement ("the man was above forty years old") provides the reason or justification for the preceding assertion, which is the undeniable nature of the miracle and the Sanhedrin's inability to refute it. It underscores the logical connection between the man's age and the miracle's impact.
* **pleíōn (Greek, _pleíōn'_):** Translated "above" or "more," this comparative adjective emphasizes the significant duration of the man's affliction. "Above forty years old" is not just "forty" but *more* than forty, highlighting the severity and chronicity of his lameness. This detail amplifies the miraculous nature of his healing, as a condition of such long standing would be considered utterly hopeless by natural means.
* **gínomai (Greek, _gínomai'_):** This verb, translated "was shewed" or "came to be," denotes the occurrence or happening of the miracle. It emphasizes the *event* of the healing, that it "came into being" or "occurred" to this specific individual. The use of this verb highlights the dynamic and active nature of the divine intervention, not merely a static state but a powerful, transformative action.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For the man was above forty years old":** This clause provides the critical evidentiary detail. The man's age is specified to establish the long-term, congenital, and therefore undeniable nature of his lameness. It eliminates any possibility of the healing being a temporary remission, a psychosomatic effect, or a staged event, as his condition was well-known and of significant duration.
* **"on whom this miracle":** This phrase directly links the man to the specific act of divine power. The demonstrative "this" points to the widely observed and discussed event at the Beautiful Gate. The term "miracle" (Greek: *sēmeîon*, "sign") signifies that the event was not merely a wonder but an act of God intended to point to a deeper spiritual truth and validate the apostles' message.
* **"of healing was shewed":** This final part describes the specific nature of the miracle – a complete restoration of physical health. The passive voice "was shewed" (or "came to pass") emphasizes that the healing was not self-generated but was an action performed upon the man, by an external, divine power, reinforcing the idea that God was the agent of this extraordinary event.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs **Emphasis** through the specific detail of the man's age ("above forty years old"). This numerical specificity is not arbitrary; it serves to heighten the impact and irrefutability of the miracle. By stating his age, Luke, the author, underscores the chronic and well-known nature of the man's disability, making his instantaneous healing all the more astonishing and impossible for the Sanhedrin to deny. Furthermore, the use of the term *semeîon* (sign) for "miracle" is a form of **Symbolism**, as the physical healing of the lame man symbolizes the spiritual healing and restoration that Jesus offers to all who believe. It is a tangible manifestation of the invisible power of God, pointing to the greater spiritual realities of the Gospel. There is also an element of **Narrative Irony** in the Sanhedrin's predicament: despite their power and authority, the undeniable evidence of the miracle (highlighted by the man's age) renders them helpless to suppress the apostles' message, forcing them to acknowledge the "notable miracle" in [Acts 4:16](/acts/4-16 "Acts 4:16 - The Sanhedrin's Concession").

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Acts 4:22 profoundly illustrates the principle that God often validates His truth and the ministry of His servants through tangible, undeniable demonstrations of His power. The age of the healed man served as a public, irrefutable testimony to the authenticity of the miracle, leaving no room for doubt or dismissal by the authorities. This reflects a consistent biblical pattern where divine power accompanies divine revelation, providing external confirmation for internal conviction. It underscores that the Gospel is not merely a philosophy but a living, dynamic power that transforms lives and defies human limitations, serving as a powerful witness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

* [John 3:2](/john/3-2 "John 3:2 - Nicodemus Acknowledges Jesus' Signs")
* [Hebrews 2:3-4](/hebrews/2-3-4 "Hebrews 2:3-4 - God's Confirmation of Salvation")
* [Mark 16:20](/mark/16-20 "Mark 16:20 - The Lord Working with Them")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Acts 4:22 serves as a powerful reminder that God's truth is often accompanied by undeniable evidence, whether in the form of miraculous interventions or the profound, transformative power of the Gospel in individual lives. Just as the lame man's healing was a public, verifiable testament to God's power, our lives, transformed by Christ, can serve as compelling witnesses to the reality of His work. This verse encourages believers to live with confidence in the truth of the Gospel, knowing that it is not based on human wisdom or persuasion alone, but on the demonstrable power of God. When we face opposition or skepticism, we can rest in the assurance that God is able to provide the necessary validation for His message, often through the very lives of those He has touched. It challenges us to consider how our own lives reflect the transformative power of God and how we might boldly share the truth of Christ, trusting that His power stands behind His message.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways does God provide "undeniable evidence" of His presence and power in the world today?**
* **How does the transformation in your own life serve as a "miracle of healing" that points others to Christ?**
* **What specific challenges do you face in sharing your faith, and how can the boldness of Peter and John, rooted in undeniable truth, encourage you?**

### FAQ

**Why is the man's age (above forty years old) specifically mentioned in this verse?**

Answer: The man's age is a crucial detail mentioned to emphasize the undeniable and chronic nature of his lameness. Since he was "above forty years old" and had been lame from birth ([Acts 3:2](/acts/3-2 "Acts 3:2 - Lame from Birth")), his condition was not a recent ailment or a minor disability but a lifelong, well-known, and seemingly incurable affliction. This detail made his instantaneous healing profoundly miraculous and publicly verifiable, leaving no room for the Jewish authorities to dismiss it as a trick, a temporary remission, or a psychosomatic cure. It served as irrefutable evidence that a genuine divine intervention had occurred, validating the apostles' message about Jesus' power.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Acts 4:22, while detailing a physical healing, ultimately points to the greater spiritual healing found in Jesus Christ. The lame man's lifelong inability to walk symbolizes humanity's spiritual paralysis and inability to approach God on its own terms, a condition inherited from the fall (cf. [Romans 3:10-12](/romans/3-10-12 "Romans 3:10-12 - None is Righteous")). Just as the man was healed by the power of Jesus' name, so too are believers spiritually healed and made whole through faith in the crucified and resurrected Christ. The miracle at the Beautiful Gate, performed through Peter and John, foreshadows the ultimate work of Christ, who came "to seek and to save the lost" ([Luke 19:10](/luke/19-10 "Luke 19:10 - Jesus Came to Save the Lost")). His atoning sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection provide the complete and final remedy for humanity's spiritual brokenness, enabling us to walk in newness of life (cf. [Romans 6:4](/romans/6-4 "Romans 6:4 - Walking in Newness of Life")) and enter into the presence of God. The physical sign of healing served to authenticate the message of the One who offers the ultimate and eternal healing of the soul, a healing that transcends physical limitations and brings reconciliation with God (cf. [2 Corinthians 5:18-19](/2_corinthians/5-18-19 "2 Corinthians 5:18-19 - Ministry of Reconciliation")).

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 9:33

And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.

John 5:5

And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

Matthew 9:20

And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind [him], and touched the hem of his garment:

Luke 13:11

And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up [herself].

John 9:1

¶ And as [Jesus] passed by, he saw a man which was blind from [his] birth.

Acts 3:2

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;