And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse subtly highlights the daily ritual of the man's begging, emphasizing his lifelong, ingrained helplessness. It shows how his identity became tied to his condition and his location, making his sudden healing all the more astonishing and undeniable.
And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Peter and John are heading to the temple for the afternoon prayer service when they encounter a man who has been lame his entire life. He's regularly brought to the opulent Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg for money from worshipers passing by. This encounter sets the stage for an extraordinary demonstration of divine power that will deeply impact the early Christian community.
Imagine waking up every single day with the same, unchanging reality: you can't walk. Your entire existence depends on others. Where do you find yourself day after day?
This man's lameness wasn't just a temporary ailment; it was from birth. He was entirely dependent on others to be carried and placed daily at the temple gate.
Why the temple gate? This wasn't just any doorway, but a place filled with religious activity. What spiritual implications did this location hold for the man, and for those who passed by?
The Beautiful Gate wasn't merely an architectural feature; it was a specific, significant location. Scholars suggest it was a grand, ornately decorated gate, possibly the Nicanor Gate or the eastern gate leading to the inner court.
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Understand the original words
cholos · Greek Adjective
A condition involving physical disability or inability to walk; biblically, it often serves as a symbol of spiritual brokenness, dependency, or the limitations of human effort apart from divine restoration.
eleemosune · Greek Noun
Gifts of material assistance given to the poor as an act of mercy, justice, and religious duty. In biblical ethics, providing for the needy is viewed as an act of worship and obedience to God’s command to care for the vulnerable.
c. 20 BC - 10 BC
Herod the Great Rebuilds the Temple
King Herod the Great begins a massive renovation and expansion of the Second Temple complex in Jerusalem, a project that would take decades to complete.
c. 10 BC— this verse
Construction of the Beautiful Gate
The magnificent Beautiful Gate, likely made of Corinthian brass and exceptionally ornate, is constructed as part of Herod's Temple complex. This gate served as a major entrance, possibly leading to the inner courts.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus Christ is crucified in Jerusalem and, according to Christian belief, resurrected three days later. This event marks the beginning of the early Christian movement.
c. AD 30-33
Early Days of the Jerusalem Church
Following Jesus' ascension, his followers gather in Jerusalem, experiencing the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit and beginning to preach his message.
c. AD 33
The Healing at the Beautiful Gate
Peter and John, on their way to the temple for the afternoon prayer, encounter a man lame from birth at the Beautiful Gate and miraculously heal him in the name of Jesus.
This passage describes a man blind from birth, who, like the lame man in Acts, was a perpetual beggar placed in a prominent location, highlighting the consistent societal issue of disability and poverty in biblical times.
Luke 16:20The story of Lazarus, a beggar placed at a rich man's gate, parallels the lame man's situation, illustrating the stark contrast between wealth and poverty and the common practice of begging near places of influence or wealth.
Isaiah 35:6This prophetic passage foretells a time when the lame will leap and the mute will sing, offering a spiritual context for the miraculous healing that occurs later in Acts 3, pointing to God's ultimate restoration.
Zechariah 8:4This prophecy speaks of old men and old women sitting in the streets of Jerusalem, a vision of peace and restoration that can be seen as echoing the scene of people gathered in public spaces, though in Acts it's for alms rather than peace.
calvinActs 3:1-11: "Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour."
- Now, [or almost at that time,] Peter and John went up together into the temple, about the ninth hour of prayer. 2. Furthermore, a certain man, which was lame from his mother's womb, was carried; whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, that he might ask alms of those which entered into the temple. 3. When he saw Peter and John draw near to the templ…
meyerActs 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;"
Acts 3:2 . Χωλὸς ἐκ κοιλ . μητρ .] born lame . Comp. Acts 14:8 ; John 9:1 . And he was above forty years old, Acts 4:22 . The imperfect ἐβαστάζετο , he was being brought , denotes the action in reference to the simultaneous ἀνέβαινον , Acts 3:1 ; and ἐτίθουν , its daily repetition . τὴν λεγομ . ὡραίαν ]…
This verse subtly highlights the daily ritual of the man's begging, emphasizing his lifelong, ingrained helplessness. It shows how his identity became tied to his condition and his location, making his sudden healing all the more astonishing and undeniable.
Peter and John are heading to the temple for the afternoon prayer service when they encounter a man who has been lame his entire life. He's regularly brought to the opulent Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg for money from worshipers passing by. This encounter sets the stage for an extraordinary demonstration of divine power that will deeply impact the early Christian community.
Peter and John are heading to the temple for the afternoon prayer service when they encounter a man who has been lame his entire life. He's regularly brought to the opulent Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg for money from worshipers passing by. This encounter sets the stage for an extraordinary demonstration of divine power that will deeply impact the early Christian community.
"And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple." — This verse subtly highlights the daily ritual of the man's begging, emphasizing his lifelong, ingrained helplessness. It shows how his identity became tied to his condition and his location, making…
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Last reviewed October 2026