Acts 3

Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

1Peter and John went up to the temple to pray. It was three in the afternoon.

Note"The ninth hour" means about three in the afternoon. People then counted the hours from sunrise.

2And 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;

2A man there had never been able to walk. He was born that way. Every day people carried him to a temple gate called Beautiful. There he asked people for money.

3Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.

3He saw Peter and John about to go in. He asked them for money.

4And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

4Peter looked right at him, and John did too. Peter said, "Look at us!"

5And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

5So the man looked at them. He thought they were going to give him something.

6Then 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.

6Peter said, "I have no silver or gold. But I will give you what I do have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"

7And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

7Peter took him by the right hand and helped him up. Right away his feet and ankles grew strong.

8And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

8He jumped up and stood on his feet. Then he walked into the temple with them. He walked and jumped and thanked God out loud.

9And all the people saw him walking and praising God:

9All the people saw him walking and thanking God.

10And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.

10They knew he was the man who used to beg at the Beautiful Gate. They were full of wonder at what had happened to him.

11And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.

11The healed man stayed close to Peter and John. All the people were amazed. They ran to them in the covered walkway called Solomon's Porch.

12And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

12Peter saw this and said to them, "Men of Israel, why are you surprised? Why do you stare at us? We did not make this man walk by our own power or goodness."

13The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.

13"The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has honored his servant Jesus. You handed Jesus over and said you did not want him. You did this in front of Pilate, the Roman ruler, even though he wanted to let Jesus go."

NoteThe King James Bible says "his Son" here. The old Greek word means "servant," and that is how newer Bibles say it.

14But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;

14"You said no to the Holy and Good One. You asked for a killer to be set free instead."

15And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

15"You killed the one who gives life. But God raised him from the dead. We saw it, and we are telling you it is true."

Note"Prince of life" is not about being a king. It means the one who starts life and gives it.

16And 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.

16"The name of Jesus made this man strong. You see him and you know him. Trusting in Jesus made him completely well, right in front of you all."

17And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.

17"Now, my brothers, I know you did not understand what you were doing. Your leaders did not understand either."

18But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.

18"Long ago God spoke through all his prophets. Prophets were people who told others what God said. God said his chosen King would suffer. That is just what happened."

19Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

19"So be sorry for your sins and turn back to God. Then your sins will be wiped away. Times of rest will come from the Lord."

20And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:

20"And God will send you Jesus, the King he chose. He is the one you were told about before."

21Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

21"Jesus must stay in heaven until the time comes to make everything right again. God said this long ago through his holy prophets."

22For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.

22"Moses told our fathers, 'The Lord your God will send you a prophet like me. He will come from among your own people. Listen to everything he tells you.'"

23And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.

23"'Anyone who will not listen to that prophet will be cut off from God's people.'"

24Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.

24"Samuel and all the prophets after him spoke about these days too."

25Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

25"You belong to the family of the prophets. You also belong to the promise God made with our fathers. God told Abraham, 'Through your family, every family on earth will be blessed.'"

26Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

26"God raised up his servant Jesus. He sent him to you first, to bless you. He blesses you by turning each of you away from your wrong ways."