“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;”
at the Gate called Beautiful. Now a beggar, crippled from birth, was being carried there. He was placed each day at the gate of the temple to beg from those going into the temple courts — the Beautiful Gate (gate of Nicanor) is the main entrance to the temple where almsgiving occurs. The man's condition (chlōlos, lame, limping, unable to walk) from birth (ek koilias metras, from his mother's womb) is congenital and irreversible by human means. Daily placement at the gate for almsgiving shows systematic dependence on charity; his affliction has defined his entire life.
Church Fathers on 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. Acts 3:2 He sought to receive alms, and he did not know who the men were. Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him, with John, said, Look on us. (v. 3, 4.) Yet, not even so were the man's thoughts elevated, but he persisted in…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a reflection on this verse
No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!