Bible Strands
Acts 3:12
And when Peter saw this, he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why are you surprised by this? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Peter addresses the astonished crowd gathered in Solomon’s Colonnade immediately after a lame man begins walking. He directs his question specifically to the "Men of Israel" to correct their misdirected awe at the apostles.
The words — The Greek ἀπεκρίνατο (apekrinato) literally means "answered," marking Peter’s direct response to the crowd’s reaction. The term λαὸν (laon) translates directly to "people," identifying the immediate audience of his rebuke.
The thread — The text explicitly denies human agency in the miracle, a theme that runs into 2 Corinthians 3:5, which denies self-generated competence, and John 3:27, which limits reception to what heaven provides. This stands in direct contrast to the crowd’s reaction in Acts 14:11, where they mistakenly attribute the miracle to the apostles themselves.
Why it lands — The verse plainly states that the walking was not accomplished by the apostles' power or godliness, requiring the reader to reject human attribution of divine works. It demands a shift of focus from the messengers to the source of their authority.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And 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?
Cross-references
- 2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God.
- John 3:27 John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.
- Acts 14:11 When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices in the Lycaonian language: “The gods have come down to us in human form!”
- Genesis 41:16 “I myself cannot do it,” Joseph replied, “but God will give Pharaoh a sound answer.”
- Daniel 2:28 But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the latter days. Your dream and the visions that came into your mind as you lay on your bed were these:
- Acts 2:22 Men of Israel, listen to this message: Jesus of Nazareth was a man certified by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know.
- Acts 10:25 As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet to worship him.
- Romans 9:4 the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory and the covenants; theirs the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises.
- Genesis 40:8 “We both had dreams,” they replied, “but there is no one to interpret them.” Then Joseph said to them, “Don’t interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”
- John 7:18 He who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory, but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is a man of truth; in Him there is no falsehood.