Acts 3:7
in Acts 3Taking him by the right hand, Peter helped him up, and at once the man’s feet and ankles were made strong.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And he took him by the right hand, and raised him up: and immediately his feet and his ankle-bones received strength.
KJV
And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
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This verse in Acts 3
Commentary
13 notes on this verseThe one whom he encouraged by word he strengthed by his right hand, because the discourse of a teacher is less efficacious in the hearts of his hearers if it is not also recommended by the example of his own action.
This site's exposition
Silver or gold
on Acts 3:6-8
Peter gives what he has, the command In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth to get up and walk. The name is spoken before the power acts, and at once the man’s feet and ankles were made strong.
This site's exposition
Taking him by the right hand
Albert Barnes reads the outstretched hand as an offer of help that urged the man to make an effort. He sees in it a picture of how God aids those He commands. Oecumenius and Theophylact see in the lifting up a figure of the resurrection.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up." Such was also the way of Christ. Often He healed by word, often by an act, often also He stretched forth the hand, where men were somewhat weak in faith, that the cure might not appear to be spontaneous. "And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up." This act made manifest the Resurrection, for it was an image of the Resurrection.
Which Christ often, when healing those who are in a more imperfect state, did not only heal by word but also by touch, this now Peter likewise does. But also through "he raised him," the mystery of the resurrection is demonstrated, and so that what …
The Medieval Church3 voices
"And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up." This manner of healing pointed to the resurrection, since it was a figure of the resurrection.
And having taken his right hand, he raised him up. He who lifts another up also strengthens him with his right hand. For the word of the teacher is worth less in the hearts of the hearers if it is not also recommended by examples …
And immediately his feet and ankle bones were strengthened. The term 'bases' is Greek in origin, and it is placed thus in Greek, which in Latin means 'supports': by which term it indicates that his steps were strengthened, just as some have also translated it …
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
And he took him by the right hand,.... In imitation of Christ, whom he had often seen using the same action on such occasions: and lift him up; believing he was cured, and that it might be manifest. The word him is expressed in the Alexandrian copy, and in some others, and in the Oriental versions, which is a supplement in our translation: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength; where, it seems, his lameness lay.
He stood without either leaning or trembling, stood straight up, and walked without a staff. He trod strongly, and moved steadily; and this was to manifest the cure, and that it was a thorough cure. Note, Those who have had experience of the working of divine grace upon them should evidence what they have experienced.
), His feet and ankle bones received strength. Some such piteous cases now and then there are, which we ought to be affected with and look upon with compassion, and which are designed to show us what we all are by nature spiritually: without strength, lame from our birth, unable to work or walk in God's service.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
And he took him - He took hold of his hand. To take hold of the hand in such a ease was an offer of aid, an indication that Peter was sincere, and was an inducement to him to make an effort. This may be employed as a beautiful illustration of the manner of God when he commands people to repent and believe. He does not leave them alone; he extends help, and aids their efforts.
Immediately his feet and ancle bones received strength - The suddenness of the cure was the proof of the miracle: his walking and leaping were the evidences of it.
The words behind it
17 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| πιάσας | piasas | having taken | G4084 → | |
| αὐτὸν | auton | him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| τῆς | tes | by the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δεξιᾶς | dexias | right | G1188 → | 53 times |
| χειρὸς | cheiros | hand | G5495 → | 175 times |
| ἤγειρεν | egeiren | he raised up | G1453 → | 142 times |
| αὐτόν. | auton | him. | G846 → | 5565 times |
| παραχρῆμα | parachrema | immediately | G3916 → | 18 times |
| δὲ | de | then | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ἐστερεώθησαν | estereothesan | were strengthened | G4732 → | 3 times |
| αἱ | hai | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| βάσεις | baseis | feet | G939 → | |
| αὐτοῦ | autou | of him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τὰ | ta | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| σφυδρά, | sphudra | ankles, | G4974 → |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
πιάσαςhaving taken
piasasG4084 →
αὐτὸνhim
autonG846 →5565 times
τῆςby the
tesG3588 →19766 times
δεξιᾶςright
dexiasG1188 →53 times
χειρὸςhand
cheirosG5495 →175 times
ἤγειρενhe raised up
egeirenG1453 →142 times
αὐτόν.him.
autonG846 →5565 times
παραχρῆμαimmediately
parachremaG3916 →18 times
δὲthen
deG1161 →2765 times
ἐστερεώθησανwere strengthened
estereothesanG4732 →3 times
αἱthe
haiG3588 →19766 times
βάσειςfeet
baseisG939 →
αὐτοῦof him
autouG846 →5565 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τὰthe
taG3588 →19766 times
σφυδρά,ankles,
sphudraG4974 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Mark 5:41Taking her by the hand, Jesus said, “Talitha koum!” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”
it leads to
- Mark 1:31
So He went to her, took her by the hand, and helped her up. The fever left her, and she began to serve them.
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Luke 7:14–15
Then He went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. “Young man,” He said, “I tell you, get up!”
- Luke 8:54–55
But Jesus took her by the hand and called out, “Child, get up!”
- John 5:28–29
Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice
- Philippians 3:21
who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.
- Mark 1:31
Through
Luke 13:13Then He placed His hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and began to glorify God.
it leads to
- Psalms 107:20–22
He sent forth His word and healed them; He rescued them from the Pit.
- Mark 16:18
they will pick up snakes with their hands, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will be made well.”
- Psalms 107:20–22
Through
Mark 1:31So He went to her, took her by the hand, and helped her up. The fever left her, and she began to serve them.
it leads to
- Mark 5:41
Taking her by the hand, Jesus said, “Talitha koum!” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Mark 5:41
Where this verse is studied
About Acts
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Acts; Bede, Retractions on Acts; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 8; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Leo the Great, Commentary (church-history corpus); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.