Albert Barnes Commentary Acts 3:2

"And a certain man that was lame from his mother`s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the door of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;" — Acts 3:2 (ASV)

Lame. The mention of this shows that there was no deception in the case. The man had always been lame; he was obliged to be carried; and he was well known to the Jews.

Whom they laid daily. That is, his friends laid him there daily. He would therefore be well known to those who were in the habit of entering the temple.

Among the ancients, there were no hospitals for the afflicted; and no alms-houses for the poor. The poor were therefore dependent on the charity of those who were in better circumstances. It became an important matter for them to be placed where they would see many people. Hence, it was customary to place them at the gates of rich men (Luke 16:20), and they also sat by the side of the highway to beg where many people would pass (Mark 10:46; Luke 18:35; John 9:1–8).

The entrance to the temple would be a favourable place for begging for two reasons:

1. Great multitudes were accustomed to enter there.
2. When going up for the purposes of religion, people would be more inclined to give alms than at other times; this was especially true of the Pharisees, who were particularly desirous of publicity in bestowing charity.

It is recorded by Martial (i. 112) that this custom of placing the poor by the gates of the temples prevailed among the Romans, and the custom was also observed for a long time in Christian churches.

At the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful. Regarding this gate, there have been two opinions. One opinion suggests that this was the gate commonly called Nicanor, which led from the court of the Gentiles to the court of the women (see Barnes on Matthew 21:12). The other opinion is that it was the gate at the eastern entrance of the temple, commonly called Suzan.

It is not easy to determine which gate is intended. However, from the fact that the event occurred near Solomon’s porch (Acts 3:11; compare to the plan of the temple in Matthew 21:12), it seems probable that the latter was intended. This gate was large and splendid. It was made of Corinthian brass, a most valuable metal, and had a magnificent appearance.—Josephus, Jewish War, Book 5, Chapter 5, Section 3.

To ask alms. That is, charity.