Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer.
Parallel translations
- WEB Peter and John were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
- KJV Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
- BSB One afternoon Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
- NKJV Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
- NLT Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Peter and John went to the temple at the afternoon hour of prayer. The apostles continued faithful Jewish piety even as they led the new church.
Overview
The ninth hour (about 3 p.m.) was a recognized time of prayer tied to the evening sacrifice. The apostles' temple-going shows the early church initially worshiping within Judaism rather than apart from it. This ordinary act of devotion becomes the setting for a sign that opens the door to Peter's second great sermon and points beyond temple sacrifice to Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 23
- Ps 55:17Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress. He will hear my voice.
- Acts 10:3At about the ninth hour of the day, he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God coming to him, and saying to him, “Cornelius!”
- Acts 4:13Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled. They recognized that they had been with Jesus.
- Luke 1:10The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.
- Luke 24:53and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.
- Acts 5:25One came and told them, “Behold, the men whom you put in prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people.”
- Acts 8:14Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,
- Dan 6:10When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his room toward Jerusalem) and he kneeled on his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did before.
- John 20:2–9Therefore she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have laid him!”
- Acts 2:46Day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart,
- Matt 17:1After six days, Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain by themselves.
- John 21:7That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he wrapped his coat around him (for he was naked), and threw himself into the sea.
- John 13:23–25One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was at the table, leaning against Jesus’ breast.
- Matt 26:37He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and severely troubled.
- Dan 9:21yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening offering.
- Luke 23:44–46It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour.
- Luke 22:8He sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.”
- 1 Kgs 18:36At the time of the evening offering, Elijah the prophet came near, and said, “Yahweh, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word.
- Acts 10:30Cornelius said, “Four days ago, I was fasting until this hour, and at the ninth hour, I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
- John 21:18–22Most certainly I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself, and walked where you wanted to. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you, and carry you where you don’t want to go.”
- Exod 29:39The one lamb you shall offer in the morning; and the other lamb you shall offer at evening:
- Num 28:4You shall offer the one lamb in the morning, and you shall offer the other lamb at evening;
- Gal 2:9and when they perceived the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, they who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcision.
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 3:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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