Acts 3:1

King James Version (KJV)

Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

Peter and John went up together - The words επι το αυτο, which we translate together, and which are the first words in this chapter in the Greek text, we have already seen, Acts 2:47, are added by several MSS. and versions to the last verse of the preceding chapter. But they do not make so good a sense there as they do here; and should be translated, not together, which really makes no sense here, but at that time; intimating that this transaction occurred nearly about the same time that those took place which are mentioned at the close of the former chapter.

At the hour of prayer - This, as is immediately added, was the ninth hour, which answers, in a general way, to our three o'clock in the afternoon. The third hour, which was the other grand time of public prayer among the Jews, answered, in a general way, to our nine in the morning. See the note on Acts 2:15.

It appears that there were three hours of the day destined by the Jews to public prayer; perhaps they are referred to by David, Psalm 55:17; : Evening and Morning, and at Noon, will I pray and cry aloud. There are three distinct times marked in the book of the Acts. The Third hour, Acts 2:15, answering, as we have already seen, to nearly our nine o'clock in the morning; the Sixth hour, Acts 10:9, answering to about twelve with us; and the Ninth hour, mentioned in this verse, and answering to our three in the afternoon.

The rabbins believed that Abraham instituted the time of morning prayer; Isaac, that at noon; and Jacob, that of the evening: for which they quote several scriptures, which have little reference to the subject in behalf of which they are produced. Others of the rabbins, particularly Tanchum, made a more natural division. Men should pray,

When the sun rises;

when the sun has gained the meridian;

when the sun has set, or passed just under the horizon.

At each of these three times they required men to offer prayer to God; and I should be glad to know that every Christian in the universe observed the same rule: it is the most natural division of the day; and he who conscientiously observes these three stated times of prayer will infallibly grow in grace, and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord.

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Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

Peter and John went up … - In Luke 24:53, it is said that the apostles were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. From Acts 2:46, it is clear that all the disciples were accustomed daily to resort to the temple for devotion. Whether they joined in the sacrifices of the temple-service is not said; but the thing is not improbable. This was the place and the manner in which they and their fathers had worshipped. They came slowly to the conclusion that they were to leave the temple, and they would naturally resort there with their countrymen to worship the God of their fathers. In the previous chapter Acts 2:43 we are told in general that many wonders and signs were done by the hands of the apostles. From the many miracles which were performed, Luke selects one of which he gives a more full account, and especially as it gives him occasion to record another of the addresses of Peter to the Jews. An impostor would have been satisfied with the general statement that many miracles were performed. The sacred writers descend to particulars, and tell us where, and in relation to whom, they were performed. This is a proof that they were honest people, and did not intend to deceive.

Into the temple - Not into the edifice properly called the temple, but into the court of the temple, where prayer was accustomed to be made. See the notes on Matthew 21:12.

At the hour of prayer … - The Jewish day was divided into twelve equal parts; of course, the ninth hour would be about three o‘clock p. m. This was the hour of evening prayer. Morning prayer was offered at nine o‘clock. Compare Psalm 55:17; Daniel 6:10.

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Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

The apostles and the first believers attended the temple worship at the hours of prayer. Peter and John seem to have been led by a Divine direction, to work a miracle on a man above forty years old, who had been a cripple from his birth. Peter, in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, bade him rise up and walk. Thus, if we would attempt to good purpose the healing of men's souls, we must go forth in the name and power of Jesus Christ, calling on helpless sinners to arise and walk in the way of holiness, by faith in Him. How sweet the thought to our souls, that in respect to all the crippled faculties of our fallen nature, the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth can make us whole! With what holy joy and rapture shall we tread the holy courts, when God the Spirit causes us to enter therein by his strength!

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SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

1. Now. Gr. de, a word implying a logical connection with the preceding, rather than a time element. No account is given as to the interval of time that had passed since the day of Pentecost. Presumably ch. 2:42-47 summarizes a gradual progress without any striking incident, and may cover a period of several months. It is remarkable that Luke, who lays such stress on chronological data in the Gospel (Luke 3:1; 6:1), gives so few in Acts. Evidently, the Holy Spirit, who guided his pen, did not see fit to enlighten his mind on these questions of dates.

Peter and John. This coupling of the two apostles brings the narrative of the Gospels into an interesting connection with that of the Acts. These two men had long been closely associated. They had been partners as fishermen on the Sea of Galilee (see Luke 5:10). Peter with John and James had enjoyed a confidential relationships with the Lord (see Mark 5:37; 9:2; 13:3; 14:33). Peter and John had been sent together to prepare for the Passover that Jesus wished to eat with His disciples (Luke 22:8). The night of Jesus’ trial John, being known to the household of the high priest, took Peter into the high priest’s palace (John 18:15, 16). At a later time John and Peter were to be sent to help Philip in the mission to Samaria (Acts 8:14), and with James they were to approve the work done by Paul and Barnabas among the Gentiles (Gal. 2:9). Thus their appearance here is typical of the characteristic comradeship of the two apostles, Peter and John.

Went up. Rather, “were going up.” The incident to be related occurred as the two apostles were on their way into the Temple to worship.

Into the temple. Gr. hieron, which included not only the sanctuary, but also the court and the whole complex of buildings connected with the Temple (see on Matt. 4:5). The apostles were “continually in the temple, praising and blessing God” (Luke 24:53; see Acts 2:46). The Jews converted to Christianity had no church buildings in which to meet, and it had not yet occurred to them that the services of the Temple no longer had special spiritual significance for Christians.

The hour of prayer. That is, the ninth hour, about three o’clock in the afternoon (see on ch. 2:15; see Vol. V, p. 50). This was the time of the evening sacrifice (see Josephus Antiquities xiv. 4. 3 [65]). It was known both as “the hour of prayer” and as “the time of incense” (see Luke 1:9, 10). The morning and evening sacrifices were offered with incense at the third and the ninth hours of the day (about 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.), at which times the pious prayed in the courts of the Temple. A prayer at noon seems also to have been customary, at least with some (see Ps. 55:17; see on Dan. 6:10; Acts 10:9). It is known that in the 2d century a.d. a third daily prayer took place about sunset, and this may have been customary earlier. Rabbinical writings indicate that some leeway was allowed in the exact time of these prayers. The practice of praying three times a day appears in the Christian church certainly as early as the 2d century, a practice probably carried over directly from the Jewish synagogue (Didache 8). During the early 3d century three hours of prayer were observed apparently by many Christians (see Clement of Alexandria The Stromata vii. 7).

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Ellen G. White
Early Writings, 192-3

With mighty power the disciples preached a crucified and risen Saviour. Signs and wonders were wrought by them in the name of Jesus; the sick were healed; and a man who had been lame from his birth was restored to perfect soundness and entered with Peter and John into the temple, walking and leaping and praising God in the sight of all the people. The news spread, and the people began to press around the disciples. Many ran together, greatly astonished at the cure that had been wrought. EW 192.1

When Jesus died, the priests thought that no more miracles would be performed among them, that the excitement would die out and the people would again turn to the traditions of men. But lo! right among them the disciples were working miracles, and the people were filled with amazement. Jesus had been crucified, and they wondered where His followers had obtained this power. When He was alive, they thought that He imparted power to them; but when He died, they expected the miracles to cease. Peter understood their perplexity and said to them, “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? The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified His Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied Him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; and killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. And His name through faith in His name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know.” EW 192.2

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Acts 3:1