Peter and John Healing the Cripple at the Gate of the Temple

Rembrandt · 1659
National Gallery of Art, Washington

One of Rembrandt’s last etchings, dated 1659. He sets the scene at a gate of a huge temple of towers and columns; through the arch, a crowd fills a courtyard with broad steps and a cloud of smoke rises.

The lame man sits on the ground before them. Peter stretches out his hand toward him, and John stands quietly beside.

From the text

A man lame from birth at the temple gate called Beautiful (Acts 3:2)

“Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you” (Acts 3:6)

Peter and John going up at the hour of prayer (Acts 3:1)

The artist’s own

A temple of towers, columns and domes seen through a great arch

Onlookers in rich robes and hats at the gate

Details

The lame man

He sits on the ground, seen from behind, a small jug beside him.

Peter

Peter, bald and bearded, holds out his hand.

John

John, with long hair, stands beside him.

The temple court

Beyond the arch, a crowd on wide steps.

Rembrandt van Rijn, Dutch, 1606–1669. National Gallery of Art, Washington (Rosenwald Collection, 1943.3.7151) · Etching, drypoint and burin · NGA Open Access: "Images of these works are available free of charge for any use, commercial or non-commercial, under Creative Commons Zero (CC0)." (NGA open data: published_images.csv openaccess = 1)

The verses

Acts 3:1–7One afternoon Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those entering the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked directly at him, as did John. “Look at us!” said Peter. So the man gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!” Taking him by the right hand, Peter helped him up, and at once the man’s feet and ankles were made strong.