3:16a
By faith in the name of Jesus: The Greek is literally “upon faith in his name.” The Berean Standard Bible adds the phrase of Jesus to make it clear who the faith was in. This phrase refers to believing in who Jesus says he is and trusting him completely. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
on the basis of faith in His name (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
Through faith in the name of Jesus (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Through believing in Jesus
Some languages must say whose faith is referred to here. It is not clear whose faith this is.
Some English versions refer to or imply the man’s faith. For example:
You see this man, and you know him. He put his faith in the name of Jesus (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
The name of Jesus, by awakening faith (Revised English Bible)
Some English versions refer to the faith of Peter and John. For example:
We believe in the one named Jesus. (God’s Word)
You may want to follow the major language translation in your area. Or, if you must choose one of the above, choose the faith of Peter and John.
3:16b–c
this man whom you see and know has been made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Him…: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as It is Jesus’ name is literally “his name.” There are two ways to interpret how the Greek phrase connects to the rest of the words here:
(1) It is the subject of the verb made strong. For example:
his name…has made this man strong whom you see and know; and the faith which is through Jesus… (Revised Standard Version)
(Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New American Standard Bible, King James Version, English Standard Version, New American Bible, Revised Edition, NET Bible, Revised English Bible)
(2) It is the subject of the verb phrase “give…complete healing” (healed).
(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because this “his name” is the only possible candidate for the subject of the verb made strong.
3:16b
this man…has been made strong. It is Jesus’ name…: This Greek clause is literally “his name made this man strong” (see the previous note favoring interpretation (1)). The phrase “his name” refers to the name of Jesus. It indicates that the power of Jesus made the man strong. Here are some other ways to translate these words:
his name…has made this man strong (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
It was the power of his name that gave strength to this lame man. (Good News Translation)
-or-
it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man (New American Standard Bible)
made strong: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as made strong refers to taking something that does not function and making it function. Before the man’s legs did not work, but now they did. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
⌊fixed and⌋ made strong/functional
-or-
made…well (New Century Version)
-or-
made ⌊his feet/legs⌋ strong/well
whom you see and know: The phrase whom you see indicates that the people were at that very moment looking at the man. They knew that he previously was the crippled beggar.
3:16c
the faith that comes through Him that has given him this complete healing: Here Peter indicated that faith caused the man to become completely well. Combined with 3:16a–b, he indicates that both faith and power were needed for this miraculous healing.
the faith that comes through Him: The pronoun Him refers to Jesus here. As in 3:16a, it is not clear whose faith this is, the man’s or Peter’s. Translate whose faith this is in a similar way as you did in 3:16a. Here are some other ways to translate these words:
the faith which is through Jesus (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
his faith, which is through Jesus
-or-
our faith, which is through Jesus
given him this complete healing: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as complete healing is literally “wholeness.” It indicates that the man was completely healthy in every part of his body. The pronoun him refers to the man here. Here are some other ways to translate these words:
given the man this perfect health (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
made this man completely well (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
restored this man to health (New Jerusalem Bible)
3:16d
in your presence: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in your presence is literally “before all of you.” The whole crowd could see that the man was well and strong. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
as you can all see (New International Version)
-or-
as you all are seeing
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