Artwork Information

This was one of final etchings that Rembrandt undertook, and the last depicting a biblical subject. The scene comes from Acts 3 in the Bible, which tells the story of a man, lame since birth, who each day collected alms at the entrance to the temple. Encountering the man, Peter told the man to look upon him and John, and then took his hand and told him in the name of Jesus Christ to walk, which he proceeded to do.

Only the first part of this story is directly recorded in the etching, showing Peter and John meeting the man at the temple gate. The scene does however allude to events to come by the placement of two well-dressed men at the left side of the print, who appear to be surreptitiously eavesdropping on the unfolding scene. It is these figures presumably who later report Peter and John to the priests and the captain of the temple.

Jane davidson - 2004