Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.

He, when he had seen Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked to receive an alms.

who, seeing Peter and John about to enter into the temple, asked to receive alms.

who, having seen Peter and John about to go into the temple, was begging to receive a kindness.

He then, seeing Peter and John going into the Temple, made a request to them.

And this man, when he had seen Peter and John beginning to enter the temple, was begging, so that he might receive alms.

Seeing Peter and John on the point of entering, he asked them to give him something.

He asketh an alms. We see how God restored this lame man to his limbs contrary to his expectation. Because he thought that his disease was incurable, he was only careful for maintenance. That is given him which he durst never have asked. In like sort God doth oftentimes prevent us, neither doth he stay until he be provoked. [1] And hence can we not gather any occasion of slothfulness, as if the Lord did therefore meet us of his own accord, that being idle and slothful we may suffer the Lord to do good unto us. For we are commanded to pray, and therefore let us not foreslow [neglect] our duty. [2] But, first of all, under the person of the lame man, we have set before us an example of a man that is not yet illuminated by faith, that he may know how to pray aright. Such doth God prevent, as it is needful, even of his own accord. Therefore, when as he restoreth our souls not only to health, but also to life, he himself is to himself the cause hereof. For this is the beginning of our calling, that he may make those things to be which are not; that he may show himself unto those who seek not after him, (Romans 4:17.) Furthermore, howsoever we be already taught by faith to pray unto God, yet, because we do not always feel our miseries, it cometh not into our mind to seek for remedy; therefore the Lord bringeth the same freely and unlooked for. Finally, howsoever we be bent to pray, yet doth he exceed our hope and petitions with his goodness.

Footnotes

1 - "A nobis povocetur," until he is urged by us.

2 - "Partes nostras non omittamus," let us not omit our part.

Who, seeing Peter - There is no evidence that he was acquainted with them or knew who they were. He asked of them as he was accustomed to do of the multitude that entered the temple.

Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple,.... Just as they were entering through the gate at which he lay, he looked at them; and though they were strangers to him, he concluded they were Israelites by their going into the temple at that time:
asked an alms; of them; prayed them to give him something for his relief and support.