Peter and John encountered a man who had been lame for over forty years sitting at the Beautiful Gate of the temple begging. Peter told him, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6). This miracle gave occasion for the second recorded sermon of Peter. He first explained that it was by the authority, or power of Jesus Christ that the lame man had been healed, and then he explained that their mistreatment of Jesus could be forgiven if they would repent and turn to God.

He reminded them that God had glorified His Servant whom they denied and delivered up, although Pilate wanted to release Him. They denied the just and Holy One and asked for a murderer to be released. They had killed the Prince of life but God raised Him to life. In addition to their testimony,  standing before them was one who had received something that money could not buy. His physical healing was through the Of the man whom they had judged worthy of death, but God had reversed their verdict.

Spiritually, they were laying outside God’s temple weak, helpless and hopeless and also needed something that money could not buy. It seems that Peter felt sympathy for their predicament and said “I know that you did it in ignorance, as also your rulers” (v. 17). Ignorance did not excuse their sin and they needed to “repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).

As they marveled over the physical healing of a man who had been lame for over forty years, but now stood before them whole, they could also experience a spiritual wholeness because “God having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities” (Acts 3:26).