Why did Peter say, "I have no silver and gold"? Study Acts 3 with context, apologetic analysis, and cross-references.
Dr. Lucas D. Shallua Commentary · Acts 3
Peter had no money to give the lame man. But he had something far greater: the name of Jesus. The healing was not purchased with silver or gold. It came through faith in the name of Jesus. The gospel is not about material wealth; it is about spiritual power. The King gives what money cannot buy.
Yes. Isaiah 35:6 says, "Then shall the lame man leap like a deer." The healing of the lame man is a fulfillment of that prophecy. The Messianic age is marked by the healing of the lame, the blind, the deaf, and the mute. Jesus began this ministry, and the apostles continue it. The King brings wholeness.
The Greek word archēgos means "author, founder, prince, leader." Jesus is the source and origin of life. He is the one through whom all things were created. He is the one who gives eternal life. To kill the Author of life is the ultimate tragedy. But God raised Him from the dead. The King is the source of life.
The times of refreshing are the seasons of spiritual renewal and revival that come from the presence of the Lord. They are the result of repentance and faith. The Spirit brings refreshment to the weary soul. The King refreshes His people.
The restoration of all things is the final consummation of the kingdom, when God will make all things new. The Greek word apokatastasis means "restoration, restitution." It is the time when Christ returns, the dead are raised, and the new heavens and new earth are established. The King will restore all things.
The Prophet like Moses is Jesus. Moses spoke face to face with God. Jesus is the greater Moses, the one who reveals the Father. To reject Jesus is to reject the Prophet. The King is the final revelation of God.
Chapter 2 ended with the birth of the church, the devotion of the believers, and daily additions to their number. Now Peter and John go up to the temple at the hour of prayer. The setting is the temple courts, specifically the gate called Beautiful. The healing of the lame man is the first recorded miracle after Pentecost. It demonstrates that the apostolic power is real and that the Spirit is working through the apostles. The chapter contains Peter's second sermon, which follows the same pattern as the first: the death and resurrection of Jesus, the call to repentance, and the promise of blessing.
Some critics argue that the healing of the lame man is a legendary embellishment. But the narrative is deeply rooted in historical detail. The temple gate called Beautiful, the hour of prayer, the man lame from birth, the crowd's reaction, and the portico of Solomon are all historically plausible. The most plausible explanation is that it preserves genuine historical memory. The sermon of Peter is also historically significant. It follows the same pattern as the first sermon: the death and resurrection of Jesus, the call to repentance, and the promise of blessing. The use of Deuteronomy 18 and the Abrahamic covenant is consistent with the apostolic interpretation of the Old Testament. The most plausible explanation is that Peter actually preached this sermon, and Luke recorded it accurately.
This study preserves the hard questions, explanations, context, apologetic note, and references from Dr. Shallua's Commentary.