Acts 3:6-7
But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Peter doesn't just say he lacks money; he implies that his authority and power, channeled through Jesus, are far more valuable and potent than any earthly riches. The true gift isn't just a miracle, but the impartation of divine power through the name of Jesus, a power that transcends any material wealth.
Peter and John are going to the temple to pray when they encounter a man lame from birth who begs for money. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, looks intently at the man and declares he has no money but can offer something far more valuable. He then commands the man to rise and walk in the powerful name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, demonstrating the apostles' reliance on Jesus' authority for healing.
The man at the temple gate wasn't asking for a handout; he was asking for a miracle of provision. Yet, Peter's response flips the script, revealing a deeper economy at play.
Peter's declaration, "Silver and gold have I none," isn't an excuse, but a profound statement of priority.
A Different Kind of Wealth
The early believers, as seen in Acts 2:45, shared their possessions, so it's unlikely Peter was completely penniless. Instead, his words highlight that personal wealth was secondary to God's power. He couldn't offer the man financial aid from his own pocket, but he had something infinitely more valuable to offer.
The True Source of Provision
This wasn't just about Peter's personal lack of funds; it was about pointing to the ultimate source of all provision. While money can solve immediate needs, it cannot mend broken bodies or restore lost hope. Peter's 'what I have' was the power of God entrusted to him.
Peter didn't just command the lame man to walk; he invoked a specific name. What's the significance of this invocation?
The power to heal and restore doesn't originate from Peter or any apostle; it comes solely through the authority of Jesus Christ.
A Name Above All Names
The phrase 'In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth' signifies more than just uttering a name. It means acting with His delegated authority and power. Peter wasn't performing a personal act of kindness; he was an instrument, channeling the divine power of the risen Christ. The inclusion of 'of Nazareth' served to identify Jesus, reminding his audience of the one they had despised and crucified, yet who now demonstrated His power.
Faith Anchored in the Unseen
This command to 'rise up and walk' wasn't just a physical instruction but a call to faith. The man had to believe that the power associated with Jesus' name was real and available to him. This miracle demonstrated that Jesus, the one rejected by many, was indeed the Messiah with the power to bring life and wholeness.
Understand the original words
argyron · Greek Noun
Precious metals often representing material wealth or secular security. In this context, it highlights the contrast between worldly resources and spiritual authority.
chrysion · Greek Noun
Precious metal often representing wealth or glory. Biblically, it can symbolize refined purity or, as here, material possessions that are insufficient for spiritual miracles.
onoma · Greek Noun
In biblical usage, a 'name' represents the authority, character, and power of the person. To act in the name of Jesus is to act as His representative, utilizing His divine authority.
Nazōraios · Greek Proper Noun
A messianic title identifying Jesus with His earthly hometown and humble origins. It emphasizes the historical reality of the man who is also the exalted Christ.
The immediate context of this event shows the early apostles operating not with earthly wealth, but with the divinely granted power of the resurrected Jesus. This power, demonstrated through healing, was a testament to Jesus' authority and a catalyst for spreading His message, even in the face of religious opposition.
c. AD 30
Crucifixion of Jesus
Jesus, a figure widely known and later called 'Jesus of Nazareth,' is crucified in Jerusalem. This event, seen by his followers as a sacrifice for sins, becomes a central point of their faith and proclamation.
c. AD 30
Pentecost and the Holy Spirit
Following Jesus' ascension, the Holy Spirit empowers his followers in Jerusalem, leading to the speaking in tongues and the dramatic proclamation of the Gospel by Peter and others. This marks the birth of the early Christian church.
c. AD 31— this verse
Healing of the Lame Man at the Temple
Peter and John, on their way to the Temple for prayer, encounter a man lame from birth at the Beautiful Gate. Peter, empowered by the Holy Spirit, heals him in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, causing a significant stir among the populace.
c. AD 31
Peter's Sermon and Crowd Reaction
This passage describes the signs that will accompany believers, including the ability to 'take up serpents' and 'lay hands on the sick, that they may recover,' echoing the miraculous power Jesus empowered his followers to wield.
John 14:12Jesus states, 'Whoever believes in me will do the works I am doing, and he will do even greater things than these,' which directly relates to the apostles performing miracles in His name, as Peter does here.
Acts 4:10Peter, in his defense before the Sanhedrin, explicitly states that the healing was done 'by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,' reinforcing that the power and authority came from Jesus, not from Peter himself.
Philippians 2:9-10This passage highlights how God highly exalted Jesus and gave Him a name above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, showing the profound authority inherent in Jesus' name.
1 Corinthians 1:23-24The text speaks of Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God, underscoring that the power Peter wielded came from this seemingly 'weak' but divinely appointed Christ.
barnesActs 3:6: "Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk."
Silver and gold have I none - The man had asked for money; Peter assures him that he had not that to give; what he did was done, however, in such a way as to show his willingness to aid him if he had possessed money. Such as I have - Such as is in my power. It is not to be supposed that he meant to say that he originated this power himself, but only…
vincentActs 3:6: "Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk."
Silver and gold (ἀργύριον καὶ χρυσίον)Properly, silver and gold money. See on 1 Peter 1:18.
Peter doesn't just say he lacks money; he implies that his authority and power, channeled through Jesus, are far more valuable and potent than any earthly riches. The true gift isn't just a miracle, but the impartation of divine power through the name of Jesus, a power that transcends any material wealth.
Peter and John are going to the temple to pray when they encounter a man lame from birth who begs for money. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, looks intently at the man and declares he has no money but can offer something far more valuable. He then commands the man to rise and walk in the powerful name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, demonstrating the apostles' reliance on Jesus' authority for healing.
Peter and John are going to the temple to pray when they encounter a man lame from birth who begs for money. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, looks intently at the man and declares he has no money but can offer something far more valuable. He then commands the man to rise and walk in the powerful name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, demonstrating the apostles' reliance on Jesus' authority for healing.
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Following the healing, Peter preaches powerfully to the crowd gathered in Solomon's Porch, explaining that the miracle was performed by the power of the resurrected Jesus. His sermon leads to the conversion of about five thousand people.
c. AD 31
Arrest and Trial of Peter and John
The religious authorities, alarmed by the apostles' teachings and the public display of supernatural power, arrest Peter and John. They are brought before the Sanhedrin, where Peter boldly testifies about Jesus.
c. AD 31-32
Growth and Persecution of the Early Church
Despite opposition, the number of believers grows rapidly. The apostles continue to perform miracles, spreading the message of Jesus, while facing increasing persecution from Jewish leaders.
"But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made st…" — Peter doesn't just say he lacks money; he implies that his authority and power, channeled through Jesus, are far more valuable and potent than any earthly riches. The true gift isn't just a miracle,…
