Studies in Acts No3 What I Have I Give You
Acts 3 (NASB 2020)
1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer.
2 And a man who had been unable to walk from birth was being carried, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order for him to beg for charitable gifts from those entering the temple grounds.
3 When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple grounds, he began asking to receive a charitable gift.
There are many people in need. It can feel overwhelming. Often, we want to help, but we cannot afford it. Perhaps we are not properly skilled, or we are physically unable to help. As a result, the enemy loves to accuse us of being cold-hearted, selfish, or just plain bad Christians.
Fortunately, we know that Jesus is meek and gentle-spirited, and He provides rest for our souls. In Matthew 11:28–29 (NASB 2020) He says, “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.”
Peter was an ordinary fisherman who was prone to impulsivity and emotional outbursts. He had been through trials in this regard. First, he was rebuked by Jesus for cutting off someone’s ear when the Romans, Chief Priests, and Pharisees come to take Jesus away. (see John 18:10) Later, though he swore that he would not, Peter denied knowing Jesus. See John 1817 & 25-27) After all this, Jesus gently restored Peter and he became a leader of the Apostles. His reaction to the disabled man’s request shows the restful way of Christ in us.
Acts 3:4 But Peter, along with John, looked at him intently and said, “Look at us!”
5 And he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.
6 But Peter said, “I do not have silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, walk!”
7 And grasping him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened.
This is such a mature and restful reaction. He doesn’t shy away because he cannot give what the man requests. Instead, he relies on the One who is in him to provide what this man really needs.
I see no evidence that Peter was uncomfortable in the least. I think he was simply walking down the road and when this man asked for help, he simply did the first thing that came to his heart and mind to do. I don’t think he analyzed it at all. I think he simply responded. This is walking by faith. We are the children of God. We do best when we remember that children are completely dependent upon their parents for everything and act our age, so to speak.
Growing up I never thought about whether I should be working for my next meal. I did not concern myself with how it was that new clothing could be obtained. I simply assumed that these things would happen. To be sure, my parents told me to be careful not to stain and tear my clothing. They taught me not to waste food. They directed me to perform various chores and to assist them from time to time. Whatever they told me or taught me, I did my best to perform.
It is much the same with us and Father. We need not concern ourselves with knowing how everything is accomplished. We do not need to strive to ensure a particular outcome in situations we face. From time to time, Father will instruct us, teach us, and ask for our assistance. As we assume the truth of this, our response will come as naturally as breathing.
Do not fret about what you do not have. Remember that Father has infinite resources. Depend upon Him to apply them through you just as He purposes to do. In Romans 6:13b (NASB20) we are told, “…present yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead, and your body’s parts as instruments of righteousness for God.” Remember this and when opportunities arise, say with Peter, “what I do have I give to you.”
Acts 3:8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
Because of Christ in us, others around us are blessed. This often occurs even when we think that we have done a poor job of communicating or messed up by behaving less well than we might have planned. Father is very powerful, and He can make all things work together for good. When people are greatly blessed, they cannot contain their gratitude. That we from time to time are able to witness that is a great blessing in itself. Others also get to witness this as we see in the verses that follow.
Acts 3:9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God;
10 and they recognized him as being the very one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg for charitable gifts, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
11 While he was clinging to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the portico named Solomon’s, completely astonished.
The people who saw that the disabled man had been healed ran to Peter and John. People are starving for solutions to their problems. There are books, seminars, cults, and religious movements that offer to provide them. It is easy to see why many follow charismatic speakers and those who appear to have solutions. Though they may not realize it, they all need to know the Source. Peter pointed the crowd to that Source.
Acts 3:12 But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why are you staring at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him walk?
It is tempting to think that humility means that we act as if we have no role in the work of the Lord. We hear things like “more of Him and less of me” or “He must increase, I must decrease.” While these things sound spiritual, they miss the point. Notice here that Peter does not denigrate himself or say that he had nothing to do with the healing. Rather, he makes it clear that what He and John had done did not come about by their own power, nor did it happen because they were godlier than others.
What Father accomplishes through a particular individual is not based on their spirituality or godliness. It is not based on the power they have in and of themselves. If you hold a light for your dad as he repairs an engine or fixes plumbing, you most assuredly help. Still, it is your dad who accomplishes the task. 2 Corinthians 4:7 (NASB 2020) puts it this way, “But we have this treasure in earthen containers, so that the extraordinary greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;”
Peter then introduces the crowd to Jesus Christ, the Prince of Life.
Acts 3:13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you handed over and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him.
14 But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,
15 but put to death the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses.
16 And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.
This blessing came about on the basis of faith in the name of Jesus and it is the name of Jesus which accomplished it. The faith which comes through Jesus caused the outcome.
This can be a difficult sentence to parse, but it all comes down to faith. “The name of Jesus” does not mean that saying “in Jesus’ name” is a formula for success. “The name of Jesus” is kind of a shorthand token or hashtag for all that Jesus is. Faith in Jesus is belief that He is all He claims to be and has done all He claims to have done. Faith in Jesus means trust that He will accomplish everything He guides us to undertake.
We may not be guided to walk through hospitals healing the sick, but we may be prompted to be kind and compassionate to the person with coupons in the checkout line at the grocery store. We may be asked a question we feel poorly equipped to answer and we may stumble through our response. Nevertheless, Father can accomplish all He intends to accomplish. We are free to rest in that knowledge, and trust that He is leading.
Acts 3:17-26 (NASB 2020)
Peter has made clear that it was not his spirituality or any power of his own that blessed the disabled man. In the final verses of Acts Three, he encourages them to change their minds about God and about sin and accept Jesus as Messiah, the Christ.
Acts 3:17 “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers also did.
We who know the truth and freedom found in Jesus do well to have compassion for those in the Church who struggle with guilt, fear, and doubt. Having relied on their performance to feel acceptable to God for so long, revelation from Holy Spirit is required for them to realize the freedom they have in Christ.
Acts 3:18 But the things which God previously announced by the mouths of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has fulfilled in this way.
There is power in the Gospel. In 1 Corinthians 1:18 (NASB 2020) we read that “the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” Similarly, Romans 1:16 (NASB 2020) states “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
Acts 3:19 Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;
20 and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you,
While it is true that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, (see John 1:29 & 36) a change of mind is required. Belief that good behavior is the way to ensure eternal blessing must be replaced by belief that Jesus is the only hope of righteousness. Peter makes it clear that forgiveness is the result of that repentance. In speaking with this Jewish audience, he frames it in terms they understand almost instinctively—Jesus is “the Messiah appointed for you.” Acceptance of Him as Messiah (Christ) brings times of refreshing. The Kingdom of God is “righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,” as we find in Roman 14:17.
Peter closes this discourse by evoking additional teaching from the teaching every Jew had received since childhood.
Acts 3:21 whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things, about which God spoke by the mouths of His holy prophets from ancient times.
22 Moses said, ‘THE LORD GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR COUNTRYMEN; TO HIM YOU SHALL LISTEN regarding everything He says to you.
23 And it shall be that every soul that does not listen to that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’
24 And likewise, all the prophets who have spoken from Samuel and his successors onward, have also announced these days.
25 It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God ordained with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘AND IN YOUR SEED ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED.’
26 God raised up His Servant for you first, and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.”
Jesus is the way. He is the narrow gate. He fulfills the Law and the Prophets. Peter agrees with Romans 6:23 (NASB 2020) that, “the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” He sets before them life and death and counsels them to choose life.
