I do not have silver and gold

“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!’ And grasping him by the right hand, he raised him up.” (1) “I do not have silver and gold” might have disappointed the man, but “what I do have I give to you” would have created a sense of expectation. (2) “In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, walk” is not a magical incantation. Peter, acting as an agent of Jesus Christ and invoking His authority, commanded the man to walk. This phrase appears 23 times in the Acts of the Apostles. (3) “And grasping him by the right hand, he raised him up.” This miracle occurred through a combination of human effort and divine power. “And immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. And leaping up, he stood and began to walk.” (1) A man who had not walked for 40 years began to walk instantaneously. “His feet and ankles were strengthened” is an explanation by Luke, who was a physician. (2) The man’s movements are described in detail: “Leaping up,” “stood,” “began to walk,” “walking and leaping.” (3) While praising God, he entered the temple with Peter and John. No doubt, he can no longer be a beggar, but he had a greater joy now. For the first time in his life, he likely entered from the Court of the Gentiles into the Court of the Women (ref. 2 Sam. 5:8).

The result of the healing

“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.” (1) Inside the temple, he was conspicuous as he was being clamorous. He praised God while walking. The ability to walk is a gift from God. (2) The people who saw him were astounded to the point of being taken aback. The man who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate was now walking and praising God. “While he was clinging to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the portico named Solomon’s, completely astonished.” (1) As described as “clinging,” he was holding on tightly to Peter and John. He likely felt physical and emotional insecurity about walking alone. (2) His remarkable recovery served as a beacon, drawing a large crowd to Peter and John. This man sought alms, but he received much more (the ability to walk). Like so, similar things happen even in our prayers. God knows what we need.