What does Acts 3:7 mean?

Peter has just proclaimed his intent to heal a lame beggar (Acts 3:6). Jesus had equipped His disciples with the ability to heal before (Mark 6:7–13; Luke 10:1–12), although it appears that ability was for limited timespans. With Jesus' ascension, His followers have received the permanent in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1–4). In some cases, and for the early establishment of the church, this included miraculous signs. This is one of many miracles to be accomplished through them (Acts 2:43; 5:12–16) in the service of being Jesus' witnesses to the world (Acts 1:8).

After Peter heals the man, he holds out his hand and helps the man to stand. Once the man realizes what has happened, the beggar walks, leaps, and praises God (Acts 3:8).

We must be careful not to spiritualize Scripture that is meant to be read literally. However, there are times when literal events serve as symbolic explanations of spiritual truths. This scene echoes the experiences of people who are healed from their sinful habits. It's not uncommon to hear people say, "God healed me from that addiction." What they mean is that they no longer feel the unbearable impulse to act in that particular harmful way. It doesn't mean that they are freed for the rest of their lives. If one day the lame man had refused to stand, eventually he would have become too weak to walk again. He, again, would have had to resort to begging. In a similar way, someone who has been released from sin needs to walk and continue to walk. He needs to continue to live as someone who is healed, not fall back in old broken patterns.