This chapter starts out with Peter and John healing the lame man. He was lame from birth, and he sat by the gate of the Temple asking for donations. Peter simply says, "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!" (3:6) Now we cannot do this today. This was a special time in the history of the church. There was no New Testament scripture. All the church had was the Apostles. They were fighting a major uphill battle in trying to establish Christianity. God chose to allow the Apostles to perform miracles so that their legitimacy before God could be established in the eyes of those who were willing to acknowledge it.
A vast majority of the miracles in the Bible occurred in three eras: Moses and Joshua, Elijah and Elisha and Christ and the Apostles. Moses and Joshua were leading the Jewish nation out of bondage and establishing a new nation. Elijah and Elisha were trying to bring back an apostate nation. Christ and the Apostles were establishing a new religion.
The second half of the chapter is a sermon by Peter. This passage is very indicative of Peter's typical sermon to the Jews. "And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus," (3:17-20, ESV)
Peter said it didn't matter if they had crucified Jesus. God still wanted them to repent of what they did and turn to Him for salvation.
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