Acts 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.
These words were spoken in the first healing recorded as being performed through two apostles. There was a lame man, sitting at the entrance to the temple, asking for alms (gifts of charity from the passerby-ers that will serve to meet his daily needs of the basic necessities). These gifts were usually in the form of material items, i.e. money.
The apostle’s response to the man is not the mere dropping of coins into his container and continuing about their day. They acknowledge that they, at the time, did not have any money on their person to share with the man. Many, in our day, would have made that acknowledgment and continued moving pass the beggar and would not have given thought that ‘I don’t have money to give, but what do I have to help this one in need?’
Proverbs 3:27–28
Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, When it is in the power of thine hand to do it. [28] Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; When thou hast it by thee.
Not having any tangible items to give, the apostles assessed that they do possess something they can share.
What did they have?
They had the PROMISE of the Gospel
John 1:14
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
They followed the PERSON of the Gospel
John 6:67–69
67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
They witnessed the PERFORMANCE of the Gospel
John 20:30
30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
They possessed the POWER of the Gospel
Matthew 28:18–20
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Acts 1:8
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
It is often said that ‘I can’t give what I do not have.’ This saying applies to ministry as well. What we do have, that we can share with the world?
“Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee”