Silver and gold I do not have
What is the meaning of “silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you” (Acts 3:6)?
In Acts 3:6, Peter says to a lame beggar, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk” (NKJV). Peter did not have alms to give the beggar, but he gave him something better—he shared the healing power of Jesus with him.
The chapter begins with Peter and John heading to the temple for prayer when they encounter a man who had been “lame from birth” (Acts 3:2, ESV). Since the lame man could not walk, he was carried to the Beautiful Gate where he begged for alms. When the man asks Peter and John for alms, Peter responds with, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6, NKJV). Peter then takes the man by the right hand, and immediately the man’s feet and ankles become strong. He leaps to his feet and begins to walk and jump around, praising God as he goes into the temple with them.
Peter’s words to the lame beggar demonstrate the surpassing worth of spiritual blessings over material wealth. Peter and John did not have material wealth, but they had something far more precious to offer—the healing power of Jesus Christ. There is power in the name of Jesus, including the power to heal a man who had been lame from birth. In John 14:13–14, Jesus says, “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it” (ESV). In the name of Jesus, Peter provides the man with a new lease on life.
The Bible consistently teaches that true wealth is found in God. In Matthew 6:19–21, Jesus calls His disciples to choose God over wealth:
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19–21, ESV).
Peter and John showed where the true treasure lies. It is not in material wealth, but in the name of Jesus and the power of His resurrection.
Believers can learn at least two things from Peter’s words in Acts 3:6. First, we must not equate success with material accumulation. As Paul advises in 1 Timothy 6:17, “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy” (ESV). We should focus on eternal treasures and use our resources to bless others, as Peter and John do in Acts 3:6.
Second, every believer has something to offer, even if it is not material wealth. This could be prayer, encouragement, or support. “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace” (1 Peter 4:10, ESV). Just as Peter and John shared what they had, believers are called to share love, grace, and truth with those in need.
Acts 3 relates a beautiful story about using our resources to bless others, even if the gift is immaterial. May we say with Peter, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you” (NKJV). Amen.
