Luke, the physician, wrote the Book of Acts. It is properly called The Acts of the Apostles. And it is a book of action; the story of the Early Church on the move.

The first Christians had little of this world’s goods. They had no expensive church buildings, none of the things that make a church appear successful in our day.

People are easily awed by trappings that are designed to impress, but spiritual power is far more important. The church at Laodicea, described in the Book of Revelation, looked prosperous but was poor in the areas that really mattered: “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked…” (Revelation 3:17).

As Dr. Luke recorded the experience of Peter and John in their encounter with the lame man, he must have felt the pain and frustration of this one who had been afflicted for so long. Luke knew the limitation of man in helping some who are helpless.

“Silver and gold have I none,” said Peter. And the poor man’s heart must have drooped. But then the blessing came…he was healed of his affliction.

Peter had neither silver nor gold and therefore was not accountable to give what he did not have. But what he did have was exactly what the blind man needed.

Let us give “such as we have” that others may be blessed.