32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. 34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. 36 And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Commentary
Vs. 32 “Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.”
Such then was the unity of the Spirit that all the brethren were of one heart and one soul, this then is the key to understanding this passage. Now because they were of one heart and soul no one said that any of the things that he possessed was his own, but instead they held all things common, thus if someone genuinely needed something it would not be withheld from them by the community. Thus, Christian charity always begins on the home front and then manifests itself out from there.
Vs. 33 “And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.”
The Holy Spirit was not only moving through the hearts of the community to love and care for each other, but He was also giving great power to the apostles who were themselves bearing witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Such then was God pleased with His people that the Scripture says that great grace was upon them all!
Vs. 34-35 34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.
The early Christion fellowship was living with such grace and joy and love for the Lord and each other that those who possessed lands or homes sold them and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold. Now obviously they were wanting to keep their fellowship alive by enabling all of them to continue and partake in it, and so they did this of their own free-will, the apostles did not command or compel them to do this, they freely did it of themselves. Now the apostles were the ones to whom they entrusted what was sold, but not to go and acquire lands and or build homes for themselves, but because they were men of integrity who themselves were living sparsely and frugally amongst the brethren, the brethren entrusted them to distribute what had been sold to anyone who had need in the community.
Vs. 36-37 36 And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Here we learn of a certain Levite named Joses from the country of Cyprus who was in Jerusalem during these days, and who must have come to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ while there. And so, this man the apostles named Barnabas (which is translated Son of Encouragement), which clearly indicates not only His Spiritual gift, but also how he through the Holy Spirit was strengthening those who believed, and those were also coming to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and so Barnabas in accord with his encouraging nature having some land sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostle’s feet. This selfless act then will now serve as a stark contrast to what is come in chapter five.
Scripture Quotations
New King James (1982):Thomas Nelson.
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