#1554 Acts 4 Part 3 One

 

32 And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and not one was saying that any of his possessions was his own, but, for them, everything was common. 33 And with great power the apostles were bearing witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales 35 and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need.

36 Now Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement), 37 and who owned a field, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet. Acts 4: 32-37

Acts 4: 32-37 The Early Church

V. 32 Were of one heart and soul - This passage fascinates me, but it really makes me want to check myself as well. I know that tares and wolves came after this, and we have to be aware of that, we have to protect our fellow sheep, but in this twilight moment, where the first glimmering rays of the church appear, it seems void of guile and self promotion. The gospel is as yet undefiled by those who would promote numbers over sincerity, and there is love, deep and selfless. It's not about a building, yet I would be afraid to place my feet in such a place, for fear of soiling it. I am perplexed, so many things rush into my mind, and I see that we must guard both against false teachers, but also against our own preference of ego. So many arguments must go back to original intent and design, not tradition or culture. There was unspoiled unity here, deception had not yet entered, and ego seems to be displaced by the Spirit. I pray about the state of my own heart and place within the body, that I won't be puffed up, that I will serve. I pray that I will guard against heresy, in my own mind's wanderings and also in my family. 

And the congregation of those who believed (pisteuo) - The congregation does not yet appear mixed with tares, but consisted of those who believed. What a wonderful time to be a believer. Notice that their belief brought forth recognizable fruit, attesting to the the reality of their conversion. What a beautiful example of Christian fellowship, based on oneness of heart and soul wrought by the a common Spirit and founded on their faith in a common Lord, Jesus Christ the Nazarene, "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit." (1 Cor 12:13) This oneness was what Jesus had prayed for asking His Father "that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me." ( Jn 17:21)

John Piper defines belief in Jesus as follows - "It's to be satisfied with all that God is for you in Christ." This is his favorite definition of saving faith. He goes on to observe that the "Two of the effects of believing in Jesus are that the heart is loosened in relationship to things and tightened in its relationship to people....Being a Christian means being changed from the inside out so that you fall in love with people and fall out of love with things." (Bolding added). (Be Like Barnabas Not Like Ananias!)

G Campbell Morgan says "those that believed" " were those who had yielded them­ selves to the Lordship of Jesus,. to obedience to His teaching." - Precept Austin

…2with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4: 2-6

V. 32b And no one was saying that any of his possessions was his own - I think this contrasts well, as other commentators have stated, with Ananias and Saphira. It wasn't wrong to have, and they were under no command to give, especially not at this level, but Ananias and his wife pretended to give at this level, everything, yet held back. I have also seen cults that demand, or at the very least strongly suggest this, and it ends up going to a building, to fancy cars, houses, a corporate sort of dynasty that elevates strange and indulgent personalities. Everything here was common, so distributed as needed. They had obviously found something that far exceeded materialism, and they were content with what they had, more concerned with the needs of others.  

…14But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from You, and from Your own hand we have given to You. 15For we are foreigners and strangers in Your presence, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. 16O LORD our God, from Your hand comes all this abundance that we have provided to build You a house for Your holy Name, and all of it belongs to You.… 1 Chronicles 29: 14-16

…10Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11So if you have not been faithful with worldly wealth, who will entrust you with true riches? 12And if you have not been faithful with the belongings of another, who will give you belongings of your own?… Luke 16: 10-12

V. 33 And with great power the apostles were bearing witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus - Without the Holy Spirit, without being filled, it's just empty vessels and words that fall off to nowhere, dependent upon the energy of the speaker, but it's not men who save. 

…3how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4and was affirmed by God through signs, wonders, various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will. 5For it is not to angels that He has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking.… Hebrews 2: 3-5

…6I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8He who plants and he who waters are one in purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.… 1 Corinthians 3: 6-8

Vs. 34-35 For there was not a needy person among them - It is a simple formula for me now, when I walk into a church and find a pastor who has his head upon every rich person's lap, yet looks upon the widow as an annoyance, let him know and then be prepared to leave. 

…43Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more than all the others into the treasury. 44For they all contributed out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.” Mark 12: 43-44

…16By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17 If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him? 18Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.… 1 John 3: 16-18

Vs. 36-37 Now Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles - The name they called him means Son of Encouragement, and we will later learn more about him from his relationships with Paul and John Mark, who was his cousin. There is apparently a tradition taught about Barnabas, that he is also the rich young ruler of Matthew 19, and so here in Acts 4 that same camel does pass through the eye of the needle. I could not be emphatic on that point though one of my pastors leans strongly that way. I will say this, that the Holy Spirit moved men to write the Scriptures, and that is what we mean by God breathed. There are some very choice jewels found the longer and deeper our studies take us, but where the Spirit is vague I think it purposeful as well. I hope the rich young ruler did come to believe. I hope that for all men.

What can we learn from the life of Barnabas? - In the book of Acts, we find a Levite from Cyprus named Joses (Acts 4:36), whom the apostles called Barnabas. That nickname, translated “Son of Encouragement” (Acts 4:36-37) or “Son of Exhortation” was probably given to him because of his inclination to serve others (Acts 4:36-37, 9:27) and his willingness to do whatever church leaders needed (Acts 11:25-30). He is referred to as a “good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith.” Through his ministry, “a great number of people were brought to the Lord” (Acts 11:24). Paul uses Barnabas as an example of one with a proper perspective on money and property. When he sold his land, he brought the proceeds to the apostles and laid it at their feet (Acts 4:36-37). As the early church began to grow, in spite of Herod’s persecution, Barnabas was called by the Holy Spirit to go with Paul on a missionary journey. Barnabas’ cousin, John Mark, served him and Paul as their assistant (Acts 13:5). During that first missions trip, for an unspecified reason, John Mark left them and did not complete the journey (Acts 13:13). However, Barnabas continued with Paul and was with him when Paul’s ministry was redirected to reaching the Gentiles with the gospel (Acts 13:42-52). The only negative mention of Barnabas in Scripture is in reference to an incident in which Peter’s hypocrisy influenced other Jews (including Barnabas) to shun some Gentiles at dinner (Galatians 2:13). After that first trip, Paul and Barnabas began planning their next journey. Barnabas wanted to take his cousin, but Paul refused, and a rift grew between them to the point that they parted company (Acts 15:36-41). Barnabas, true to his nickname, took John Mark and spent time discipling him. That ministry was so effective that, years later, Paul specifically asked for John Mark to come to him, as Mark had matured to the point of becoming helpful to Paul in his ministry (2 Timothy 4:11). Like Barnabas, as Christians we are called to be encouragers, particularly of those who are weak in the faith or struggling. Acts 11:23 depicts Barnabas as a man who was delighted to see others exhibiting the grace of God in their lives, exhorting and encouraging them to remain faithful. In the same way, we should look for opportunities to praise those who bring glory and honor to God through lives that reflect their faith. In addition, Barnabas is an example of a generous spirit when it comes to giving sacrificially to the work of the Lord. - Precept Austin

16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”

17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

18 He said to Him, “Which ones?”

Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”

20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”

21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Matthew 19: 16-22