Five verses remaining in this chapter of Acts. All week I’ve been thinking about how the people gathered when Peter and John returned prayed for boldness. And I don’t feel bold. I don’t feel bold enough to pray even though I know how big and caring God is. That makes me feel rather small inside. And so I come to this section entitled They had everything in common. I find myself intrigued. Let’s dig in shall we?
Acts 4:32-37
32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Of one heart and soul
I was talking with a friend tonight and she mentioned how much she likes her new pastor. He’s young and preaches sermons that are biblical. BUT she struggles with some decisions being made. And we talked a bit about how sometimes young pastors need to let things go in order to keep the peace in a congregation. Making decisions without helping the congregation understand can be detrimental to the body of believers. I come to this passage with that conversation in mind.
These people, this small congregation (I’m assuming small since they were all gathered together in a time when Christianity was frowned upon), were gathered together. The full membership of this group of believers and we read: those who believed were of one heart and soul.
Can you imagine that? Being such a unit as a group of believers? I have a hard time conceiving of it. I’ve never really been part of a body of believers like that.
It sounds great though eh?
Not only were they are one heart and soul but no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. GAH, that almost sounds like a cult eh? Like the hippy groups that all stayed together? BUT this was a group of believers genuinely caring and loving each other. No one was superior. Equality and sharing everything. This is where cults and hippy groups and communes fall apart eh? Eventually someone wants to rise up, be the leader, or wants to take stuff from others or decides that something they have is theirs’ alone. They forget the God is the one who brings them altogether… .that held belief in God. I forget it too you, you know? Even though I am not part of a community like this… where we share everything in common… I sometimes forget that the person wearing perfume ahead of me is part of the family of God. The mom with the screaming child is part of the family of God. And so on. It’s hard sometimes to remember. to hold it close that God is more than.
And yet, these people did that. They held it close this knowledge they were all in it together. And so they shared it all and held all their stuff in common. A close knit group.
Apostles Free to Share
This community was so close knit that the apostles were free to exercise the great power God gave them to share their testimony and to speak to the resurrection of Jesus. And God’s grace… it’s actually says GREAT GRACE was upon them all. Think on that. If you are a believer you’ve already experienced grace upon grace, but would you call it great grace?
33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.
What a special time you know? Having the boldness to speak out. Being able to freely share the truth about God with others? And being part of a close knit community. How fantastic!
No needy among them
Have you ever been part of a group of believers where if there is a known need, it stops being a need? A co-worker goes to a smaller local church. Having major car issues. A couple in his church paid for his car to be operational… covered all costs. That’s the kind of thing happening here. People selling land, houses and what not so the needy among them could stop being needy.
34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Nice group to be part of right? The freedom they had. To ask and receive, to give and have it be useful. The immediacy would be so affirming.
Could I handle it?
I have to admit, I hold on to “my stuff” fairly hard. It’s been good to this to take a hard look at some of the stuff I have and choose to get rid of some of it. But still, it’s hard though. The thought of getting rid of my stuff. I’ll happily share a meal or stuff from my cupboards, give a kid a rabbit, or share produce from my garden, but it’s HARD to give up my stuff. Stuff I worked hard to pay for. ERGO… as much as a community that is so tightly knit sounds really cool…. I’m fairly sure I’d struggle with it. Selling land or homes or stuff to meet the needs of others…. OUCH.
BUT at the same time, if you are part of a tightly knit bunch you’d love each other. And for someone I love I’d give them the shirt off my back if they needed it. So that is probably the key right? God’s love for them brings them all together, Christ’s resurrection binds them together. God’s great grace brings them into love and fellowship with each other. Just totally together. So then it wouldn’t be a struggle. It would family doing for family. And that’s important.
Follow Along
If you are interested in the rest of the series you will find them here eh?
- Acts 1:1-5
- Acts 1:6-11
- Acts 1:12-26
- Acts 2:1-13
- Acts 2:14-41
- Acts 2:42-47
- Acts 3:1-10
- Acts 3:11-16
- Acts 3:17-26
- Acts 4:1-4
- Acts 4:5-12
- Acts 4: 13-22
- Acts 4:23-31
I often think about what it would be like to live like the early Christians! I can only imagine how uplifting it must have been.
sometimes I wonder what all we’ve lost from that early excitement.