Bible Study series: Acts 4:32-37. The church unites. Barnabas is also introduced. the twelve apostles approved of him.
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I also translate to learn. The translations are mine, unless otherwise noted. If you would like to see many others, please click on this link:
At the link to the original post, next, I write more commentary and dig a little deeper into the Greek. I also offer a section titled Observations for Discipleship at the end. Check it out!
In this post, links are provided in the commentary section for further study.
Let’s begin.
Scripture: Acts 4:32-37
32 The believing community was in one heart and soul, and no one claimed what possessions belonged to him was his own, but everything was in common for them. 33 With great power the apostles were giving forth their witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was upon all of them.
34 No one among them was poor, for as many as owned land or possessed houses, sold them, brought the money from the sales, 35 and placed it at the feet of the apostles; it was distributed to each one according to his need.
36 Joseph, surnamed Barnabas by the apostles (which means “son of encouragement”), was a Levite, a Cyprian by birth. 37 Since he owned real estate, he sold it, and brought the money and placed it at the apostles’ feet. (Acts 4:32-37)
Comments:
This is another progress report that includes signs and wonders or great power (see Acts 2:41-47; 5:12-16).
32:
“community”: It comes from the “crowd of believing ones.” But in this context the standard Greek word for crowd is best translated as congregation, but I used an updated term.
The Power of Scripture and Doctrine in the Church
The Spirit in the Church and Believers
They were in “one heart and soul”: Recall the OT: Jer. 32:29 says that God will give his people “singleness of heart and action,” and Ezek. 36:26 says God will give them “a new heart” and “a new spirit.” This early community is fulfilling these promises.
33:
“great power”: This is not the ordinary power that a doctor might work, but it belongs to God alone. (And yes, God can work his power through the medical power of doctors, too.) Power means power in action, not static, but kinetic. It moves. Yes, we get our word dynamite from it, but God is never out of control, like dynamite is. Its purpose is to usher in the kingdom of God and repair and restore broken humanity, both in body and soul.
For nearly all the references of the word and a developed theology of them, please click on:
What Are Signs and Wonders and Miracles?
The apostles and others preached their witness to resurrection. It is always beneficial to bring any discussion you have with a friend or family member or colleague at work back to the resurrection. The apostles saw it with their own eyes. We have not (unless you personally have seen the resurrected Jesus). We should study the evidence for the resurrection. Many resources are online. However, we can also speak about his resurrection in our hearts. We were once dead in our sins, but he has raised us up to new life.
Once again, here are the basics about resurrection in the New Testament:
1.. It was prophesied in the OT (Ps. 16:3-11; Is. 55:3; Jnh. 1:17)
2.. Jesus predicted it before his death (Mark 8:31; 9:9, 31; 10:33-34; John 2:19-22)
3.. It happened in history (Matt. 28:1-7; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-8; John 20:1-8)
4.. Power used to resurrect Jesus:
a.. Power of God (Acts 2:24; Eph. 1:19-20; Col. 2:12)
b.. Christ’s own power (John 10:18)
c.. Jesus is the resurrection (John 11:25-26)
d.. Power of the Spirit (Rom. 8:11; 1 Pet. 3:18)
5.. Nature of Christ’s resurrection
a.. The same body that died was raised (Luke 24:39-40; John 20:27)
b.. It was a physical body
(1)) He ate (Luke 24:41-43; John 21:12-13; Acts 10:40-41)
(2)) He could be touched (John 20:27; 1 John 1:1)
(3)) It was a gloried body (1 Cor. 15:42-44; Phil. 3:21)
(4)) He passed through locked door (John 20:19, 26)
(5)) He ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9)
c.. It was also a transformed and glorified body
12. Do I Really Know Jesus? What Was His Resurrected Body Like?
And for a review of the basics, please click on this post:
11. Do I Really Know Jesus? He Was Resurrected from the Dead
You can also go to youtube to find out the evidence for it. Look for Gary Habermas or Mike Licona.
For a table of his appearances and other facts, please see:
14. Do I Really Know Jesus? He Appeared to His Disciples
“great favor was upon them”: the words indicate not ordinary favor that a person of the world may experience, but God’s divine favor. “Favor” also has these meanings: graciousness, attractiveness; favor, gracious care, help or goodwill, practical application of goodwill; a gracious deed or gift, benefaction. In some contexts, it means “exceptional effects produced by divine grace,” in other words, empowerment to accomplish a task or receive a blessing. Apparently, those outside the Messianic Jewish community liked them and found them attractive.
Good news! We do not have to suffer condemnation for our past sins because God hands us his grace.
34-35:
This is a voluntary small community within the larger one in Jerusalem. (See Acts 5:4 for its voluntary nature.) No one imposed this common sharing on them from the top-down. One must be careful about forming a government that forces common sharing on everyone else (except for the enforcers at the top who get rich). That is called communism, and bureaucrats who run it do not know enough to manage a one-size fits all economy. Communism always falls apart. But if individuals freely sign up for total sharing of their possessions in a community, then let them. Hippies did that back in the 1970’s up in the Oregon mountains, and their communities were called communes.
The people placed the proceeds at the feet of the apostles, indicating they took charge, but soon they will delegate the whole business and practical job to the seven servant-deacons (Acts 6:1-6). Mary (mother of John Mark) still owned her large house (12:12), Barnabas sold one parcel of land (v. 37), and Peter said that Ananias and Sapphira still had control over their property (5:4). So this summary statement in vv. 34-35 about having everything in common and voluntarily giving to those in need should not be over-interpreted.
No government coercion!
Here is how Polhill defeats the notion of expanding these verses into communism:
First, there was no transfer of ownership, no control of production or income, no requirement to surrender one’s property to the community. The voluntary nature of the Christian practice is evidenced by the consistent use of the iterative imperfect tense throughout vv. 34b–35. This is how they “used to” do it. They “would sell” their property and bring it to the apostles as needs arose.
Second is the example of Barnabas in vv. 36–37. His sale of property would hardly be a sterling example if surrender of property were obligatory.
Third, in the example of Ananias and Sapphira, Peter clarified for Ananias that his sin was in lying about his charity. The land remained his to do with as he pleased; he was under no obligation to give the proceeds to the church (5:4).
Fourth, the picture of the central fund for the widows in 6:1–6 is clearly not an apportioning of each one’s lot from a common fund but a charity fund for the needy.
Finally, there is the example of Mary in 12:12f. She still owned a home and had a maid. The Christians enjoyed the hospitality of her home. This was clearly no experiment in common ownership. (comment on vv. 34-35)
Once again, please click here for further comments:
Does Book of Acts Teach Modern Communism or Socialism?
36-37:
“son of encouragement”: his nickname Barnabas comes from the combination bar (“son”) and nabi’ (“prophet”). Bruce also suggests the Aramaic bar newāḥa’ (“son of soothing” or “refreshment”).
Evidently, for Luke, a prophet encouraged. Writing Acts later than these events, he may have been earlier influenced by Paul’s definition of prophecy, which includes the same Greek word in here in v. v. 36 and 1 Cor. 14:13. Paraklēsis (pronounced pah-rah-klay-sis) means “encouragement.” Paul calls the prophetically gifted Corinthian “prophets” (1 Cor. 14:29). Barnabas must have been prophetically gifted or even a prophet. An OT prophet often encouraged people or rebuked them!
This nickname further means that Barnabas habitually encouraged people. Encouragement was in his spiritual DNA. His gift became so widely known that even the twelve apostles nicknamed him.
Here is a quick study of Barnabas’ life.
He was a Levite. Levites and priests were not allowed to own land (Num. 18:20, 24; Deut. 10:9). However, they worked around the prohibition by owning land through agents, probably a relative or trusted friend. Or the prohibition was not extensive.
He was an open-minded and soft-hearted Levite, unlike his soon-to-be partner, a hard-hearted Pharisee named Saul, who will have to be knocked to the ground before his heart softens (Acts 9:1-31).
He was from Cyprus, a large Greek island, where a Jewish community had settled (Acts 4:36).
He brought Paul to the apostles when people were scared of Paul (Acts 9:27).
He was full of faith and the Holy Spirit (Acts 11:24).
He brought Paul to Antioch and introduced him to believers. Both he and Paul taught a great number of people in that Christian center (Acts 11:25-26).
He brought a gift with Paul to the church in Jerusalem (Acts 11:28-29).
He was considered a prophet and teacher (Acts 13:1).
In Lystra, God worked a miracle through Paul, and the people wanted to set them up as gods. They called Barnabas Zeus, and Paul Hermes, the messenger god, because Paul was the chief speaker (Acts 14:8-18).
He was considered an apostle (Acts 14:14).
He accompanied Paul on a missionary journey (Acts 13-14).
He went up to Jerusalem to report to the Jewish Messianic council on the miracles he witnessed and did among the Gentiles (Acts 15:36-40; see also Gal. 2:1-9).
However, he had a conflict with Paul over John Mark (Acts 15:36-40). John Mark had deserted them, and Paul did not want him to go with them again. Barnabas wanted him to go. They could not agree. “A sharp disagreement” ensued. So Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus (Barnabas’s home island), while Paul took Silas and went through Syria and Cilicia.
Barnabas was a cousin to John Mark (Col. 4:10), so maybe this influenced him to support his cousin, despite Paul’s objections.
Incidentally, John Mark was the son of a certain Mary, who had a large house in Jerusalem, where the Christian community met. A large house indicates wealth, particularly in a city like Jerusalem (Acts 12:12). So Barnabas, a landowner, and Mary and John Mark were related and wealthy, yet Barnabas sold a parcel of his land, anyway. That’s called generosity. Mary hosted the Christian community, and that is also generous.
He had a conflict with Paul over eating with Gentiles (non-Jews). Jews did not share meals with Gentiles. Barnabas’s Levitical heritage must have influenced and temporarily blinded him. Paul rebuked both him and Peter (Gal. 2:11-13).
Barnabas worked for a living on his missionary journeys (1 Cor. 9:6).
With that overview completed, now let’s get ready for Acts 5.
Barnabas’ generosity and openness of spirit and generosity will stand in contrast to Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11.
Sixteen Characteristics of a Healthy Church
Sixteen Characteristics of an Unhealthy Church
GrowApp for Acts 4:32-37
1. After the prayer, the apostles go forth and testify about the resurrection. Has prayer ever emboldened you personally for outreach?
2. Once again, the community, after praying and being led by the Spirit, becomes very generous and give. Has God ever worked in your heart to become generous?
3. How have you expressed your generosity? Giving money? Time?
RELATED
The Historical Reliability of the Book of Acts
Book of Acts and Paul’s Epistles: Match Made in Heaven?
SOURCES
For the bibliography, please click on this link and scroll down to the very bottom:
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