Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
Acts 4:32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
Acts 4:33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
Acts 4:34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
Acts 4:35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
Acts 4:36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
Acts 4:37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
Unity is being together or at one with someone or something. It's the opposite of being divided.
What Is Unity
This is a word for togetherness or oneness. When a group of people act as one and are, as we would say today, “on the same page”, they're displaying unity. Unity and love are two entities of a spiritual nature that defines the moral high ground of humanity. Yet, they are often spoken of in a cavalier manner as if they are easily obtained and maintained. The opposite is often true. When people are bickering and disorganized, there's no unity. In many families, group settings or causes, unity can be hard to find and maintain.
The war between the states was supposed to be a means of bringing about unity between the states. As we know this was far from the truth. In ideology and concept, the United States might have become a unified body, but a deeper and darker hatred was born. In today's society, unity is suffering on the altar of political correctness, our leaders have chosen a path of division. In the name of good our churches, communities, the nation and the world is suffering an expanding divide that is terminal in nature. Jesus addressed this problem in Matthew 12:25, he said, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:”
What Is The First Step Of Obtaining Unity?
Verse 31. And when they had prayed. The event which followed their prayer was regarded by them as an evidence that God heard their prayer. We must conclude that prayer was the first step to obtaining unity among the brethren. Thus, without prayer and God's intervention, even war cannot bring about unity. The place was shaken. The word which is translated "was shaken," commonly denotes violent agitation, as the raging of the sea, the convulsion of an earthquake, or trees shaken by the wind, Matthews 11:7; Acts 16:26; Hebrew 12:26. The language here is fitted to express the idea of an earthquake. Whether the motion was confined to the house where they were, is not said. They regarded this as an answer to their prayer, or as an evidence that God would be with them,
Verse 32. And the multitude. The number of believers at this time had become huge. In Acts 4:4, it is said that it was five thousand; and the number was constantly increasing. They existed with one heart. This expression denotes a tender union. They felt alike or were attached to the same things, and this preserved them from dissensions.
One soul. This phrase also denotes close and tender union. No expression could denote it more striking than to say of friends, they have one soul. Plutarch cites an ancient verse in his life of Cato of Utica, with this very expression, "Two friends, one soul." (Grotius.) Thus Diogenes Laertius also (5 i. 11) says respecting Aristotle, that "being asked what was a friend, answered, that it was one soul dwelling in two bodies." (Kuin”el.) The Hebrews spoke of two friends as being "one man." There can be no more striking demonstration of union and love than to say of more than five thousand suddenly drawn together, that they had one soul! And this union they evinced in every way possible; in their conduct, in their prayers, and in their property. How different would have been the aspect of the church if the union had continued to the present time!
Verse 33. And with great power. See Ac 1:8. The word power here denotes efficacy and means that they had ability given them to bear witness of the resurrection of the Saviour. It refers, therefore, rather to their preaching than to their miracles.
Gave the apostles witness, etc. The apostles bore testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. This was the main point to be established. If it was proved that the Lord Jesus came to life again after having been put to death, it established all that he taught and was a demonstration that he was sent from God. They exerted, therefore, all their powers to prove this; and their success was such as might have been expected. Multitudes were converted to the Christian faith.
And great grace, etc. The word grace means favor. And the expression here may mean either that the favor of God was remarkably shown to them, or that they had great favor in the sight of the people. It does not refer, as the expression now commonly used, to the internal blessings of religion on a man's own soul; to their personal advancement in the Christian graces of humility, etc.; but to the favor or success that attended their preaching. The meaning probably is, that the favor of the people towards them was great; or that great success attended their ministry among them. Thus the same word grace (Greek) is used in Acts 2:47. If this is its meaning, then here is an instance of the power of the testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus to impress the minds of men. But this is not all, nor probably is it the main idea. It is that their union, their benevolence, their liberality in supplying the wants of the needy, was a means of opening the hearts of the people, and of winning them to the Saviour. If we wish to include others to our opinions or to bring them to be Christians, nothing is better adapted to it than to show them kindness, and even to minister to their temporal wants. Benevolence towards them softens the heart and inclines them to listen to us. It disarms their prejudices and disposes them to the exercise of the mild and amiable feelings of religion.
Hence our Saviour was engaged in healing the diseases, and supplying the wants of the people. He drew around him the poor, the needy, and the diseased, and supplied their necessities, and thus prepared them to receive his message of truth. Thus God is love and is constantly doing good, that his goodness may lead men to repentance, Romans 2:4. And hence no persons have better opportunities to spread the true sentiments of religion or are clothed with higher responsibilities, than those who have it in their power to do better; or than those who are habitually engaged in bestowing favors. Thus, physicians have access to the hearts of men, which other persons have not. Thus, parents have an easy access to the minds of children, for they are constantly doing them good. And thus, Sunday-school teachers, whose whole work is a work of benevolence, have direct and most efficient access to the hearts of the men women and children committed to their care.
Verse 34. That lacked. That was in want; or whose wants were not supplied by the others. As many as, etc. The word used here is employed in a large, indefinite sense; but it would be improper to press it so as to suppose that every individual that became a Christian sold at once all his property. The sense, doubtless is, that this was done when it was necessary; they parted with whatever property was needful to supply the wants of their poor brethren. That it was by no means considered a matter of obligation, or enjoined by the apostles, is apparent from the case of Ananias, Acts 5:4. The fact that Joses is particularly mentioned, Acts 4:36, shows that it was by no means a universal practice thus to part with all their possessions. He was one instance in which it was done. Perhaps there were many other similar instances; but all that the passage requires us to believe is, that they parted with whatever was needful to supply the wants of the poor. This was an eminent and an instructive instance of Christian liberality, and of the power of the gospel in overcoming one of the strongest passions that ever exist in the human bosom--the love of money. Many of the early Christians were poor. They were collected from the lower orders of the people. But all were not so. Some of them, it seems, were men of affluence. The effect of religion was to bring them all, in regard to feeling at least, on a level. They felt that they were members of one family; belonging to the same Redeemer, and they, therefore, imparted their property cheerfully to their brethren. Besides this, they were about to go to other lands to preach the gospel. They were to leave their native country; and they cheerfully parted with their lands, that they might go and proclaim the unsearchable riches of Christ.
Verse 35. And laid them down, etc. That is, they committed the money received for their property to the disposal of the apostles, to distribute it as was necessary among the poor. This soon became a burdensome and inconvenient office, and they, therefore, appointed men who had especial charge of it, Acts 6:1-2,
Verse 36. And Joses. Many manuscripts, instead of Joses, here read Joseph. The reasons why this individual is selected and specified particularly were, doubtless, because he was a foreigner; because it was a remarkable instance of liberality; and because he subsequently distinguished himself in the work of the ministry. He gave himself, his property, his all, for the service of the Lord Jesus, and went forth to the self-denying labors of the gospel. He is elsewhere mentioned with honor in the New Testament, Acts 11:24,30; and usually as the companion of the apostle Paul. The occasion on which he became connected with Paul in the ministry was when he himself was sent forth by the church at Jerusalem to Antioch. There, it seems, he heard of the fame of Paul, and went to Tarsus to seek him, and brought him with him to Antioch, Acts 11:22-26. Before this, he had been acquainted with him, and had introduced him to the other apostles at a time when they were afraid of Paul and unwilling to acknowledge him as an apostle, Acts 9:26-27. At Antioch, Barnabas was led into dissimulation, by Peter in regard to the Gentiles, and was reproved by his friend and companion Paul, Ga 2:13. He and Paul continued to travel in fellowship until a dispute arose at Antioch about Mark; and they separated, Paul goes with Silas through Syria and Cilicia, and Barnabas with Mark sailing for his native place, Cyprus, Acts 15:35-41.
v32-37 The disciples loved one another. This was the blessed fruit of Christ's dying precept to his disciples and his dying prayer for them. Thus, it was then, and it will be so again when the Spirit shall be poured upon us from on high. The doctrine preached was the resurrection of Christ; a matter of fact, which being duly explained, was a summary of all the duties, privileges, and comforts of Christians. There were evident fruits of Christ's grace in everything they said and did. They were dead to this world. This was a great evidence of the grace of God in them. They did not take away others' property, but they were indifferent to it. They did not call it their own; because they had, in love, forsaken all for Christ, and were expecting to be stripped of all for cleaving to him. No marvel that they were of one heart and soul when they sat so close to the wealth of this world. In effect, they had all things common; for there was not any among them who lacked, care was taken for their supply. The money was laid at the apostles' feet. Great care should be taken in the distribution of public charity, that it is given to such as have need, such as are not able to procure a maintenance for themselves; those who are reduced to want for well-doing, and for the testimony of a good conscience, ought to be provided for. Here is one in particular mentioned, remarkable for this generous charity; it was Barnabas. As one designed to be a preacher of the gospel, he disentangled himself from the affairs of this life. When such dispositions prevail and are exercised according to the circumstances of the times, the testimony will have very great power upon others.
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