Acts 4:32-37

Sharing Blessings

Perhaps because Peter and John had overcome this first threatening act of the religious leaders, the church was united. Early Christian unity is very evident in the way they readily shared what they had with their fellow believers. Note, this was voluntary and not forced upon them by some governmental or church order. Instead, each Christian thought of his blessings as gifts from God to be used to the benefit of all the brethren. Interestingly, the generosity of individual members served to enhance the power of the apostles' preaching of the resurrection gospel (Acts 4:32-33).

In spite of the teachings of some, it cannot be shown that the church was a commune or that the apostles had control of everyone's property. Yet, individual believers sold land and brought the money to the apostles to be distributed as needed among the family of God. Apparently, Joses, or Joseph, was so well known for such acts of kindness and encouragement, that he was nicknamed Barnabas, or son of consolation, by the apostles (Acts 4:34-37).