A Study On The Book of Acts: Revival Continues | Acts 4:32-36

Revival Continues | Acts 4:32-36

Important points to keep in mind:

Acts 4:32 ~ All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.

The unity that is seen here is a wonderful evidence of God's work among the believers. Because of their unity, they regarded people as of more importance than anything else. 

The believers had all things in common. They recognized that God owns everything. Everything belongs to God and His people. Because God had touched their lives so deeply, they found it easy to share all things with those in need.

There was also probably an immediate reason for this significant sharing of all things in common. Since Pentecost there was a large number of those who believed and many of them were from distant lands. Without permanent homes and jobs in Jerusalem and Judea, those who stayed in Jerusalem to learn more about being followers of Jesus needed special support from the Christian community.

The great power that is mentioned in verse 33 is both the result and the root of the attitude we have seen in the previous verse (verse 32) - the believers put God first, people second, and material things a distant third.

Notice again the central place the resurrection of Jesus held in the message of the first Christians. They preached a resurrected Jesus.

Great grace was upon them all. Grace is God's favor. God's favor is evident everywhere.

Acts 4:34-35 ~ 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

This radical giving was absolutely necessary to meet the needs of this rapidly growing church. Remember, many of these Jerusalem Christians who responded to the Gospel on the day of Pentecost lived as refugees from abroad.

People didn’t wait for others to give. When a need arose, they gave what they had to help others.

They distributed to each as anyone had need: Unfortunately, this generosity of the early Christians soon began to be abused. Later the Apostle Paul taught regarding who should be helped and how they should be helped. Paul’s directions were that:

•             The church must discern who the truly needy are (1 Timothy 5:3).

•             If one can work to support himself, he is not truly needy and must provide for his own needs (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12, 1 Timothy 5:8, 1 Thessalonians 4:11).

•             If family can support a needy person, the church should not support them (1 Timothy 5:3-4).

•             Those who are supported by the church must make some return to the church body (1 Timothy 5:5, 10).

•             It is right for the church to examine moral conduct before giving support (1 Timothy 5:9-13).

•             The support of the church should be for the most basic necessities of living (1 Timothy 6:8).

Remember: This is radical. There are people who only speak today about the power of the Spirit and how people speak in tongues and do miracles. But actually in Acts, the Spirit goes deeper than that. The Spirit transforms us from the inside so that we serve God gladly. We are then devoted to one another and we strive to meet the needs of others. There were a lot of very poor people in Jerusalem, and they wanted to make sure that everybody is taken care of. All of this took place as people started believing in Jesus and professing their faith in Him. Both in words and actions. 

"32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all" ~ Acts 4:32-33 (NIV)

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