Acts 4:37 kjv
Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
Acts 4:37 nkjv
having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.
Acts 4:37 niv
sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.
Acts 4:37 esv
sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.
Acts 4:37 nlt
He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles.
Acts 4 37 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 2:44-45 | All who believed were together and had all things in common; and they sold… | Communal sharing in the early church. |
| Acts 5:1-11 | A certain man named Ananias...sold a possession...kept back part of the price. | Contrast to Barnabas's complete generosity. |
| Deut 15:4 | There will be no poor among you; for the Lord will greatly bless you… | Ideal of care for the poor in God's community. |
| Lev 25:10 | You shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout… | Concept of Jubilee and just land redistribution. |
| Matt 19:21 | "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor…" | Jesus' teaching on radical giving. |
| Luke 12:33 | "Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags…" | Renouncing material possessions for heavenly treasure. |
| Luke 14:33 | "So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be…" | Cost of true discipleship, renouncing everything. |
| Phil 4:18 | "Indeed I have all and abound...a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice." | Generosity as a spiritual offering to God. |
| 2 Cor 8:9 | For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich… | Christ's self-impoverishment as ultimate model. |
| 2 Cor 9:7 | So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly… | Principles of cheerful and voluntary giving. |
| 1 Tim 6:17-19 | Command those who are rich in this present age…to be rich in good works. | Instruction for the wealthy to be generous. |
| Prov 3:9-10 | Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits… | Giving from one's wealth as worship. |
| Matt 6:19-21 | "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth…but lay up treasures in heaven." | Eternal perspective on material wealth. |
| Rom 12:1 | Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God… | Offering of self, which includes possessions. |
| Heb 13:16 | Do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. | Sharing possessions as pleasing sacrifice. |
| Phil 2:3-4 | Let nothing be done through selfish ambition…but in lowliness of mind… | Selflessness and considering others' needs. |
| Gal 2:10 | They desired only that we should remember the poor… | Importance of caring for the poor in the church. |
| James 2:15-16 | If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one… | Faith demonstrated through practical care. |
| 1 John 3:17-18 | Whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts… | Love in action, sharing material resources. |
| 2 Cor 9:8 | And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always… | God's enablement and blessing for generous giving. |
| Acts 6:1-3 | There arose a complaint…because their widows were neglected… | Practical administration of shared resources. |
| Acts 11:29-30 | Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief. | Later instance of communal aid from distant churches. |
| Acts 11:24 | For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great… | Describes Barnabas' character, tying to his generosity. |
Acts 4 verses
Acts 4 37 Meaning
Acts 4:37 describes Barnabas, a Levite from Cyprus, voluntarily selling a piece of land he owned and bringing the entire proceeds to the apostles, laying it at their feet for the collective good of the early Christian community. This act exemplified selfless generosity and communal care, showcasing the early believers' unity and willingness to share their resources, ensuring that "there was not a needy person among them." His actions were a powerful display of faith in action, serving as a positive example that contrasted with later events in the next chapter.
Acts 4 37 Context
Acts 4:37 concludes a section (Acts 4:32-37) that highlights the profound unity and shared life of the early Christian community in Jerusalem. Following intense persecution and bold witness by Peter and John, the believers are described as "one in heart and soul" (Acts 4:32). They considered their possessions not exclusively their own but as shared resources. This led to a situation where there was "no needy person among them" because those who owned land or houses sold them and brought the money to the apostles' feet for distribution. Barnabas is presented as the premier example of this radical communal sharing, directly preceding the negative counter-example of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5, thus serving as a benchmark of genuine Christian charity. Historically, this demonstrates a radical socio-economic departure from prevailing norms, where wealth accumulation was often for personal status and power, not communal well-being. This was not a command for all time but a Spirit-led, voluntary response to meet urgent needs within the specific Jerusalem context.
Acts 4 37 Word analysis
- and (καὶ - kai): Connects this specific example of Barnabas to the general description of believers selling property and giving to the apostles in Acts 4:34-35. It shows him as a prominent participant in the practice.
- he (omitted, implied by verb form): Refers to "Joseph, a Levite, a native of Cyprus, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement)" (Acts 4:36). This introduction highlights his background (Levite, Cyprus) and his impactful new name from the apostles, which foreshadows his ministry of encouragement.
- had (ὑπάρχων - hyparchōn, being/possessing): Present participle, indicating his ongoing ownership of the field at the time. It denotes his existing state or condition. The word also carries a sense of inherent being or what truly belongs to someone.
- a field (ἀγρόν - agron): A plot of land, possibly a farm or an investment property, indicating material wealth. Its ownership shows his economic stability outside of Temple service, typical for Levites scattered across the diaspora.
- sold (ἐπώλησεν - epōlēsen): Simple past tense, indicating a definitive completed action. This was a direct, intentional act of divesting wealth.
- it (omitted, implied by "field"): Refers directly to the field he owned.
- and brought (καὶ προσενέγκας - kai prosenenkas, having brought near): Connects the act of selling with the subsequent action of bringing. The participle "prosenenkas" indicates that the bringing happened as a direct result of, or concurrently with, the sale. The root word implies a ceremonial presentation or offering, elevating the act beyond a mere transaction.
- the money (τὸ χρῆμα - to chrēma): Refers specifically to the cash proceeds from the sale of the field. This indicates liquidity and immediate availability for the community's needs.
- and laid (ἔθηκεν - ethenken, placed/laid): Simple past tense, a deliberate act of placement. This signifies a voluntary surrender and dedication.
- it (omitted, implied by "money"): Refers to the money from the sale.
- at the apostles' feet (παρὰ τοὺς πόδας τῶν ἀποστόλων - para tous podas tōn apostolōn): This specific action highlights submission and recognition of apostolic authority. Laying something "at the feet" symbolized surrender, respect, and entrusting oversight. It also shows the apostles' role in managing the community's resources and needs, echoing the model of Temple offerings given to priests. This phrase signifies absolute devotion and trust.
Acts 4 37 Bonus section
The generosity of Barnabas is often seen as foundational to his later significant role in the expansion of the early church. His character, epitomized by this selfless act, enabled him to discern God's work in Antioch (Acts 11:22-24) and advocate for Saul/Paul (Acts 9:27, 11:25-26), proving his nature as an encourager and facilitator of ministry. This first mention of his generous giving lays the groundwork for understanding his strong spiritual qualities. The fact that he was a Levite from Cyprus might suggest he held status or had particular connections, yet he willingly gave it all for the church's communal needs, underscoring the revolutionary nature of the early Christian ethic that superseded ethnic, social, or economic distinctions.
Acts 4 37 Commentary
Acts 4:37 serves as a powerful testament to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in fostering radical generosity and unity within the early Christian community. Barnabas, whose name fittingly means "Son of Encouragement," embodies the communal spirit described in Acts 2 and 4. His act of selling land and laying the full proceeds at the apostles' feet was not compelled but flowed from a heart fully devoted to Christ and the welfare of fellow believers. This complete surrender of material assets for the good of others established him as a sterling example of genuine faith and love, a stark contrast to the deceitful partial offering of Ananias and Sapphira immediately following this narrative. It underscores that Christian giving is an act of worship, driven by love and expressed through humble trust in spiritual leadership for distribution. This early practice, while not a mandate for all times, reveals the profound compassion and selflessness that defined believers who understood their shared spiritual inheritance transcended individual material possessions, truly striving for a community where no one was in need.