Luke the physician wrote how Peter and John were arrested for speaking to the people in the temple about the resurrection of the dead. They answered the “religious leaders” and were released after being threatened not to speak or teach in Jesus' name. Afterward the people prayed to the Lord, 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 spoke the word of God with boldness. 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. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all”, and in chapter four and verse thirty-four of the book of Acts Luke wrote, “neither was there any among them that lacked” where we read:
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,
The verse begins, “Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, ...” Luke began with the words, “neither was there any among them” which means “no and not in any way was there one person within the multitude of believers” “that lacked” which means “who was needy or destitute”: “for as many as were possessors of lands” or “because, since and on account that whoever and however many of the people who owned pieces of ground, fields or spaces” “or houses” which means “or inhabited edifices, dwelling places and domestics” “sold them” or “bartered or made trade with the inhabited edifices, dwelling places and domestics”. Luke shared how no one in this multitude of believers was “needy and destitute” because those who had means such as properties and dwelling places “bartered or traded” them.
The verse continues, “and brought the prices of the things that were sold, ...” Luke added the words, “and brought the prices” which means “and carried and produced the value, deference and worth” “of the things” or “belonging to the lands and houses” “that were sold” which means “which were traded and bartered”. Luke shared how the multitude of believers who “sold” their properties brought the worth of those goods together.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn the level of commitment these believers in Jesus had toward one another. None of them were “needy or destitute” because those who had means such as “houses and lands” “sold them” and brought the values together. We shall see who received those “offerings” in our next verse, but for now can we imagine such love and dedication toward fellow believers in Jesus? God loves people, and He desires to have a personal relationship with every one of them through His Son Jesus. God desires to have His believers live in unity and harmony with one another, and because He owns all things, those who share their belongings with others manifest His love toward one another. Let all who read these word carefully examine the response to the gospel of Jesus Christ and the outpouring of His Holy Spirit upon these early believers, and aspire to follow their example in any manner God leads.
Next time Luke shares how the people took their possession and,“laid them down at the apostles' feet”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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