There was not a needy person among them - Acts 4 - Make affluence history

(Click here to read Acts 4)

Acts 4:1-37 (ESV)

 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.

Peter and the other apostles are preaching the message of the Kingdom in the name of Jesus in Jerusalem, only a few weeks after the crowds had first arrived with him and taken over the temple courts, resulting in his execution. Thousands are beginning to believe and live in this new freedom in only a short time. Now this radical new community is performing miraculous healings in Jerusalem, just as Jesus did. The authorities are not pleased.

They pointedly ask the apostles the same question they had asked Jesus when he occupied the courtyard. By whose authority did they do such a thing? When they asked Jesus, he had wisely avoided their question. When they ask the apostles, they answer boldly and directly. Peter tells them plainly that it is by Jesus' authority this man was healed. It is by the authority of the one who was rejected, despised, and killed. Furthermore, his is now the highest authority, and the only authority that brings freedom.

Acts 4:12 (ESV)

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

The power of the miracle could not be mistaken. A resistance group could protest the powers of the religious elite or the empire, but they couldn't heal a man who could not walk, as these did. To heal is an authority above protest, above simple organizing. These communities were not common people fighting the system. These communities were representing a new authority on earth. This was the Kingdom of God among them.

Acts 4:13-14, 16-17 (ESV)
13  Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. 14 But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.
16  . . . “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.”

Jesus had warned his disciples that the authorities of the old order would not give up their power easily. He also told them that the Holy Spirit, the same one that gives them the power to preach with boldness and heal the sick, would give them the words to say when brought before the courts. Peter and apostles are told the church must no longer speak in the name (by the authority) of Jesus.

But Jesus is their authority. He is the King of the Kingdom of which they are now citizens. These religious leaders are only the beginning. These Kingdom communities were ready to resist Rome itself. They would not obey this command to stop.

Acts 4:19-21 (ESV)
19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” 21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened.

Just as the authorities had been afraid of Jesus when he occupied the temple, they were now afraid of these his followers. They could not argue against the reality of their authority. Just as with Jesus, they were afraid of the crowds. The masses were affecting the policy of the corrupt elite. Everything was changing now, just as Jesus said.

The authorities had the apostles beaten before releasing them.

The apostles left their presence excited, and returned to the community praising God (see also James 1:2-3). An arrest and detention wasn't something to fear. They were excited by the opportunity to continue to share the truth of the Kingdom of God. With their beating, they shared in the suffering of Jesus. Together with all the believers, they prayed for more boldness to speak the Gospel in the face of threats and opposition.

Acts 4:31 (ESV)
And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

Here is the second time Acts says they are “filled with the Holy Spirit” (see Acts 2:4). The first time, they are filled and “begin to speak with other tongues”. This time they are filled and “speak the word of God with boldness”. The community is continuously being empowered by the Holy Spirit with the authority of the Kingdom of God to live and speak daily as free citizens under the flag of the cross.

This is the power by which they could live truly free and just lives, sharing generously together as though they had no need to carry judgment or power or control or wealth for themselves. With the authority of the Kingdom planted in their hearts, none of them needed to seek or use power or acclaim or wealth to manipulate or demand their own way. Each was submitted under the One King, and all were provided for.

Acts 4:32-35 (ESV)
32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34  There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

This is the powerful testimony of a Kingdom community. Citizens of the Kingdom are of one heart. The Gospel of the Kingdom really is Good News for the poor, just as Jesus said. Let there be no misunderstanding that followers of the Way needed to be poor or seek poverty. The Good News was that in the Kingdom, no one needed to be poor anymore.

In Jesus' community, this isn't because of some independent self-sufficiency on the part of the poor, nor a special doctrine of wealth that they believed that would cause money to magically come to them. Just as there were no needy among them, there were no exceedingly wealthy among them either. The landowners and asset holders opened their hands and gave generously. This community held nothing for themselves. They held their lives loosely, because they knew they were held firmly in the arms of their King.

The principle of radical, voluntary, generosity without coercion shown in Acts 2:42-47 does not stop with the early church. Later, Paul writes to a church of means about a church of less means, and says it is their responsibility as Kingdom family to meet their needs. Paul tells the church that it is Jesus' example and the Father's promise of provision that leads to this generosity.

2 Corinthians 8:9-15 (ESV)

⁹ For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. ¹⁰ And in this matter I give my judgement: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. ¹¹ So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. ¹² For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. ¹³ For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness ¹⁴ your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. ¹⁵ As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”

This is exactly the message John the Baptist had brought at the beginning of Luke. Those who had two coats were told they must give one away. For those who desire to hang onto their wealth, such a symbol of surrender and common unity may be frightening. But Jesus himself had warned the rich in Luke 6 that the Kingdom would bring a Great Reversal, and that they would mourn at its coming. This is only the beginning, an invitation and a portent of things to come.

(more on this radical new generosity - see notes on Acts 2)

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v2 – The miracle gave authority to the apostle’s message. The ruling religious elite did not want to lose their power.

v4 – The gospel could not be jailed

v7 – What authority do you have?

v10 – Jesus’ authority

v12 – Key verse

v13 – see 2 Corinthians 4:7

v19 – Jesus’ authority is higher than yours. They DID NOT submit to this command. They were submitted to Jesus.

v26 – The Kings and Rulers rebel against Jesus. We resist their rebellion.

v30 – praying for miracles

vv32-37 – Common ownership again. See 2:42-48

v32 – Open handed ownership

v34 – No Christian was poor

(Click here to read Acts 4)

Pentecost and the Radical Jesus People Community - Acts 2

(Click here to read Acts 2)

Acts 2:1-4 (ESV)

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

That mixed multitude waiting in the upper room were together for only a few days before the feast of Pentecost arrived. As they prepared together to celebrate the giving of the law at Sinai, the first covenant God made with his people, God prepared to visit them again, in fire, to write the New Covenant on their hearts.

It is necessary for us to consider and remember this event and its consequences on all that follows. Jesus had preached and lived the Kingdom of God, wherein a Great Reversal was going to turn the entire world back to justice as God intended. The corruption and striving that marked the culture of the empires would be replaced by humility and generosity. In the New Kingdom, all would live and love equally, for all were equally saved from sin, corruption, oppression, and death.

And the expression of the first followers did, indeed look like an outpost of this Kingdom. But their practice was not based on simply following Jesus' example or teaching alone. They lived in Holy Spirit power. The Kingdom of God set every authority on its head. A utopian commune can share all things in common, but only a Holy Spirit filled, Gospel believing community can raise the dead and heal the sick. And that's exactly what they did.

This divine event at the beginning of Acts 2 is the initial seed that precipitates all that comes after it. Jesus is no longer among his people. But Holy Spirit, the third member of the Godhead, is now among them, dwelling within them, empowering them to truly live the life of the Kingdom of which Jesus preached. The Kingdom is among them. The mustard seed has fallen. The living yeast is added to the dough.

It has begun, the beginning of the end of the age of empire.

Acts 2:5-6 (ESV)
5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.

Pentecost brought Jewish travelers from all over the known world. The religious faithful traveled to their holy city, Jerusalem, to worship at the rebuilt temple, the same impressive fifteen-story structure Jesus and his followers had occupied in the week before his death. This diaspora had lived apart long enough that they'd learned the language of the lands where they had settled. Though still one faith, they now represented many cultures, languages, and histories.

Appropriate, then, that on this day the power of the Holy Spirit would gift the waiting disciples with the ability to preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God in every language unknown to them. God's message would not be confined to their limited abilities. They were now clothed with power to live and share wherever, however, with whomever God wished.

This Good News was for everyone, everywhere. This first Jewish mixed multitude was a good reflection of the gospel's eventual universality.

As the excited and empowered disciples left the building, an international crowd drew in to see. They each heard the people speaking about God in their own language. As one would imagine anyone doing when witnessing such a miracle, some of the crowd assumed the disciples were drunk.

At this, Peter, the disciple that denied Jesus at his trial only a few chapters before, stood up and began to preach. This, the very first Christian sermon, ever, began with an hilarious but necessary introduction.

Acts 2:14-21 (ESV)
14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

17  “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
   and your young men shall see visions,
   and your old men shall dream dreams;
18 even on my male servants and female servants
   in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above
   and signs on the earth below,
   blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke;
20  the sun shall be turned to darkness
   and the moon to blood,
   before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

 
The very first gospel sermon begins with the end. Jesus is coming back, and the world will be forever changed.

Peter goes on to explain how Jesus is the fulfillment of all the scriptures. His life and death and resurrection has changed the entire order, setting us free from all bondage, even the bondage of religious legalism.

This man who had been afraid to identify with Jesus in the dark around a campfire now stood before thousands and preached boldly that this Jesus had changed the order, and was now the new King. He told the people to repent, get in the right side of the Kingdom, be baptized in the name of Jesus and they would also receive the Holy Spirit, the seed of the Kingdom that would change the world.

3000 joined the church that day, by the power of the conviction of the gospel preached in the anointing of Holy Spirit. And this was just the beginning. 

Acts 2:42-47 (ESV)
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

And this is the beautiful beginning of the church, the signposts of the Kingdom of Heaven, alive in the world, and actively loving all people everywhere, while resisting the corrupt systems that kept those people bound. 

The principle of radical, voluntary, generosity without coercion shown in Acts 2:42-47 (and Acts 4 - see notes) does not stop with the early church. Later, Paul writes to a church of means about a church of less means, and says it is their responsibility as Kingdom family to meet their needs. Paul tells the church that it is Jesus' example and the Father's promise of provision that leads to this generosity.

2 Corinthians 8:9-15 (ESV)

⁹ For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. ¹⁰ And in this matter I give my judgement: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. ¹¹ So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. ¹² For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. ¹³ For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness ¹⁴ your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. ¹⁵ As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”

(for more on radical generosity of the early Kingdom communities, see notes on Acts 4)

In the power of the Holy Spirit, the following are the marks of the church when it first began in Acts 2.

1) The local church was made up of regenerated, Holy Spirit filled believers in Jesus (context– vv36-41).

2) The local church accepted and submitted to the authority of the apostles and scripture (v42).

3) The local church (literally “ecclesia” in Greek, meaning “gathering”) met together regularly (v46).
When they gathered they
a. studied and learned scripture together (v42).
b. praised God together (v47). They probably shared stories of miracles (v43) and provision (v45).
c. worshiped God and were in awe of his miracles together (v43).
d. participated in God’s Kingdom by sharing and being generous together (vv44,5).

4) The local church broke bread together (vv42,46) and baptized people (context v38. implied v47.) as visible symbols to remember the good news of Jesus and the Kingdom of God.

5) The local church was in unity (v44) and they shared real life together (v46).
The unity of the church in Christ was expressed by the members in a diversity of God given gifts through faith.

6) The local church was an agent of God’s demonstrative love on Earth. (v43,44,45. v47 – favour – evidence of their love)
The church loved
a. God (Mt 22:37).
b. each other (Jn 3:14;13:34-35).
c. their neighbours (Mt 22:39; Rm 13:9-10).
d. strangers (Hb 13:1-2).
e. their enemies (Mt 5:43-45).

7) The local church shared the GOSPEL of the Kingdom of God with the world.
(v47, context – Ax 1:8, Jn 3:16-17)
This is God’s mission to the world.


Jesus inaugurated his ministry in his hometown of Galilee (Luke 4). He traveled across the land from his hometown to Jerusalem, the centre of cultural influence in his world, gathering disciples and preaching to the crowds. It is from here in Jerusalem that these disciples will now launch their ministry.

In the power of the Holy Spirit, like Jesus did in Galilee, they will remain first in Jerusalem, then move beyond it as the message of the Kingdom travels toward Rome, the centre of the world's political and military power, establishing Kingdom Outpost communities like this one along the way, more seeds of the Kingdom whose roots find their way into the cracks of the empire's very foundation.

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v4 – Every one of them, including women, and those not designated “apostles” began to speak in other unknown languages. This should be considered when we discuss the significance and purpose of tongues.
v6 – Because they were all speaking different languages, or because that’s what they heard? Bewilderment – reminds me of the town of Babel when languages were confused, but in this case, it brings everyone from every nation into one place.
v7 – Galileans – uneducated people with a “hillbilly” rep.
v11 – Arabs are called Jews here.
v15 – A great intro to history’s first recorded gospel sermon.
v17 – ALL PEOPLE – significant. He’s still only preaching to Jews.
v21 – EVERYONE who calls on the name of the Lord.
v33 – The Godhead
v36 – The crux of the matter.
vv42-47 – The first church
Dedicated to teaching
Communion
Prayer
Moving of the Holy Spirit
Common ownership
Meeting daily in churches and homes
Gratitude
Favour
Salvation
See 4:32-37

(Click here to read Acts 2)