Acts 4:32-33 32Now the large number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things belonging to him to be his own, but they had everything in common. 33And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon all of them.
Luke summarizes the situation in these verses and prepares to transition to a new topic and situation discussed in chapter 5. These verses reflect back on the fresh awareness of God’s presence that came as a result of the believers’ prayer for boldness for their mission. The verses prepare for the positive example of Joseph and the negative example of Ananias and Sapphira. Luke is not simply recounting history but also providing an intentional example of how believers should act.
His account begins with the affirmation of the unity of the growing number of believers. They were united in heart and soul, which reflects their deep sense of purpose. There were several supports to their unity. First was their common faith. One of the earliest descriptions of Christians is “believers” (given here as a substantival participle). The primary focus of their belief is given in verse 33: the resurrected Jesus. This point of their faith was indisputable for many of them because they had witnessed the risen Jesus. Others received their testimony as true. Second, they were filled with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit came in fulfillment of prophecy and Jesus’ promise. The Spirit grows the likeness of Christ in us, which is love. One way love is expressed is through unity. A third cause of unity comes as a result of the second. The Holy Spirit led them to a common mission of sharing their faith with others. A clear mission can bring people together as a powerful force. A fourth cause of unity was the clear and strong leadership of the apostles. The apostles were clear in their theology and teaching about Jesus’ resurrection. Their testimony came from personal experience. A final cause of unity is given at the end of verse 33 as God’s grace. They experienced God’s blessing in a special and powerful way because of their obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit in caring for one another.
The clearest evidence of God’s work in their lives was how they shared everything so that no one had a need. Common (koina) is related to the word “fellowship” (koinonia). It has the nuance of sharing in a communal way. The early believers pooled their resources because of their common faith. When the Holy Spirit moves and people respond in faith, the outcome will be compassionate love for the suffering. How can a person live in a mansion and worship with a brother who is starving in a shack? Luke will highlight the important element of motive in the following stories.
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