Thousands Baptized at Pentecost in JerusalemBible World
2:45Acts 2:45
And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
The believers sold their houses, lands and goods and divided the price among all as each had need, with the apostles giving homes and sustenance to converts who had lost livelihood by following Christ. This was not the setting up of a common-property system, but the entrusting of means to the apostles to relieve poor believers and to carry forward the work of the gospel. It followed ten days of united prayer, confession and putting away of differences after Christ's ascension, when the promised outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost gave power for witness and added about three thousand souls who continued steadfast in doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayers. The sharing came because the Spirit led them to count nothing they owned as their own but as the Lord's, held for the advance of the preaching of Christ throughout the world. When that same Spirit moves hearts today, God's people again treat all they have as entrusted to relieve the needy and advance His cause, and that wholehearted benevolence brings new life and power.
Context and Meaning
After Christ ascended, the disciples spent ten days together in Jerusalem in prayer, deep heart-searching, confession of sin, putting away all differences, and waiting for the promise of the Father, drawing close together in Christian fellowship. The Lord then fulfilled His promise by a wonderful outpouring of His Spirit on the day of Pentecost, which declared that Christ's inauguration in heaven was complete. Peter preached that the speaking with tongues was the fulfillment of God's promise to pour out His Spirit on all flesh, with wonders shown and salvation for all who call on the Lord. Through that gift the disciples received power to be witnesses for the risen Saviour in Jerusalem, in all Judea, and to the uttermost parts of the earth, and God used them on that occasion to give that message to the multitudes assembled at Jerusalem for the great religious festival.
About three thousand souls were added that day, and the united believers were together in one accord with all things common. They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship and breaking of bread and prayers, continued daily with one accord in the temple and from house to house eating with gladness and singleness of heart, praised God and had favor with all the people. Fear came upon every soul, many wonders and signs were done by the apostles, and the Lord added to the church daily those being saved.
The verse means that the believers sold their possessions and goods and parted the proceeds to all men as every man had need. That sharing was part of the fellowship and teaching that followed their reception of the message and their growth in faith through the Spirit's work, and it belongs to the missionary spirit expected to follow Pentecost. Its practical force is seen when believers meet needs such as helping those unable to afford to attend a gathering.
The selling was not to establish a common-property system, but those who had property entrusted the proceeds to the apostles to meet the needs of poor believers and to support the spreading work of the gospel. Believers who had money and possessions willingly gave them up to meet the urgent needs of converts who had lost their homes and livelihoods because they followed Christ. The apostles distributed these resources to each person according to need, providing the displaced believers with homes and sustenance.
The growth described around the verse traces partly to impressions made by Jesus' trial and condemnation, which worked on the minds of many and took effect after His resurrection, so that the experience and conviction of many who were added dated from that time. The verse's teaching about sharing possessions is not explained by mention of a small, organized church.
Spirit-Filled Generosity Today
The sharing flowed from the moving of the Holy Spirit, which led believers to count nothing they owned as their own but as belonging to the Lord. They held all they had for the advance of the wonderful reformation and for using their resources to the utmost for preaching Christ throughout the world. This Spirit-filled way of life expressed their unity as brethren and stands as the model for believers. With one desire for the salvation of souls and rejoicing in the sweetness of communion with saints, they lived out Christ's love in daily association with one another. They became tender, thoughtful, self-denying, and willing to make any sacrifice for the truth's sake, practicing self-denial and self-sacrifice to help others and advance their salvation. They revealed in unselfish deeds and not only in words the love Christ had commanded and enjoined upon them, striving by holy words and actions to awaken and kindle that love in other hearts in willing obedience to the new commandment, so closely united with Christ as to fulfill all His requirements and magnify in their lives the power of a Saviour who justifies them by His righteousness.
The verse expresses the grace of Christ in the words and works of believers, with lips speaking to the praise of God and the hand stretched out in beneficence for the help of the perishing, so that light shines forth to those in darkness. This liberality was joined with the conversion of thousands in a day. It shows primitive, apostolic Christianity, in which God's people wholeheartedly accept His principle of benevolence and obey the leading of the Holy Spirit by using what they possess for the good of others and the advancement of God's work. When this spirit of primitive Christianity enters the hearts of those who claim to believe the truth, it brings new life and power. Its example teaches believers today to treat property as entrusted to them by God and not as their own, and to use it to advance the gospel and to relieve the needy and helpless with tender compassion like that which Christ showed.
When the same Spirit actuates believers today they give back to God of His own with the same liberality, holding themselves and all they have in readiness to meet the demands of the cause of God, and a wide and far-reaching work will be accomplished. The early disciples' willing surrender of worldly possessions for Christ's cause is reflected when later Christians sacrifice what they own and shelter banished believers. It is reflected when believers sell what they own to send support in emergency to missionary fields, with America urged to send such support, and when practical needs are met such as helping twenty-six people who could not otherwise afford to attend a camp-meeting. The second chapter of Acts, to which the verse belongs, is to be read and received and presented to others, teaching deeper piety and the sincere meekness of Christ. With the whole book of Acts it stands as a lesson for those in Washington, D.C. and for all, calling each individual everywhere to humble the heart and to be converted daily.
Its early-church history during and immediately after Pentecost is to be studied because God's people must pass through similar experiences. Its account of converts added points to the apostles' days as the model for people being converted, baptized, and added to the church. The same Pentecostal power is promised to believers who unite with Christ and work to win souls. It belongs to a work done in the simplicity of true godliness where the sick are healed, the spirit of intercession rests upon believers, urgent and broken-hearted appeals subdue hearts before the Lord, many confess their sins, doors are thrown open on every side for the proclamation of the truth, genuine conversions are made, and the voice of intercession becomes the voice of rejoicing, which is the same kind of work that was done in 1843 and 1844.
The believers sold their houses, lands and goods and divided the price among all as each had need, with the apostles giving homes and sustenance to converts who had lost livelihood by following Christ.
This was not the setting up of a common-property system, but the entrusting of means to the apostles to relieve poor believers and to carry forward the work of the gospel.
It followed ten days of united prayer, confession and putting away of differences after Christ's ascension, when the promised outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost gave power for witness and added about three thousand souls who continued steadfast in doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayers.
The sharing came because the Spirit led them to count nothing they owned as their own but as the Lord's, held for the advance of the preaching of Christ throughout the world.
When that same Spirit moves hearts today, God's people again treat all they have as entrusted to relieve the needy and advance His cause, and that wholehearted benevolence brings new life and power.
Context and Meaning
After Christ ascended, the disciples spent ten days together in Jerusalem in prayer, deep heart-searching, confession of sin, putting away all differences, and waiting for the promise of the Father, drawing close together in Christian fellowship. The Lord then fulfilled His promise by a wonderful outpouring of His Spirit on the day of Pentecost, which declared that Christ's inauguration in heaven was complete. Peter preached that the speaking with tongues was the fulfillment of God's promise to pour out His Spirit on all flesh, with wonders shown and salvation for all who call on the Lord. Through that gift the disciples received power to be witnesses for the risen Saviour in Jerusalem, in all Judea, and to the uttermost parts of the earth, and God used them on that occasion to give that message to the multitudes assembled at Jerusalem for the great religious festival.
About three thousand souls were added that day, and the united believers were together in one accord with all things common. They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship and breaking of bread and prayers, continued daily with one accord in the temple and from house to house eating with gladness and singleness of heart, praised God and had favor with all the people. Fear came upon every soul, many wonders and signs were done by the apostles, and the Lord added to the church daily those being saved.
The verse means that the believers sold their possessions and goods and parted the proceeds to all men as every man had need. That sharing was part of the fellowship and teaching that followed their reception of the message and their growth in faith through the Spirit's work, and it belongs to the missionary spirit expected to follow Pentecost. Its practical force is seen when believers meet needs such as helping those unable to afford to attend a gathering.
The selling was not to establish a common-property system, but those who had property entrusted the proceeds to the apostles to meet the needs of poor believers and to support the spreading work of the gospel. Believers who had money and possessions willingly gave them up to meet the urgent needs of converts who had lost their homes and livelihoods because they followed Christ. The apostles distributed these resources to each person according to need, providing the displaced believers with homes and sustenance.
The growth described around the verse traces partly to impressions made by Jesus' trial and condemnation, which worked on the minds of many and took effect after His resurrection, so that the experience and conviction of many who were added dated from that time. The verse's teaching about sharing possessions is not explained by mention of a small, organized church.
Spirit-Filled Generosity Today
The sharing flowed from the moving of the Holy Spirit, which led believers to count nothing they owned as their own but as belonging to the Lord. They held all they had for the advance of the wonderful reformation and for using their resources to the utmost for preaching Christ throughout the world. This Spirit-filled way of life expressed their unity as brethren and stands as the model for believers. With one desire for the salvation of souls and rejoicing in the sweetness of communion with saints, they lived out Christ's love in daily association with one another. They became tender, thoughtful, self-denying, and willing to make any sacrifice for the truth's sake, practicing self-denial and self-sacrifice to help others and advance their salvation. They revealed in unselfish deeds and not only in words the love Christ had commanded and enjoined upon them, striving by holy words and actions to awaken and kindle that love in other hearts in willing obedience to the new commandment, so closely united with Christ as to fulfill all His requirements and magnify in their lives the power of a Saviour who justifies them by His righteousness.
The verse expresses the grace of Christ in the words and works of believers, with lips speaking to the praise of God and the hand stretched out in beneficence for the help of the perishing, so that light shines forth to those in darkness. This liberality was joined with the conversion of thousands in a day. It shows primitive, apostolic Christianity, in which God's people wholeheartedly accept His principle of benevolence and obey the leading of the Holy Spirit by using what they possess for the good of others and the advancement of God's work. When this spirit of primitive Christianity enters the hearts of those who claim to believe the truth, it brings new life and power. Its example teaches believers today to treat property as entrusted to them by God and not as their own, and to use it to advance the gospel and to relieve the needy and helpless with tender compassion like that which Christ showed.
When the same Spirit actuates believers today they give back to God of His own with the same liberality, holding themselves and all they have in readiness to meet the demands of the cause of God, and a wide and far-reaching work will be accomplished. The early disciples' willing surrender of worldly possessions for Christ's cause is reflected when later Christians sacrifice what they own and shelter banished believers. It is reflected when believers sell what they own to send support in emergency to missionary fields, with America urged to send such support, and when practical needs are met such as helping twenty-six people who could not otherwise afford to attend a camp-meeting. The second chapter of Acts, to which the verse belongs, is to be read and received and presented to others, teaching deeper piety and the sincere meekness of Christ. With the whole book of Acts it stands as a lesson for those in Washington, D.C. and for all, calling each individual everywhere to humble the heart and to be converted daily.
Its early-church history during and immediately after Pentecost is to be studied because God's people must pass through similar experiences. Its account of converts added points to the apostles' days as the model for people being converted, baptized, and added to the church. The same Pentecostal power is promised to believers who unite with Christ and work to win souls. It belongs to a work done in the simplicity of true godliness where the sick are healed, the spirit of intercession rests upon believers, urgent and broken-hearted appeals subdue hearts before the Lord, many confess their sins, doors are thrown open on every side for the proclamation of the truth, genuine conversions are made, and the voice of intercession becomes the voice of rejoicing, which is the same kind of work that was done in 1843 and 1844.