The First Believers Share Their Lives

The believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to breaking bread, and to prayer. Their shared life was steady and wholehearted, not something they visited only now and then.

A deep sense of awe came over everyone, and many signs and wonders were happening through the apostles. The believers stayed together and held their goods in common. When anyone had need, others sold possessions and shared with them.

This first summary says they continued day by day with one accord. They spent time in the temple and broke bread at home. They ate with glad, sincere hearts, praised God, and were regarded favourably by the people. Day by day, the Lord added those who were being saved.

Later, Acts gives another summary of the believers’ life together. The many who believed were of one heart and soul. They did not treat their possessions as belonging only to themselves, but shared what they had. The apostles kept giving powerful testimony about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on them all.

This second summary explains that there was no one in need among them, because owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds to the apostles. The money was distributed as each person needed. One example was Joses, also called Barnabas, a Levite from Cyprus, who sold a field and brought the money. How might this picture of shared life shape a church today?