Acts 4:32-35 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

And the multitude of them that believed All the individuals, male and female, that, having believed on Jesus, had joined themselves to the Christian Church, numerous as they were; were of one heart and one soul Were perfectly united in love to God and one another, according to the full meaning of Christ's prayer, John 17:20-23. Their desires and designs, their hopes and joys, were the same; neither said any of them Ουδε ' εις ελεγεν, not so much as one of them, in so great a multitude, said, that aught of the things which he possessed was his own A natural consequence this of that union of heart which they had with each other; but they had all things in common Each was as welcome to participate of them as the original proprietor could be, being, in those new bonds of Christian fellowship, as dear to him as himself. And with great power That is, with a divine force of eloquence and of miracles; gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus That main pillar and chief corner-stone of Christianity, supporting and connecting the whole fabric of it in all its parts. And great grace was upon them all A large measure of the inward power of the Holy Ghost, directing and influencing all their tempers, words, and works. Neither was there any among them that lacked Though many of them were far from their habitations, and many others in low circumstances of life. We may observe, this is added as a proof that great grace was upon them all; and it was the immediate, necessary consequence of it; yea, and must be to the end of the world. In all ages and nations the same cause, the same degree of grace, could not but, in like circumstances, produce the same effect. For as many as were possessors of lands, &c., sold them Not that there was any particular command for this; but there was great grace and great love, of which this was the natural fruit. And brought the prices, and laid them at the apostles' feet To be disposed of as they should direct; and distribution was made First by the apostles themselves; afterward by them whom they appointed, with the strictest fidelity; unto every man according as he had need For his present relief; the apostles deeming themselves sufficiently happy, while living in the same plain manner with their brethren, in the opportunity which the divine goodness gave them, of being so helpful to others, both in things temporal and spiritual.