The Heartbeat of the Church

Introduction

I love Luke, and how he lays out a logical narrative. To illustrate what I mean, I want to look at Acts 4:32-37 in reverse order. We want to see/observe/witness an effect and then do some analysis to determine the root cause. Got it? cause and effect. We do this all the time. My engine is making a strange noise, what could be causing that? Hrm there is no oil in the crankcase (secondary cause.) I never check the oil to make sure it is at the correct level.. secondary cause. Lazy, root cause.

So lets start at verse 37.

Effect(s)

We are introduced to Joseph aka Barnabas, a Levite, but from Cyprus. As a cyprian, he may have never served in the temple, but he was, nonetheless a man of prominence. land was the principal source of wealth and social standing in the Greco-Roman world

So here we see a man, selling his land and giving, without fanfare mind you, the proceeds to the apostles.

Now this is the effect we observe, but it is also a secondary cause. Genuine Christian community involves mission and we see that Baranabus’ contribution would support the mission of the apostles.

Barnabas is a micro view of what the larger community was doing. Lets look at those effects.

Effect

Verse 34-35

Need and owners

sold and distributed (through the apostles)

needs were met by the community. Emphasis on community

Now wait a minute. This sounds a bit offensive.

From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs Karl Marx

Is christianity communist in nature? Is it compatible with communism?

No. Even if we lived under a socialist government and our finances were taken and redistributed to help the need, we would still, as a christian community, be called to care for those in need within our community.

2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV

7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

The greek word for brought is in the imperative tense, suggesting that this act occurred from time-to-time as the need arose.

Another Effect:

Verse 33:

Apostles were able to focus on preaching, and with power.

This is not preaching about money or sharing of possessions, it was about Jesus, about the resurrection.

Cause and Effect

The gospel message about God’s grace in Christ inspired a culture of self-giving in love

Causes

So, we see that the Christian community was meeting each others’ needs, Barnabas being a specific, but not unique example.

They had everything in common (from a resource perspective) but why? What caused this.

Vs 32:

One heart and soul (word relationships)

exegesis

πλῆθος (plethos) (play-thos)

we have “full number” this is one word in Greek, plethous (multitude) plethora)

had everything

in common (koinos)

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Acts of the Apostles 2. Their Impressive Generosity (4:32–37)

friendship in the Greco-Roman mold often involved ‘reciprocity between those who were social equals’, but Luke portrays a community where funds are provided for those who are needy without any thought of return, ‘and thus he is suggesting something more akin to family duties’.

Again, this is an effect, (they had everything in common) why, because..

They had one heart and soul

καρδία καὶ ⸀ψυχὴ μία kardia kai psyche mia

What does this mean?

Well, the book of acts is primarily an historical narrative of the growth of the church. It is descriptive. To get a keener insight into what this means, lets turn to Philippians. There is harmony here. The writer of Acts: Luke, The writer of Philippians: Paul, both books, inspired, ultimately written by the holy spirit. So we see Luke describing one heart and soul and

Philippians 2:1–4 ESV

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

NOT just sameness

everyone likes the same songs, length of sermons, food, etc.

No good english word for the concept here: same mind

same mind: φρονῆτε, phronete VERB

one mind: φρονοῦντες, phronountes VERB

Verb form of mind would be think, but in this case it is more specific to character and virtue, not mind-set, but attitude-set

⸀ • ψυχὴ WH Treg NA28 ] ἡ ψυχὴ RP Rosaria Butterfield, in her book The Gospel Comes with a Housekey talks about how churches have been breeding a culture of loneliness. Groups form within the church based on demographic lines and operate, largely in isolation form other groups. That is why we encourage our classes to be intergenerational.

What did they share?

time

food,

possessions

identity

They were unselfish with their resources

κοινός (koinos) mutual, common. it is the root of the word translated as fellowship: koinania