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Acts 4:23-37
(Acts 4:32-35)
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• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
  • The Bible Gateway: NRSV, RSV, NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary & sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • Primary texts (Pseudepigrapha, Targum, Midrash, Targum) about Messainic Expectation from (Rutgers University Dept of Religion) Mahlon H. Smith's Into His Own: Perspective on the World of Jesus companion to the historical study of Christian texts.
  • III.XII.5, Adversus Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons. (c. 180)
  • Concerning Flight in Persecution (paragraph 12) Tertullian (c. 212)
  • VIII.XII, Against Celsus, Origen. (c.246)
  • XIV.1, Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, Origen. (c.247)
  • Epistle VII -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 250)
  • On the Unity of the Church, Cyprian of Carthage (c. 250)
  • Concerning Works and Almsgiving -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 254)
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "True charity helps the need of the poor with its own loss, but in such a way that all things are done well and orderly."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "The disciples loved one another. This was the blessed fruit of Christ's dying precept to his disciples, and his dying prayer for them. Thus it was then, and it will be so again, when the Spirit shall be poured upon us from on high."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
    • "So long as that truly Christian love continued, they could not but have all things common."
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
  • From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
    • "It does not describe a community of goods, but a miraculous benevolence: (1) the goods were not a common fund, but each one had goods that he possessed; (2) he did not say that his goods were his own; (3) they used all as if it belonged to all; (4) there were none that lacked, for (5) those that had houses and lands sold them and brought the proceeds to the apostles"
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
  • Commentary, Acts 4:32-35,Margaret Aymer, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2017.
    • "The portrayals of Christ-following community in Acts 2:42-47 and 4:32-37 raise red flags for many Euro-American readers."
  • "Barnabas the Encourager," Dan Clendenin, Journey with Jesus, 2015.
    • "Barnabas had a reputation for coming alongside people, especially sketchy people, with consolation and comfort. He was a bridge-builder who brought people together. He "had your back" in tough times."
  • "Sell All Your Possessions!" Eric D. Barreto, ON Scripture, Odyssey Networks, 2015. Video: Teresa Ghilarducci on Economic Inequality in America and Why It Is a Faith Issue. Includes discussion questions.
    • "They were not of one heart and soul because they tried really hard. They did not sell their possessions because it was the right thing to do. Instead, everything they did was because of their belief in the resurrection."
  • The Center for Excellence in Preaching, Scott Hoezee, resources from Calvin Theological Seminary: Comments & Observations, Textual Points, illustration ideas, 2015.
    • "Our unity is never perfect. We have a hard time sharing all things in common."
  • "Signs, Wonders, and Movement Making," Sharron R. Blezard, Stewardship of Life, 2015.
  • Pulpit Fiction, plus podcast. Reflections of lectionary text, pop culture, current events, etc. Robb Mc Coy and Eric Fistler, 2015. 2014. 2013.
  • Commentary, Acts 4:32-35, Mitzi J. Smith, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2012.
    • "The Resurrection calls and enables us to perform powerful tangible acts that coincide with human need."
  • "Two Ways of Reading the Early Church," D Mark Davis, raw translation and questions, Left Behind and Loving It, 2012.
    • "Reading this text as a chiasm may suggest that the 'spiritual' qualities of the community (one heart and soul; witness to the resurrection; grace) leads to the 'social' qualities of declaiming ownership, sharing, and liberality."
  • "Holding All Things in Common," John C. Holbert, Patheos, 2012.
    • "But 4:34 offers the clearest reason why they found it necessary to hold all in common; they were primarily concerned that there be no one needy among them."
  • "Impossible Dream or Resurrection Reality?" Sharron R Blezard, Stewardship of Life, 2012.
    • "If you’ve been looking for a Sunday to teach or preach about stewardship, then April 15 is your lucky day. Look no further than the first reading, from the Acts of the Apostles!"
  • Radical Gratitude, lectionary-based stewardship, Northwest United Methodist Foundation. (.pdf)
  • "Churchtopia," Mark Stenberg, The Hardest Question, 2012.
    • "Was the church ever that innocent and pure?"
  • "The Politics of Acts 4:32-35," Timothy F. Simpson, Political Theology, 2012.
  • "The Unexpected Faith of Doubting Thomas," David R. Henson, 2012.
  • "Sharing Everything," Alan Brehm, The Waking Dreamer, 2009.
    • "It seems to me to be no coincidence that in virtually the same breath as Luke tells us that the early church shared their possessions, he also says that 'great grace' was upon them and that they bore witness to the resurrection of Jesus with 'great power'!"
  • Commentary, Acts 4:32-35, F. Scott Spencer, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2009.
    • "It is all too easy, then, for us not simply to pity the early church's practice, but to dismiss it altogether. But we thereby also run the risk of dismissing their vibrant resurrection faith that ignited their extraordinary common-fellowship (koinonia) in the first place."
  • Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • "'They Enjoyed the Favor of All the People,' Christian Generosity of Community and Compassion," The Journey with Jesus: Notes to Myself, Daniel B. Clendenin, Journey with Jesus Foundation, 2009.
    • "I wish that we Christians could somehow recapture the witness of those first believers who, because 'great grace was with them all,' demonstrated overflowing generosity to their neighbors, and who consequently 'enjoyed the favor of all the people.' Let that be what Tertullian called 'our distinctive mark.'"
  • "The Missing "FOR" and the Risen Life," The Journey with Jesus: Notes to Myself, Daniel B. Clendenin, Journey with Jesus Foundation.
    • "The power of apostles' testimony, the experience of grace in community, even the unity of the Body of Christ has a direct and, dare I say, CAUSAL relationship with the extent to which all of those of us who call ourselves Christians share what we have with those who don't have it."
  • Join the Feast, Acts 4:32-25, Greg Bolt, Union PSCE, 2009.
    • "...based on further reflection on this passage, it is more about grace than a vow of poverty."
  • Acts 4:23-33, Acts and the Easter Season, Donald Juel, Word & World Texts in Context, Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary, 1985.
  • "The Life of the Early Christians," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.
  • "Profession or Possession (Acts 4:32 - 5:11)," by Robert Deffinbaugh at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
    • "From a purely human point of view, to sell their possessions to meet the needs of others was folly, certain future economic disaster. Surely one must be financially prepared for the future. With one heart and soul, the saints continued to give of their resources to meet the needs of others."
  • "Global Poverty: Beyond Utopian Visions," Thomas E. Phillips, (other resources at) "Global Wealth," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2007.
    • "The crisis of poverty in the world?s largest cities, which is growing exponentially worse in the new era of globalization, should overwhelm us. However, it should not paralyze us. Scripture may not offer an easy answer, but it does provide a consistent moral imperative."
  • "Global Inequality," Douglas A. Hicks, (other resources at) "Global Wealth," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2007.
    • "Are the world?s rich and poor growing closer together or farther apart? Why should we care either way? The Christian story expands our moral vision to see every person not as a potential consumer in a global market, but as a reflection of God?s image."
• Recommended articles from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are linked below. ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices. Annotated list of "starting place" articles at ATLAS for this week's texts (includes direct links).
  • Finger, Reta Halteman, "Cultural Attitudes in Western Christianity toward the Community of Goods in Acts 2 and 4," Mennonite Quarterly Review, 2004.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Hamm, Dennis, "Acts 4:23-31 - A Neglected Biblical Paradigm of Christian Worship (Especially in Troubled Times)," Worship, 2003.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Juel, Donald, "Acts and the Easter Season," Word & World, 1985. (Section on this text begins on p. 210)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Mitchell, Alan C., S.J., "The Social Function of Friendship in Acts 2:44-47 and 4:32-37," Journal of Biblical Literature, 1992.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Olsen, Glenn W., "One Heart and One Soul (Acts 4:32 and 34) in Dhuoda's 'Manual'," Church History, 1992.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Parsons, Mikeal C., "The Character of the Lame Man in Acts 3-4," Journal of Biblical Literature, 2005.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Sölle, Dorothee, "Church: They Had Everything in Common," Theology Today, 1985.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Sterling, Gregory E., "'Athletes of Virtue': An Analysis of the Summaries in Acts (2:41-47; 4:32-35; 5:12-16)," Journal of Biblical Literature, 1994.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Thomsen, Mark, "Reflections on the Priority of Belonging," Currents in Theology and Mission, 2004.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Wieser, Thomas, "Community - Its Unity, Diversity and Universality," Semeia, 1985.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
• Sermons:
• With Children:
  • Worshiping with Children, Easter 2, Including children in the congregation's worship, using the Revised Common Lectionary, Carolyn C. Brown, 2015. 2012.
  • "Storypath Lectionary Links: Connecting Children's Literature with our Faith Story," April 12, 2015, Union Presbyterian Seminary. 2012.
  • "The Early Church," "Peter and John Arrested and Released," children's study, puzzles, coloring sheet, etc. Higher Praise Christian Center.
  • Acts 4 Crossword, Don Crownover's Bible Puzzles.
  • "Love without End," Mike Butler, sermons4kids.com.
• Drama:
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • Images for this week's readings, Pitts Theology Library Digital Image Archive.
• Hymns and Music:
  • “Pentecost Had Come,” Carolyn Winfrey Gillette’s hymn celebrating the early Church that “Daily they sold what they owned to help the poor; day by day the church was growing more and more. Spirit, change the way we live. Teach us how to gladly give, Guide us, as we seek to be faithful in our ministry. Tune: ARGENTINA 11.11.11.11 with Refrain (“Song of Hope”)
  • Hymnary.org, hymns, scores, media, information.
  • Contemporary/Praise Song suggestions, Together to Celebrate, David MacGregor.
  • Hymns with Scripture Allusions: Acts 4:24, 36. The Cyber Hymnal.
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
  • Peter
  • Pentecost/Holy Spirit
• Movies/scenes listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
  • Community
  • Interconnectedness
  • Prayer
  • Miracles
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of Acts

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