sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Parallel translations
- WEB having a field, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
- KJV Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
- NKJV having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
- NASB owned a tract of land. So he sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
- NLT He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Barnabas sold a field and laid the money at the apostles' feet. His sincere generosity sets the standard the next chapter will contrast.
Overview
Barnabas's act of selling his field and giving the proceeds exemplifies the wholehearted, honest generosity of the early church. His example stands in stark contrast to the deceit of Ananias and Sapphira that immediately follows. The verse highlights that true giving flows from a sincere heart, not a desire for recognition. Barnabas shows what Spirit-filled generosity looks like, giving freely for the good of God's people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Acts 4:34–35There were no needy ones among them, because those who owned lands or houses would sell their property, bring the proceeds from the sales,
- Acts 5:1–2Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property.
- Matt 19:29And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for the sake of My name will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 4:37 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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