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them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apos tles’ feet: and distribution was made to every man according as he (any one) had need.” No man looked upon his own inter ests, “but every man upon the things o f others” (cf. 2 Cor. 9:7, 8 ; Phil.\4:15, f t ) . The principle upon whiclr they made dis tribution was a truly Christian principle— “ unto each according as any one had need.” Every true Christian will consider his property not as his own, but as belonging to the whole church and to be used for them (1 Tim. 6:17-19-; , 1 John 3 :17-19). The result was that there was no one among them that lacked. There was enough for all and all got enough, because no one claimed a superfluity for himself. It would be fortunate if society could be reorganized on this Christian principle today, but it cannot, because, society is not made up of Christians, If all men were born again and made partakers o f Christ’s love such a state o f society would be practicable, but it would not be practicable under existing circumstances, where the great majority are unregenerated. But while society can not be thus reorganized today, we as indi viduals can act out the principles here illus trated. vs. 36, 37. “And Joses (Joseph), who by .the apostles was sur-named Barnabas (which is being interpreted, The son of consolation ) , a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus (a man o f Cyprus by race), having land (a field), sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.” The pre-eminent illustration o f Christian love in the brotherhood in Jerusalem, was Barnabas. He had a field and at once sold it and brought the money and laid it at the Apostles’ feet. I f we had more Barnabases today who, would unload their real estate and use the money realized, for the sake o f others, we would have less labor trou bles and fewer missionary deficits. ch. 5:1, 2. “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, and kept back part o f the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’
v. 33. “And with great power gave the apostles (their) witness of. the resurrec tion of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was Upon them all.” The power o f the Holy Spirit was manifested not merely in the love and unity which He produced in the brotherhood, but in their testimony to the Lord Jesus, He gave them “great power” in their witness to the resurrection o f the Lord Jesus. W e see here what was the central truth to which the Apostolic^ company bore witness, viz., the (resurrec tion o f Jesus. W e see this all through the Acts o f the Apostles, and the resurrection o f the Lord Jesus should be the central point in our" testimony today. That abso lutely certain resurrection carries with it everything that is essential in Christianity. There is much testimony to the Lord Jesus in our day, but it is not always “with great power.” It is evident that there is nothing more needed by the individual believer, and by the church as a whole, today than a new filling with the Holy Spirit, that there may again be a manifestation o f love, unity and power like that which we here see. The Greek word translated “gave” in this verse is a peculiar word; it occurs 47 times in the New Testament and always has in it the thought o f giving something due. So it is plain that “their witness of the resurrection-of the Lord Jesus” was something the Apostles owed to the world, and it is something that every one who knows Jesus Christ owes to the world to give their witness to Him (cf. Rom. 1 :14, IS). When one is “filled with the Holy Spirit,” it is o f Jesus Christ, and especially o f His resurrection, that he will bear wit ness. Still another result o f their being filled with the Holy Spirit was that “ great grace was upon them all.” Grace means “ favor.” W e are not told whether it was God’s favor or man’s favor that was upon them; it seems therefore to imply both (cf. Luke 2:52). The reason why “great grace was upon them all”-was because love and self-sacrifice abounded. - vs. 34, 35. “Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as—many as were possessors of lands, or houses, sold
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