Acts 4:37
in Acts 4sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
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.
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This verse in Acts 4
Commentary
11 notes on this verseAnd he brought the price and laid it at the feet of the apostles. About this, Arator says: They prove that they should be deprived, what they avoid touching and teach that gold should be trampled, placed under the feet. From which earthly cares come …
This site's exposition
Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus
on Acts 4:36-37
Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus called Barnabas, meaning Son of Encouragement, sold a field and laid the money at the apostles' feet. The named case sets up the contrast with Ananias in the next chapter, whose gift is given the opposite way.
This site's exposition
sold a field he owned
Wesley notes that as a Levite Barnabas had no inheritance in Israel, so the land may have lain in Cyprus. Erasmus calls him an example for many and says he laid the money down as though it were a trifle. Bede, following Arator, sees gold trampled underfoot.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
First, he recalls the one who had succeeded, namely Joseph, as a greater rebuke to Ananias, because with so many persons doing these things, and so many signs, and so great a grace, none of them was instructed by him. But the calling of Joseph …
The writer is now about to relate the affair of Ananias and Sapphira, and in order to show that the man's sin was of the worst description, he first mentions him who performed the virtuous deed; that, there being so great a multitude all doing the same, so great grace, so great miracles, he, taught by none of these, but blinded by covetousness, brought destruction upon his own head. "Having land," meaning that this was all he possessed, "sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the Apostles' feet."
"And Joses, who by the Apostles was surnamed Barnabas, which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation." I do not think that this is the same with the companion of Matthias; for that person was also called Justus and Barsabas, but this, Joses and "Barnabas" ["son of consolation"]. I suppose he also received the name from his virtue, as being qualified and suited for this duty. "A Levite, and of the country of Cyprus by birth." Observe on all occasions how the writer indicates the breaking up of the Law. But how was he also a "Cyprian by birth?" Because they then even removed to other countries, and still were called Levites. "Having land, sold it, and brought the price, and laid it at the Apostles' feet."
The Medieval Church1 voice
It seems to me that "Joseph" is not the same person who is mentioned together with Matthias (see Acts 1:23), because that one is also called Justus, while this one is called Barnabas, which means "son of consolation." It also seems to me that this …
The Reformation1 voice
He was an example to many to imitate evangelical generosity, for since he had an estate in Cyprus, he sold it, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet as though it were a trifle, to be treated with disdain.
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Having an estate - Probably of considerable value. It is not unlikely that it was in Cyprus. Being a Levite, he had no portion, no distinct inheritance in Israel.
Having land, sold it,....
The apostles, Peter and John, went on in their work, and did not labour in vain. The Spirit enabled the ministers to do their part, and the people theirs. The preachers faithfully deliver the doctrine of Christ: They spoke unto the people, to all that were within hearing,
The words behind it
14 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὑπάρχοντος | huparchontos | When is owning | G5225 → | 60 times |
| αὐτῷ | auto | he | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἀγροῦ, | agrou | a field, | G68 → | |
| πωλήσας | polesas | having sold [it] | G4453 → | 22 times |
| ἤνεγκεν | enegken | he brought | G5342 → | 66 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| χρῆμα | chrema | money | G5536 → | 6 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἔθηκεν | etheken | laid [it] | G5087 → | 100 times |
| πρὸς | pros | at | G4314 → | 700 times |
| τοὺς | tous | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πόδας | podas | feet | G4228 → | 93 times |
| τῶν | ton | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀποστόλων.¶ | apostolon | apostles. | G652 → | 79 times |
ὑπάρχοντοςWhen is owning
huparchontosG5225 →60 times
αὐτῷhe
autoG846 →5565 times
ἀγροῦ,a field,
agrouG68 →
πωλήσαςhaving sold [it]
polesasG4453 →22 times
ἤνεγκενhe brought
enegkenG5342 →66 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
χρῆμαmoney
chremaG5536 →6 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἔθηκενlaid [it]
ethekenG5087 →100 times
πρὸςat
prosG4314 →700 times
τοὺςthe
tousG3588 →19766 times
πόδαςfeet
podasG4228 →93 times
τῶνof the
tonG3588 →19766 times
ἀποστόλων.¶apostles.
apostolonG652 →79 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
5 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 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…
it leads to
- Luke 18:29–30
“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God
- Mark 10:29–30
“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for My sake and for the gospel
- Philippians 3:8
More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may…
- Luke 14:26
“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be My disciple.
- Matthew 16:25
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
- Luke 18:29–30
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies8
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About Acts
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Bede, Commentary on Acts; Erasmus of Rotterdam, Commentary (church-history corpus); J. A. Alexander, The Acts of the Apostles Explained; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 12; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 11; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.