Acts 2:44
in Acts 2All the believers were together and had everything in common.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
KJV
And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
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This verse in Acts 2
Commentary
12 notes on this verseAnd, all that believed - Οἱ πιστευοντες, The believers, i.e. those who conscientiously credited the doctrine concerning the incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ, and had, in consequence, received redemption in his blood. Were together - Επι το αυτο. “These words signify either, in one time, Act 3:1; or in one place, Act 2:1; or in one thing.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
...now mortifying the earthly cravings of the old man, and inflamed with the new experience of the spiritual life, as the Lord had enjoined in the Gospel, they sold all that they had, and laid the price of their possessions at the feet of the apostles, in order that these might distribute to every man according as each had need; and living in Christian love harmoniously with each other, they did not affirm anything to be their own, but they had all things in common, and were one in soul and heart toward God. Afterwards these same persons also themselves suffered persecution in their flesh at the hands of the Jews, their carnal fellow-countrymen, and were dispersed abroad, to the end that, in consequence of their dispersion, Christ should be preached more extensively, and that they themselves at the same time should be followers of the patience of their Lord. For He who in meekness had endured them, enjoined them in meekness to endure for His sake.
"And all that believed were together, and had all things common." Consider what an advance was here immediately! For the fellowship was not only in prayers, nor in doctrine alone, but also in social relations. "And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need." See what fear was wrought in them! "And they parted them," he says, showing the wise management: "As every man had heed." Not recklessly, like some philosophers among the Greeks, of whom some gave up their land, others cast into the sea great quantities of money; but this was no contempt of riches, but only folly and madness. For universally the devil has made it his endeavor to disparage the creatures of God, as if it were impossible to make good use of riches.
Once more, the unanimity, the charity, which is the cause of all good things!
"And all that believed were together, and had all things in common," etc. They are all become angels on a sudden; all of them continuing in prayer and hearing, they saw that spiritual things are common, and no one there has more than other, and they speedily came together, to the same thing in common, even to the imparting to all. "And all the believing," it says, were together: and to see that this does not mean that they were together in place, observe what follows "And had all things common". "All," it says: not one with the exception of another. This was an angelic commonwealth, not to call anything of theirs their own. Forthwith the root of evils was cut out.
As for selling and distributing their possessions according to whatever need one had, not merely, but in an economical manner. For they distributed according to value.
6 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church2 voices
And they had all things in common, etc. If the love of God is poured into our hearts, it soon surely generates love for our neighbor. Hence, on account of the double ardor of charity, the Holy Spirit is read to have been given twice …
"All… the believers were together," that is, not in place, but in disposition and in thoughts, in constant agreement among themselves and in love.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
But it was at Jerusalem, because this had been the place which God chose, to put his name there, and the prophecy was that thence the word of the Lord should go forth to all nations, Isa. ii. It was now the place of the general rendezvous of all devout people: here God had promised to meet them and bless them; here therefore he meets them with this blessing of blessings.
And all that believed were together,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
they that gladly received his word were baptized--"It is difficult to say how three thousand could be baptized in one day, according to the old practice of a complete submersion; and the more as in Jerusalem there was no water at hand except Kidron and a few pools.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase+odd-straight-quotes
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
All that believed - That is, that believed that Jesus was the Messiah; for that was the distinguishing point by which they were known from others. Were together - Were united; were joined in the same thing. It does not mean that they lived in the same house, but they were united in the same community, or engaged in the same thing. They were doubtless often together in the same place for prayer and praise. One of the best means for strengthening the faith of young converts is for them often to meet together for prayer, conversation, and praise. Had all things common - That is, all their property or possessions. See Act 4:32-37; Act 5:1-10. The apostles, in the time of the Saviour, evidently had all their property in common stock, and Judas was made their treasurer. They regarded themselves as one family, having common needs, and there was no use or propriety in their possessing extensive property by themselves. Yet even then it is probable that some of them retained an interest in their property which was not supposed to be necessary to be devoted to the common use. It is evident that John thus possessed property which he retained, Joh 19:27. And it is clear that the Saviour did not command them to give up their property into a common stock, nor did the apostles enjoin it: Act 5:4, “While it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold was it not in thine own power?” It was, therefore, perfectly voluntary, and was as evidently adapted to the special circumstances of the early converts. Many of them came from abroad. They were from Parthia, and Media, and Arabia, and Rome, and Africa, etc. […]
The words behind it
12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| πάντες | pantes | All | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| δὲ | de | now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| οἱ | hoi | those | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πιστεύοντες | pisteuontes | believing | G4100 → | 237 times |
| ἦσαν | esan | were | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ἐπὶ | epi | together | G1909 → | 883 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| αὐτὸ | auto | same | G846 → | 5565 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| εἶχον | eichon | were having | G2192 → | 707 times |
| ἅπαντα | hapanta | all things | G537 → | 33 times |
| κοινά, | koina | in common, | G2839 → | 14 times |
πάντεςAll
pantesG3956 →1235 times
δὲnow
deG1161 →2765 times
οἱthose
hoiG3588 →19766 times
πιστεύοντεςbelieving
pisteuontesG4100 →237 times
ἦσανwere
esanG1510 →2333 times
ἐπὶtogether
epiG1909 →883 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
αὐτὸsame
autoG846 →5565 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
εἶχονwere having
eichonG2192 →707 times
ἅπανταall things
hapantaG537 →33 times
κοινά,in common,
koinaG2839 →14 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 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
2 Corinthians 8:9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
it leads to
- Romans 8:32
He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things?
- Philippians 2:6–8
Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
- Matthew 20:28
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
- Romans 5:8
But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
- 2 Corinthians 6:10
sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
- Romans 8:32
Through
Acts 4:32The multitude of believers was one in heart and soul. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they owned.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 1:10
I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree together, so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be united…
- Ephesians 4:2–6
with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
- 1 Peter 3:8
Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble.
- 1 Corinthians 1:10
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies54
On this verse
On this chapter
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- David, a Type of Christ
- Dreams in Scripture and in Egypt
- The Fall Feasts
- The Hebrew Feasts
- Fire
- Father, Forgive Them
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- God and the Nations, from Abraham to the New Jerusalem
- Head Coverings
- The Words Tiqvah and Elpis
- How Prophecy Works
- Infant Baptism and Believers' Baptism
- Jesus on the Holy Spirit
Show the next 6 titles
- Joel, the Study Guide
- Joel 2:28-32 in Acts 2
- Joseph
- Locusts in Scripture
- Mesopotamia
- The Messianic Psalms
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Show the next 6 titles
- Speaking in Tongues
- The Suffering Servant
- The Table of Nations
- The Appointed Times Read as a Calendar of Prophecy
- The Christian Year
- The Church
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About Acts
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, On the Catechising of the Uninstructed; Bede, Commentary on Acts; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 7; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.