The Meaning of Acts 4:37 Explained

Acts 4:37

KJV: Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

YLT: a field being his, having sold it, brought the money and laid it at the feet of the apostles.

Darby: being possessed of land, having sold it, brought the money and laid it at the feet of the apostles.

ASV: having a field, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles feet.

Discover Acts 4:37

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Acts 4:37?

MEANING: What does Acts 4:37 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Acts 4:37 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Acts 4:37?

What is the context of Acts 4:37?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Having land, sold [it], and brought the money, and laid [it] at the apostles' feet.

What does Acts 4:37 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Barnabas evidently sold some of his land-where it was we do not know-to provide cash for the needs of the church members. He humbly presented the proceeds of the sale to the apostles for their distribution.

"Barnabas is a first example in Acts of the tendency to introduce an important new character first as a minor character, one who appears and quickly disappears. Philip ( Acts 6:5) and Saul ( Acts 7:58; Acts 8:1; Acts 8:3) are similarly introduced before they assume important roles in the narrative. This procedure ties the narrative together, and in each case the introductory scene contributes something significant to the portrait of the person." ^[1]

Context Summary

Acts 4:36-37 - Lying To The Holy Spirit

The Spirit of God is the source of generous and liberal giving. It is a poor substitute to set up bazaars, and fairs, and ice cream suppers. When the Church is filled with the Holy Spirit, her pockets will be easily emptied before His gracious, thawing presence. Let the sun arise in the heavens, and the frozen streams are instantly liberated and begin to sing on their way to transform wildernesses into gardens.

Mark the contrast between Ananias and Barnabas. The same phrases are applied to each. The sin of Ananias was not in keeping back part of the purchase money, but in pretending to have brought all to the Apostle. He wished to pose as a saint, and at the same time to line his own nest. In the act of consecration, we must not allow one corner for Satan or selfishness to possess, because instantly we shall have to concede the right of way, and a thoroughfare will be opened, along which all manner of contraband may be smuggled in. Peter had no doubt as to the personality of the Holy Spirit. You cannot lie to an influence! Note the interchange of Holy Spirit and God in Acts 4:3-4. [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 4

¹ The rulers of the Jews, offended with Peter's sermon,
³ imprison him and John
⁵ After, upon examination
⁸ Peter boldly avouching the lame man to be healed by the name of Jesus,
¹¹ and that only by the same Jesus we must be eternally saved,
¹³ they threaten him and John to preach no more in that name,
²³ whereupon the church flees to prayer
³¹ And God, by moving the place where they were assembled, testifies that he heard their prayer;
³⁴ confirming the church with the gift of the Holy Spirit, and with mutual love and charity

Greek Commentary for Acts 4:37

Having a held [υπαρχοντος αυτωι αγρου]
Genitive absolute with present active participle of υπαρχω huparchō and dative of possession. [source]

Sold it and brought [πωλησας ηνεγκεν]
Aorist active participle of πωλεω pōleō and second aorist active indicative of περω pherō because a single definite instance. So also with ετηκεν ethēken (laid), first aorist active. [source]

The money [τὸ χρῆμα]
The sum of money. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 4:37

Hebrews 10:34 Of your goods [τῶν ὑπαρχόντων ὑμῶν]
The verb ὑπάρχειν means originally to begin, or begin to be; hence of anything that has begun to be, to come forth, be there; then simply to be. Accordingly the phrase ὑπάρχει μοὶ τι means there is something to me, I have something. See Acts 3:6; Acts 4:37; Acts 28:7. Hence τὰ ὑπάρχοντα thingswhich are to one; possessions, goods. See Matthew 19:21; Matthew 24:27; Luke 8:3; Acts 4:32. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 4:37 mean?

owns by him a field having sold [it] brought the money and laid [it] at the feet of the apostles

ὑπάρχοντος αὐτῷ ἀγροῦ πωλήσας ἤνεγκεν τὸ χρῆμα καὶ ἔθηκεν πρὸς τοὺς πόδας τῶν ἀποστόλων

ὑπάρχοντος	owns
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Genitive Masculine Singular Root: ὑπάρχω Sense: to begin below, to make a beginning.
αὐτῷ	by him
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular Root: αὐτός Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
ἀγροῦ	a field
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular Root: ἀγρός Sense: land.
πωλήσας	having sold [it]
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: πωλέω Sense: to barter, to sell.
ἤνεγκεν	brought
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: φέρω Sense: to carry.
χρῆμα	money
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular Root: χρῆμα Sense: a thing, a matter, affair, event, business.
ἔθηκεν	laid [it]
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: τίθημι Sense: to set, put, place.
πρὸς	at
Parse: Preposition Root: πρός Sense: to the advantage of.
πόδας	feet
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural Root: πούς Sense: a foot, both of men or beast.
τῶν	of the
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Plural Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἀποστόλων	apostles
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Plural Root: ἀπόστολος Sense: a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders.

What are the major concepts related to Acts 4:37?

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Similar Scriptures for Acts 4:37

		Acts 4:34-35 [2]
		Acts 5:1-2 [2]
		Matthew 19:29 [2]