Early Church Generosity | Acts 4:23-37 Daily Word

Now the released apostles return to their companions and report what the chief priests and elders had said to them. Upon hearing the two apostles’ account, the believers pray to God with one heart. In their prayer, the apostles address God as “Sovereign Lord” and as “the one who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them.”

This title points to the sovereignty of God.

The word “Sovereign Lord” carries the meaning of “master” — the absolute authority a master holds over a servant. It therefore signifies the absolute sovereignty of God as Creator. With one heart, the apostles quoted Psalm 2. This indicates that the persecution now taking place stands in continuity with what God had already prophesied through David: the persecution of Jesus Christ and the persecution that his followers would endure.

[1] Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? [2] The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, [3] “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” [4] He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. [5] Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, [6] “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” (Ps 2:1-6, ESV)

In the early church, Psalm 2 was understood as a messianic psalm. Accordingly, verses 25–26 of the passage are interpreted in connection with Jesus’ life and suffering. [25] who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? [26] The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’— (Acts 4:25-26, ESV) Here, the kings of the earth are identified with Herod, the rulers with Pontius Pilate, the Gentiles with the Romans who carried out the crucifixion, and the peoples with Israel.

And Jesus is the Christ (26) and God’s holy servant (27). Jesus, the Messiah, fulfills the role of the Christ while at the same time fulfilling the role of the suffering servant. (Isa 42:1) God planned this.

Therefore, the apostles must now carry on this work in Jesus’ name. And so they pray: [29] And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, [30] while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” (Acts 4:29-30, ESV) — asking that signs and wonders be performed through the name of the holy servant Jesus. When they finished praying, the place where the apostles had gathered was shaken. This signifies that the Lord answered them in the presence of God. (31)

Luke once again describes the life of the early church.

A defining characteristic of the early church was [32] Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. (Acts 4:32, ESV) — unity of heart and mind. This unity expressed itself in the sharing of possessions. [33] And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. [34] There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold (Acts 4:33-34, ESV) — as the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of Jesus with great power, the believers who had received grace sold their fields and houses and laid the proceeds at the apostles’ feet.

The apostles were focused on their mission rather than their own comfort. Instead of praying for relief from the threats they faced, they prayed for boldness to proclaim the Word. We too must remember that when our prayers are directed not toward our own comfort but toward the kingdom of God, God works in far greater ways.