The Meaning of Acts 4:34 Explained

Acts 4:34

KJV: Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

YLT: for there was not any one among them who did lack, for as many as were possessors of fields, or houses, selling them, were bringing the prices of the thing sold,

Darby: For neither was there any one in want among them; for as many as were owners of lands or houses, selling them, brought the price of what was sold

ASV: For neither was there among them any that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Neither  was  there any  among  them  that lacked:  for  as many as  were  possessors  of lands  or  houses  sold them,  and brought  the prices  of the things that were sold, 

What does Acts 4:34 Mean?

Context Summary

Acts 4:23-35 - Help From On High
Like draws to like; Judas went to his own place, and the Apostles to their own company. The best answer to threats is prayer. The Apostles' one petition just then was for boldness. They scorned to ask for their own safety; it was enough if Jesus was glorified.
What a note of jubilant triumph was in that glorious prayer, offered by this threatened little band! They realized that they were under the special protection of God, who had made the world, had spoken by the prophets, and was the Father of Jesus. They thought that more miracles of healing would promote their cause; but, though they did not realize it at the time, their unity, love, hope, willingness to share their goods, coupled with their intrepid bearing, were their most potent arguments. Notice that in their consciousness, it was God's hand that was being stretched out to heal, though their hands were the immediate channel of its beneficent operations. They had been filled before, but they were filled again. It is our privilege to claim repeated infillings to make good our leakage and evaporation. [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 4:34

That lacked [ενδεης]
Literally, in need, old adjective, here only in the N.T. [source]
Were [υπηρχον]
Imperfect active of υπαρχω — huparchō to exist. Sold them and brought (πωλουντες επερον — pōlountes epheron). Present active participle and imperfect active indicative. Selling they brought from time to time, as there was occasion by reason of need. Hence the wants were kept supplied. Laid them Imperfect active again, repetition, of τιτημι — tithēmi late omega form for the usual ετιτεσαν — etithesan f0). [source]
Sold them and brought [πωλουντες επερον]
Present active participle and imperfect active indicative. Selling they brought from time to time, as there was occasion by reason of need. Hence the wants were kept supplied. [source]
Laid them [ετιτουν]
Imperfect active again, repetition, of τιτημι — tithēmi late omega form for the usual ετιτεσαν — etithesan f0). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 4:34

John 14:2 House [οἰκίᾳ]
The dwelling-place. Used primarily of the edifice (Matthew 7:24; Matthew 8:14; Matthew 9:10; Acts 4:34). Of the family or all the persons inhabiting the house (Matthew 12:25; John 4:53; 1 Corinthians 16:15; Matthew 10:13). Of property (Matthew 23:14; Mark 12:40). Here meaning heaven. [source]
Acts 4:36 Barnabas [αρναβας]
His name was Joseph (correct text, and not Jesus) and he is mentioned as one illustration of those in Acts 4:34 who selling brought the money. The apostles gave him the nickname Barnabas by which later he was known because of this noble deed. This fact argues that all did not actually sell, but were ready to do so if needed. Possibly Joseph had a larger estate than some others also. The meaning of the nickname is given by Luke as “son of consolation or exhortation” Doubtless his gifts as a preacher lay along this same line. Rackham thinks that the apostles gave him this name when he was recognized as a prophet. In Acts 11:23 the very word παρεκαλει — parekalei (exhorted) is used of Barnabas up at Antioch. He is the type of preacher described by Paul in 1 Corinthians 14:3. Encouragement is the chief idea in παρακλησις — paraklēsis though exhortation, comfort, consolation are used to render it (Acts 9:31; Acts 13:15; Acts 15:31). See also Acts 16:9; Acts 20:12. It is not necessary to think that the apostles coined the name Barnabas for Joseph which originally may have come from αρνεβους — Barnebous (Deissmann, Bible Studies, pp. 308-10), son of Nebo, or even the Hebrew Bar Nebi (son of a prophet). But, whatever the origin, the popular use is given by Luke. He was even called apostle along with Paul (Acts 14:14) in the broad sense of that word. [source]
1 Timothy 5:17 Double honor [διπλῆς τιμῆς]
This at least includes pecuniary remuneration for services, if it is not limited to that. The use of τιμή as pay or price appears Matthew 27:6, Matthew 27:9; Acts 4:34; Acts 7:16; 1 Corinthians 6:20. Double, not in a strictly literal sense, but as πλείονα τιμὴν morehonor, Hebrews 3:3. The comparison is with those Elders who do not exhibit equal capacity or efficiency in ruling. The passage lends no support to the Reformed theory of two classes of Elders - ruling and teaching. The special honor or emolument is assigned to those who combine qualifications for both. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 4:34 mean?

Not even for in need anyone there was among them as many as owners of lands or houses were selling [them] were bringing the proceeds of what is sold
Οὐδὲ γὰρ ἐνδεής τις ἦν ἐν αὐτοῖς ὅσοι κτήτορες χωρίων οἰκιῶν ὑπῆρχον πωλοῦντες ἔφερον τὰς τιμὰς τῶν πιπρασκομένων

Οὐδὲ  Not  even 
Parse: Adverb
Root: οὐδέ  
Sense: but not, neither, nor, not even.
ἐνδεής  in  need 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἐνδεής  
Sense: needy, destitute.
τις  anyone 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: τὶς  
Sense: a certain, a certain one.
ἦν  there  was 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
ὅσοι  as  many  as 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ὅσος  
Sense: as great as, as far as, how much, how many, whoever.
κτήτορες  owners 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: κτήτωρ  
Sense: a possessor.
χωρίων  of  lands 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root: χωρίον  
Sense: a space, a place, a region, a district.
οἰκιῶν  houses 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Plural
Root: οἰκία  
Sense: a house.
πωλοῦντες  selling  [them] 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: πωλέω  
Sense: to barter, to sell.
ἔφερον  were  bringing 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: φέρω  
Sense: to carry.
τιμὰς  proceeds 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Plural
Root: τιμή  
Sense: a valuing by which the price is fixed.
τῶν  of  what 
Parse: Article, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
πιπρασκομένων  is  sold 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root: πιπράσκω  
Sense: to sell.