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Easter Season · Second Sunday of Easter (Sunday of Divine Mercy) · Year B

Acts 4:32-35

The Believers Share Their Possessions

April 4, 2027

St Lawrence Distributing Alms, Fra Angelico
St Lawrence Distributing Alms, Fra Angelico, c. 1448Vatican Museums (Niccoline Chapel), Vatican City
In the pope's private chapel. Lawrence hands out the church's money at a doorway to the blind, the lame and a woman with a child, each one individually drawn.There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and the proceeds were distributed to each as any had need.Fra AngelicoA Dominican friar who painted, canonised in 1982, whose work was made for the cells and corridors his brothers lived in.Vatican Museums (Niccoline Chapel), Vatican CityThe private chapel of Nicholas V in the Apostolic Palace, frescoed by Fra Angelico and open only on restricted tours.Vatican Museums (Niccoline Chapel), Vatican City
Roman Lectionary
GospelJohn 20:19-31Jn 20:19-31
Second Reading1 John 5:1-61 Jn 5:1-6
First ReadingActs 4:32-35
Responsorial PsalmPs. 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24 (1)Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24 (1)

Overview & Insights

“Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul.” (Acts 4:32)

Here we have the second in Luke’s series of cameos of the inner life of the church (see disc. on 2:42–47). In this, he takes up again the theme of their fellowship. Of the other matters dealt with in the earlier sketch, he has already had something more to say about prayer (4:23–31) and will shortly add something on the subject of miracles.

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Commentary

Acts 4 - The Boldness of Peter and JohnActs 4 - The Boldness of Peter and Jn Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik on the one-heart-and-soul community that held everything in common.

Acts 4:32 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic commentators on the shared life and generosity of the first believers.

Acts 4 Commentary Precept Austin

A verse-by-verse study hub with multiple scholars on the Jerusalem community.

Acts 4:32-35 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

Scott Hoezee reads the shared-heart community as the most visible difference Easter made.

Commentary on Acts 4:32-35 Working Preacher

Scholarly exegesis of this exact Second Sunday of Easter first-reading pericope.

Background & Word Study

Acts 1-12 Overview BibleProject

Animated overview of the first half of Acts to place the sharing community in context.

Acts 4:32 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek word-by-word text with parsing for the one-heart-and-soul description.

The Church Fathers

Catena: Acts 4 Catena

Patristic comment gathered verse by verse on the community of goods.

Questions preachers ask

How did the first believers share?

The company of believers held everything in common, the apostles bore powerful witness to the resurrection, and there was not a needy person among them.

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