Acts 4:36, Acts 4:37 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 4:36-37

The power of a high example. That of Joses, or Barnabas. This man was the companion of St. Paul in his first missionary journey ( Acts 13:2 ). For his character, position, and influence in the Church, etc., see the Commentary. His was by no means the only case of self-sacrifice, but it was, for some unexplained reasons, the most striking case, and it was regarded as a typical one. Possibly the subsequent influence gained by Barnabas led to the preservation of this narrative of his noble... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 4:36

And Joses - Many manuscripts, instead of “Joses,” here read “Joseph.” The reasons why this individual is selected and specified particularly were, doubtless, because he was a foreigner; because it was a remarkable instance of liberality; and because he subsequently distinguished himself in the work of the ministry. He gave himself, his property, his all, to the service of the Lord Jesus, and went forth to the self-denying labors of the gospel. He is mentioned elsewhere with honor in the New... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Acts 4:36-37

Acts 4:36-37. And Joses Among the rest of those primitive converts who so generously contributed of their substance for the relief and subsistence of the poor believers, in these extraordinary circumstances, there was one Joses, by the apostles surnamed Barnabas, The son of consolation Not only on account of his so largely assisting the poor with his fortune, but also of those peculiar gifts of the Spirit whereby he was so well qualified both to comfort and exhort. A Levite And yet so... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Acts 4:32-37

Sin, cleansing and further growth (4:32-5:16)Believers continued to sell their property and bring money from the sales to the apostles for distribution among the poor (32-35). One example of generosity came from a Jew from Cyprus who so consistently helped and encouraged others that people gave him a name to suit his character, Barnabas (meaning ‘son of encouragement’) (36-37).There was no rule that forced people to sell their property. When Ananias and Sapphira sold some property, their sin... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Acts 4:36

The next chapter should begin here. Joses. Texts read Joseph, as in Acts 1:23 . Barnabas. It is possible that Joseph Barnabas, or Barnabas. It is possible that Joseph Barnabas, or Barnabbas, is the same as Joseph Barsabbas of Acts 1:23 , and that he was reserved for a better lot by the Holy Spirit. son. App-108 . See note on Acts 3:25 . consolation. Greek. exhortation. Greek. paraklesis has both meanings. See Luke 2:25 ; Luke 6:24 . 1 Corinthians 14:3 . of the country of Cyprus = a... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Acts 4:36

And Joseph, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, Son of Exhortation), a Levite, a man of Cyprus by race, having a field, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.It should be noted that not a word is here given to the effect that Barnabas "sold all that he had," there being no evidence at all that he did any such thing. Then, there is the further consideration that the sister of Barnabas, Mary, the mother of John Mark, appears in Acts... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Acts 4:36-37

Acts 4:36-37. Joses,—surnamed Barnabas,— Considering how common the names of Joses and Joseph were, there seems no just reason to conclude, as some have done, that this was the Joseph mentioned ch. Act 1:23 nor does there seem any reason to conclude that this Joses was called a son of consolation, to express the great consolation the brethren received from the sale of his estate. The name seems rather to refer to his extraordinary abilities for the ministerial work, and to those gifts of the... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Acts 4:36

36. Joses, &c.—This is specified merely as an eminent example of that spirit of generous sacrifice which pervaded all. son of consolation—no doubt so surnamed from the character of his ministry. a Levite—who, though as a tribe having no inheritance, might and did acquire property as individuals (Deuteronomy 18:8). Cyprus—a well-known island in the Mediterranean. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 4:36

His given Jewish name was Joseph, but people called him by his Jewish nickname (cognomen), Barnabas, which means "Son of Encouragement" (Gr. huios parakleseos). The Jews often called a person "son of ___" to denote his or her characteristics (e.g., "son of Beliel"). They probably did so because Barnabas was a constant positive influence on those around him, as further references to him in Acts will demonstrate (cf. Acts 9:27; Acts 11:22-30; Acts 13:1 to Acts 14:28; Acts 15:2-4; Acts 15:12; Acts... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 4:36-37

The generosity of Barnabas 4:36-37Luke now gave a specific instance of what he had just described in Acts 4:34-35. This reference to Barnabas is significant because it introduces him to the reader. Barnabas becomes an important character in Acts later, mainly as a missionary (apostle) and preacher. [Note: See S. Jonathan Murphy, "The Role of Barnabas in the Book of Acts," Biblitheca Sacra 167:667 (July-September 2010):319-41.] Furthermore Barnabas provides a vivid contrast to Ananias in chapter... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 4:36-37

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 4:36

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Acts 4:36-37

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Acts 4:32-37

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Acts 4:36

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Acts 4:36

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Acts 4:36-37

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Acts 4:36

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 4:36

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 4:36-37

Group of Brands