Acts 4:37

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." [Note: Tannehill, 2:78.]