Acts 4:23-37

When Peter and John were released, they went to their own people and told them everything the chief priests and leaders had said. When they heard this, they were united and loudly prayed to God, “Master, you made the sky, the land, the sea, and everything in them. You said through the Holy Spirit, who spoke through your servant David (our ancestor), ‘Why do the nations act arrogantly? Why do their people devise useless plots? Kings take their stand. Rulers make plans together against the Lord and against his Messiah.’ “In this city Herod and Pontius Pilate made plans together with non-Jewish people and the people of Israel. They made their plans against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. Through your will and power, they did everything that you had already decided should be done. “Lord, pay attention to their threats now, and allow us to speak your word boldly. Show your power by healing, performing miracles, and doing amazing things through the power and the name of your holy servant Jesus.” When they had finished praying, their meeting place shook. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak God’s word boldly. The whole group of believers lived in harmony. No one called any of his possessions his own. Instead, they shared everything. With great power the apostles continued to testify that the Lord Jesus had come back to life. ⌞God’s⌟ abundant good will  was with all of them. None of them needed anything. From time to time, people sold land or houses and brought the money to the apostles. Then the money was distributed to anyone who needed it. Joseph, a descendant of Levi, had been born on the island of Cyprus. The apostles called him Barnabas, which means “a person who encourages.” He had some land. He sold it and turned the money over to the apostles.