Luke 12:33

12:33 Sell your possessions ¹  and give to the poor. ²  Provide yourselves purses that do not wear out – a treasure in heaven ³  that never decreases, ⁴  where no thief approaches and no moth ⁵  destroys.

Luke 16:9

16:9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by how you use worldly wealth, ⁶  so that when it runs out you will be welcomed ⁷  into the eternal homes. ⁸ 

Matthew 6:19-20

Lasting Treasure

6:19 “Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth ⁹  and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 6:20 But accumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.

Acts 2:44-45

2:44 All who believed were together and held ¹⁰  everything in common, 2:45 and they began selling ¹¹  their property ¹²  and possessions and distributing the proceeds ¹³  to everyone, as anyone had need.

Acts 4:34-37

4:34 For there was no one needy ¹⁴  among them, because those who were owners of land or houses were selling ¹⁵  them ¹⁶  and bringing the proceeds from the sales 4:35 and placing them at the apostles’ feet. The proceeds ¹⁷  were distributed to each, as anyone had need. 4:36 So Joseph, a Levite who was a native of Cyprus, called by the apostles Barnabas (which is translated “son of encouragement”), ¹⁸  4:37 sold ¹⁹  a field ²⁰  that belonged to him and brought the money ²¹  and placed it at the apostles’ feet.

Acts 4:1

The Arrest and Trial of Peter and John

4:1 While Peter and John ²²  were speaking to the people, the priests and the commander ²³  of the temple guard ²⁴  and the Sadducees ²⁵  came up ²⁶  to them,

Acts 6:1

The Appointment of the First Seven Deacons

6:1 Now in those ²⁷  days, when the disciples were growing in number, ²⁸  a complaint arose on the part of the Greek-speaking Jews ²⁹  against the native Hebraic Jews, ³⁰  because their widows ³¹  were being overlooked ³²  in the daily distribution of food. ³³ 

Acts 6:1

The Appointment of the First Seven Deacons

6:1 Now in those ³⁴  days, when the disciples were growing in number, ³⁵  a complaint arose on the part of the Greek-speaking Jews ³⁶  against the native Hebraic Jews, ³⁷  because their widows ³⁸  were being overlooked ³⁹  in the daily distribution of food. ⁴⁰ 

[12:33]  ¹ sn The call to sell your possessions is a call to a lack of attachment to the earth and a generosity as a result.

[12:33]  ² tn Grk “give alms,” but this term is not in common use today.

[12:33]  ³ tn Grk “in the heavens.”

[12:33]  ⁴ tn Or “an unfailing treasure in heaven,” or “an inexhaustible treasure in heaven.”

[12:33]  ⁵ tn The term σής (shs) refers to moths in general. It is specifically the larvae of moths that destroy clothing by eating holes in it (L&N 4.49; BDAG 922 s.v.). See Jas 5:2, which mentions “moth-eaten” clothing.

[16:9]  ⁶ tn Grk “unrighteous mammon.” Mammon is the Aramaic term for wealth or possessions. The point is not that money is inherently evil, but that it is often misused so that it is a means of evil; see 1 Tim 6:6-10, 17-19. The call is to be generous and kind in its use. Zacchaeus becomes the example of this in Luke’s Gospel (19:1-10).

[16:9]  ⁷ sn The passive refers to the welcome of heaven.

[16:9]  ⁸ tn Grk “eternal tents” (as dwelling places).

[6:19]  ⁹ tn The term σής (shs) refers to moths in general. It is specifically the larvae of moths that destroy clothing by eating holes in it (L&N 4.49; BDAG 922 s.v.). See Jas 5:2, which mentions “moth-eaten” clothing.

[2:44]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “had.”

[2:45]  ¹¹ tn The imperfect verb has been translated as an ingressive (“began…”). Since in context this is a description of the beginning of the community of believers, it is more likely that these statements refer to the start of various activities and practices that the early church continued for some time.

[2:45]  ¹² tn It is possible that the first term for property (κτήματα, kthmata) refers to real estate (as later usage seems to indicate) while the second term (ὑπάρξεις, Juparxeis) refers to possessions in general, but it may also be that the two terms are used together for emphasis, simply indicating that all kinds of possessions were being sold. However, if the first term is more specifically a reference to real estate, it foreshadows the incident with Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11.

[2:45]  ¹³ tn Grk “distributing them” (αὐτά, auta). The referent (the proceeds of the sales) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[4:34]  ¹⁴ tn Or “poor.”

[4:34]  ¹⁵ tn Grk “houses, selling them were bringing.” The participle πωλοῦντες (pwlounte") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[4:34]  ¹⁶ tn The word “them” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.

[4:35]  ¹⁷ tn Grk “It” (or “They,” plural). The referent of the understood pronoun subject, the proceeds from the sales, of the verb διεδίδετο (diedideto) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[4:36]  ¹⁸ sn This is a parenthetical note by the author. Note how the actions of Barnabas are in keeping with the meaning of his nickname. He stands in contrast to Ananias and Sapphira in 5:1-11.

[4:37]  ¹⁹ tn Grk “selling a field that belonged to him, brought” The participle πωλήσας (pwlhsa") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[4:37]  ²⁰ tn Or “a farm.”

[4:37]  ²¹ tn Normally a reference to actual coins (“currency”). See L&N 6.68.

[4:1]  ²² tn Grk “While they”; the referents (Peter and John) have been specified in the translation for clarity.

[4:1]  ²³ tn Or “captain.”

[4:1]  ²⁴ tn Grk “the official of the temple,” a title for the commander of the Jewish soldiers guarding the temple (thus the translation, “the commander of the temple guard”). See L&N 37.91.

[4:1]  ²⁵ sn The Sadducees controlled the official political structures of Judaism at this time, being the majority members of the Sanhedrin. They were known as extremely strict on law and order issues (Josephus, J. W. 2.8.2 [2.119], 2.8.14 [2.164-166]; Ant. 13.5.9 [13.171-173], 13.10.6 [13.293-298], 18.1.2 [18.11], 18.1.4 [18.16-17], 20.9.1 [20.199]; Life 2 [10-11]). See also Matt 3:7; 16:1-12; 22:23-34; Mark 12:18-27; Luke 20:27-38; Acts 5:17; 23:6-8.

[4:1]  ²⁶ tn Or “approached.” This verb often denotes a sudden appearing (BDAG 418 s.v. ἐφίστημι 1).

[6:1]  ²⁷ tn Grk “these.” The translation uses “those” for stylistic reasons.

[6:1]  ²⁸ tn Grk “were multiplying.”

[6:1]  ²⁹ tn Grk “the Hellenists,” but this descriptive term is largely unknown to the modern English reader. The translation “Greek-speaking Jews” attempts to convey something of who these were, but it was more than a matter of language spoken; it involved a degree of adoption of Greek culture as well.

[6:1]  ³⁰ tn Grk “against the Hebrews,” but as with “Hellenists” this needs further explanation for the modern reader.

[6:1]  ³¹ sn The care of widows is a major biblical theme: Deut 10:18; 16:11, 14; 24:17, 19-21; 26:12-13; 27:19; Isa 1:17-23; Jer 7:6; Mal 3:5.

[6:1]  ³² tn Or “neglected.”

[6:1]  ³³ tn Grk “in the daily serving.”

[6:1]  ³⁴ tn Grk “these.” The translation uses “those” for stylistic reasons.

[6:1]  ³⁵ tn Grk “were multiplying.”

[6:1]  ³⁶ tn Grk “the Hellenists,” but this descriptive term is largely unknown to the modern English reader. The translation “Greek-speaking Jews” attempts to convey something of who these were, but it was more than a matter of language spoken; it involved a degree of adoption of Greek culture as well.

[6:1]  ³⁷ tn Grk “against the Hebrews,” but as with “Hellenists” this needs further explanation for the modern reader.

[6:1]  ³⁸ sn The care of widows is a major biblical theme: Deut 10:18; 16:11, 14; 24:17, 19-21; 26:12-13; 27:19; Isa 1:17-23; Jer 7:6; Mal 3:5.

[6:1]  ³⁹ tn Or “neglected.”

[6:1]  ⁴⁰ tn Grk “in the daily serving.”